CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Sky ached for him.
It’d been a difficult time since George passed on, she knew that. But what she wasn’t prepared for was silence. It was the very opposite of what had happened when she needed his support, over Nan’s health scare.
The day it happened Rory sent her a text saying he couldn’t make their meeting. George had died. Then, nothing. She’d gone to the house he shared with Kristaps, but all he could tell her was Rory’d taken off on his bike with some of his stuff. She’d even gone to the workshop. A notice on the door announced temporary closure due to the owner’s death. A woman at a nearby tea bar saw her hanging around and filled her in on what had happened to George. The violence and horror of it shocked her. It filled her with dread for Rory too. Was that why he’d taken off, to avoid kicking off the way he had with Jackson?
Thankfully Draco called her a couple of times, and it helped immensely to hear from him.
Eventually, she heard back from Rory.
He gave her the funeral details, but only after she’d asked.
When she pressed for more information, he revealed only a little more. It made her ache that he wouldn’t say more over the phone.
George’s daughter was flying in from Australia. Rory was kept busy with arrangements and running a minimal service at the workshop. The events were a horrible strain, she could tell, but his distance and silence unnerved her. They’d got so close. They’d made it through Nan’s collapse and the Jackson shenanigans. Then this.
There was no other option for her but to be there when he was ready to let her in. She only prayed it would happen, and he wouldn’t pull away from her for good.
* * * *
Rory stood in line in the corridor outside the prison visiting room. He hated this part the most, the waiting, trying not to fret about what state he might find Sean in when he got in there. Prison was changing his brother, and it unnerved Rory to witness it.
Several of the other visitors chatted to each other, having met in this situation before. Their loved ones were in for much longer than Sean though. His release was within months now. Rory just hoped to God Sean could hold it together and stay out of trouble until the end of his sentence.
The prison guard had his hand on the door handle. A face appeared at the window, indicating visiting time could begin. “Okay people, single file. Keep your hands in plain sight.”
The visitors filed in.
Rory quickly scoped the room for Sean. He didn’t have to look far. Sean waved his hand and rose to his feet. Rory quickly made his way over to his brother. They embraced, then sat down either side of the low table.
A prison guard hovered nearby watching intently as everybody took their places. Rory made sure his hands were visible and locked together. To do anything else would bring them sniffing around. Even though the visitors had already been searched, they watched every move. Everything about it made Rory’s gut turn ice cold.
“How you doing?” Sean asked, before Rory had a chance to speak.
“Okay. How about you?”
Sean nodded, indicating he was okay. Rory knew better. His brother looked as if he had an axe to grind. And he was changing physically too. He’d taken to the gym, but it was more than that.
“Every time I come you’re more ripped,” Rory commented.
Sean shrugged his massive shoulders. “Lifting weights keeps me out of trouble.” He gave a side-eye glance around the room and a warning glance.
Rory didn’t like it, but he knew best not to comment. “Not long to go now. Hang in there, bro.”
Sean nodded but again scanned the room with narrowed eyes, as if he wanted to watch the other prisoners even closer than the guards did. He shifted, crossed his arms but kept his hands on his knees. He really was ripped, his shoulder muscles and biceps making his prison regulation shirt a tight fit.
“There’s something important I need to tell you,” Rory began. Time would be short so he had to press on.
“What?”
“I may not be able to uphold the promise I made to you.”
Sean stiffened, his eyes locked on Rory’s. “Please tell me you’re not hacking again?”
Rory shook his head quickly. “No, it’s not that. I’m steering well clear, believe me. I told you I’d get you a job when you came out. My boss listened and he was willing to give you a try out. You’ll be staying with me but I wanted to find you work too, that’s in doubt now.”