Chapter 242: Duchess
*Out of all my boys, it’s TJ that I worry about the most. – Alana*
About thirty minutes later, the mother and son were at the kitchen table. Nachos, tacos, beans, rice, salsa, guacamole and sour cream were laid out between them. Alana was finishing up the margaritas in her blender as Chance started eating his quesadilla.
“Okay, you have food and alcohol. Spill.” Alana said sitting down and pouring two small tumblers that were already salted.
He finished off his beer and accepted the margarita.
“She-"
“Give her a name.” At his scowl, she merely shrugged. “Make one up.”
“Duchess.” Chance said with a sneer. Alana nodded at him and fixed herself a taco.
“Duchess told me that I took whatever I wanted, to hell with the consequences.”
She had already heard all of this but did not rush him. It was his story. He should be the one to tell it.
“Said that I didn’t know anything about the women I was with. Probably did not even know their name. I told her that my partners left well satisfied.”
“Duchess wasn’t impressed.” She surmised with a grin.
He took another big drink of his margarita. “Not at all. That night, dear God there must be a lot of tequila in here. I can’t believe I’m about to say this to my mom.”
“I gave head for the first time when I was fifteen.” Alana said sipping on her own drink. “At the mother house. Pops was still president there.”
She smiled as she thought of all the times her dad caught her with one of his men. And then of having to tell him and her mother that she was pregnant. At sixteen.
“Sweet Jesus.” Chance grabbed the tequila bottle and drank the rest. “I did not need to know that.”
She laughed at her son as she fixed another taco.
“I fingered a girl in the common room. Then took her to my room and she…”
He trailed off and she finished her taco waiting for him to continue.
“You get a woman off for everyone to see and go to your room for a blow job? Or a hand job?” Alana asked and he grabbed another beer before holding up one finger.
“Blow job. Got it. Embarrassed by what you have? Or don’t want anyone else to know how, does she have a name?”
Chance shook his head. “No. And I never thought about it before. Always thought that they were there for one reason and one reason only.”
“Sperm receptacle.” Alana said as she brushed chip crumbs off his beard. “Got it.”
“Please don’t ever say that again, but yes.” Chance swatted at her hand.
“You never saw them as people. Just as-"
“Yeah, that.” He cut his mother off, and she laughed at him. “I had my way with another woman that night.”
“Damn, two in one night. Does she have a name?”
“She does, but I didn’t know it then. I never even thought about it before. A few days later, she was in my room again. I was calling her every name that started with an L.” Chance sighed as his mother giggled. “One of the other girls called her L and I thought it was a nickname.”
Alana busted out laughing. “Her name is Elle!”
“Yeah. I haven’t seen her since.” Chance sat his taco down on the plate. “Duchess was right about me. I take what I want and to hell with the consequences.”
He met his mother’s eyes, and she knew that the conversation was about to get real. Serious. She made sure that he knew he had her full attention.
“Duchess has an infant son.” Chance said and pulled up the pictures of the preemie on his phone.
He had received the three pictures in a text message from Karan with the message *Chelsea, this is Rye’s little Michael.* After telling Karan that he got the message by accident, he said he would delete the pictures.
He still had the pictures of the infant. Why, he really wasn’t sure. But he figured that the more people pulling for the little guy, gave him a better chance at living.
“Twelve weeks early, or something like that.” Chance said as his mother cooed over the pictures. She swiped too far and got a slit pic. She looked up at him and he knew what she saw. “Sorry.”
“Mmmmm.” Was all that Alana said as she went back to the baby.
“She was at work before he was two weeks old. Said that she didn’t have a choice.”
“She may have lost her old job.” His mom pointed out.
“Never thought about that. Her life revolves around him. Spends most of her time at work or the hospital. And she’s going to school.”
“What about the father?”
“Never mentions him.”
“Maybe he used her and left her high and dry when she got pregnant.”
“Celt said that too. There’s something about her. Innocent and yet worldly. Everything about her confuses me. Aggravates me. But…”
“She’s a woman and you’re a Saint.” Alana held his hand. “We raised you to take care of those who are weaker than you. I’m proud of you.”
“She was living at Tuscan Place.” Chance said and she cringed. “Her heat went out.”
“Is the baby okay?”
“He’s still in the hospital. John Erik refused to fix the heat until she…” Chance sighed and looked towards the ceiling. “She compared me to him and fuck if I’m not much different.”
“Have you ever forced a woman to have sex with you? Have you ever pimped a woman? Paid for sex?” Alana demanded angrily. “Timothy James Lowery. You might be a slut, but you are nothing like that filth.”
“He said that some men needed the bottle, but I needed…” he sighed and looked up at her with tears and fear in his eyes. “Momma, do you think I have a problem?”
Alana stood up and walked around to him. She put her hands on either side of his face and made him look at her.
“No, baby, I don’t. The reason I don’t think you do is because you are worried about it. I think there is something missing in your life. I don’t know what it is, or even if you know.”
He wrapped his arms around her and leaned into her comfort. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the top of his head. He cried and did not hold back his tears.
“What if I *am* addicted?”
“You’re staying out at Werewolf’s place, right?” he nodded against her chest. “So, while you’re out there, take a break. Use him as an excuse.”
“What about when they get back next week?”
“Come stay with me. Nothing says I’m not getting laid quite like, I live with my mommy.”
Chance laughed. “Nothing says I’m not getting laid quite like, my adult son lives with me.”
They both laughed for a moment before she smoothed his hair and kissed him on the top of the head just as she did when he was little.
