He said it as a statement, not a question. I could’ve guessed that’d be Ryan’s last deal-breaker.
“I don’t want to upset your missus,” I answered honestly.
See, I was abiding by his rules already.
“Looks like the crew is back in action again then,” Ryan declared, and the other two smiled.
I put my arm out to shake Ryan’s hand and he took it. We’d made progress. It wasn’t at all what I’d expected when I came in here. In reality, it was better. I’d thought I was entering a warzone. I’d braced myself for battle. But the cold war was thawing already. Blood might run thicker than water, but our brotherhood ran stronger than anything. The Renaissance men were a team. A team I was proud of. And now we were getting back on track. We could go back to being unstoppable.
“You’d better prepare your statement for the police though,” Ryan added. “They might’ve dropped the case, but they’ll still want to haul you in.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty to say to them.”
“I don’t think we want to know,” Zak said, smiling. “We’ve missed you, man.”
He walked over to me and gave me a hug, patting my back as he did.
Finn grinned.
And Ryan?
He muttered something about telling Emily before anyone else found out I was back.
That’s right, motherfuckers.
Brandon Mathers was back.
But I hadn’t forgotten why I left. There were still a lot of people on my ever-growing shit list, and not everyone was going to be hanging the flags out when I returned. I’d find out who sent those texts. I’d find out what the Lockwoods were up to too.
And Harper?
That was unfinished business I would take great pleasure in wrapping up.
“Harper, love. There’s someone here to see you.”
Mum walked into the living room and I muted the television, having absolutely no idea who’d be visiting me at home.
Then Emily Winters appeared, craning her neck from behind Mum’s back to greet me and give me a shy smile.
“Hey. I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced like this.”
“Of course she doesn’t,” Mum answered for me. “Emily, would you like a tea or coffee? Or a cold drink, perhaps?”
“A tea would be lovely. Milk, no sugar. Thank you, Mrs Yates.” Emily sure was good at talking to parents. She already had my mum eating out of the palm of her hands.
“Call me Tanya,” Mum said over-enthusiastically, batting her eyelids and grinning down at Emily like she was the second coming.
She scuttled off to the kitchen and Emily sat down on the sofa a little way down from where I was. From the way she was fidgeting I guessed this wasn’t a social call.
“How have you been?” she asked as she wrung her hands in her lap. She seemed nervous. That didn’t bode well as far as I was concerned.
“I’m okay. Today is… bearable. Just.” I smiled, hoping I sounded jovial and trying to put her at ease. It didn’t work. She just nodded and stared at the muted T.V. screen.
“I’ve heard they set a date for your dad’s trial. That sucks,” I added. A pretty lame attempt at a conversation, but it was something.
“Yeah. I’m not sure I’ll be going to the court unless I have to. Kind of want to avoid the press and all that crap.”
Now it was my turn to nod and stare absent-mindedly. Should I put the T.V. volume back up or would that be too rude?