“Hoping to make bail soon so I can avoid getting shipped off down there.” Actually, I’m surprised I haven’t been shipped off to county yet. Another thing that makes me think this cell is bugged.
“I hear that.” He nods to the top bunk. “That available?”
At least he’s showing the proper respect now. “All yours.”
“I’m beat. Pigs had me up all night.”
“I hear that.” I’m not a fan of having anyone over me and I swear to fuck if I hear him beating off up there, I’m going to stuff his head through the cell bars. But Husky climbs up and settles down pretty quick.
A few hours later, I realize I underestimated Husky’s gift for gab. The fucker won’t shut up about his life story. And I gotta say, it’s not all that interesting. I’ve heard it a million times over the years. Mom and dad didn’t pay enough attention to him. School bored him. Girls were bitches because they didn’t want to fuck him. Thought it’d be fun to try heroin. Got hooked. Since then, he’s been in and out of prison.
I lost my compassion for addicts and their bullshit right around the time my bio-brother started stealing from our parents to feed his habits. So, no, I’m not pulling out my tiny violin to serenade Husky’s sob story. But at least his chatter helps to drown out some of the other noise going on around us. I grunt or mumble ‘uh-huh’ from time to time and Husky keeps right on talking.
“You’re not holding by any chance, are you?” he whispers.
“Fuck no. I don’t touch that shit.”
“Right. Kings have never been in the game, have they?”
Not that I’m about to sit here and tell this fuck anything about my club, but this should already be common knowledge on the street. “No.”
“I can hook you up. I mean, Sway never wanted in on the trade but I got a connection.”
Thank fuck Sway was good for something. “No,” I growl, growing more irritated with this fucker every second.
“That’s cool. That’s cool.”
Finally, he shuts up.
How much longer do I have to put up with this bullshit?
Chapter Eleven
Lilly
My brother’s called every day to see how we’re doing. I can’t tell if it’s an affectionate check-up or I’ll be subject to more judgment in the future, but I can’t worry about it today.
“They’re here!” Heidi races outside before anyone else even looks up.
Murphy was finally released.
I’m so happy for him. And for Alexa, who missed him terribly.
But I can’t help being sad for Z.
And scared for him. Now he’ll be all alone.
With a big smile stretched across his face, one arm around Heidi and the other one carrying Alexa, Murphy swaggers into the house.
He leans down and kisses the top of Heidi’s head, whispering something to her that makes her nod and release him.
Alexa clearly isn’t planning to let go of her daddy any time soon. Her little arms tighten around his neck. She’d had the attention of her uncles every day while Murphy was gone, but it obviously wasn’t the same. He pats her back. “Let me talk to Aunt Lilly for a minute.”
She shakes her head and buries her little face against his shoulder.
Surprised I’m the first one he wants to talk to, I meet him in the hallway. “Welcome home.” Mentally, I give myself a high-five for not crying as the words come out. I’m thrilled Murphy’s home, but I can’t help the ache blooming in my chest that Z’s not here too.
Murphy wraps his free arm around my shoulders and steers me into the sitting room. “How you doing, Lilly?”
“Me? I’m fine. Is Z okay?”
“He’s okay.” He drops his voice. “Z can handle himself. You don’t have to worry.”
“Thank you, Murphy.” I force my mouth into a tired smile. “Even though I felt better knowing you were with him, I’m really glad you’re home.”
He pats Alexa’s back again. “Me too.”
Rock walks up behind them and puts an arm around Murphy. “Feel good to be out?”
“Heck, yeah.” He turns slightly, facing Rock. “Although—”
“You want to take off for a few days?”
“Not until Z’s out.” He glances at Alexa and then Chance, who’s clinging to my leg.
“Sounds like a plan.” Rock lifts his chin at Alexa. “She can stay with us when you do decide to go.”
Murphy hesitates, glancing at Alexa and then over at Heidi. “Nah, I think we’ll do a family trip.” His mouth quirks and he slaps Rock’s chest. “I’m banking that babysitting time for our honeymoon.”
Rock tips his head back and laughs. “Fair enough. Where you thinking of going?”
“Rhode Island? Somewhere with a beach.” He casts a guilty look around the room. “I shouldn’t be too far in case you need me.”
“You’ve earned some time away,” Rock assures him. Over the last few days, it’s become clear why some of the guys jokingly refer to Rock as “Dad.”
Murphy squeezes Alexa. “Want to build some sand castles?”
“No.” Her face is still smooshed against Murphy’s shoulder so the answer comes out muffled.
“She’s reverted back to saying ‘no’ to everything,” Heidi says. She forces a smile, taking the sting out of her words. “We missed you.”
Murphy wraps his free arm around her and snuggles his girls close.
I pat his shoulder and step away to give their little family some privacy.
Where will Z want to go when he gets out?
That’s right, when. Not if.
Will he be able to go anywhere? They’d completely dropped the charges against Murphy. Z might not be so lucky. Making bail will be the first step while we wait for his case to go to trial. I can’t deal with that right now, so I wander into the living room.
Chance has really taken to Hope. After the commotion of having Murphy home dies down, he scurries over to the couch, where he curls up next to Hope and asks her to read to him.
A little while later, Alexa crawls up next to me and into my lap, listening in on story time.
“He can read that one,” I finally admit, since Hope’s voice has dwindled down to a scratchy rasp.
“Oh really?” She sneaks her hand over and tickles Chance’s side.
“Yes!” Chance says through giggles.
God, it feels so good to hear him laugh.
“Where’d Murphy go?” I whisper to Hope.
Hope points over her shoulder—the direction of Murphy’s house. “I assume he poofed out of here with Heidi.”
From the doorway, Rock chuckles. “I told them they had an hour.”
“Aw, you’re the coolest mom and dad ever,” I tease.
Without looking up from the book, she kicks out her foot, barely brushing my leg. “Shush now.”
The doorbell rings and I freeze. Too scared to answer the door to my house. What if it’s the cops with bad news? Or here with another arrest warrant for someone else? What if Z has been hurt?
“I got it, Lilly.” Teller calls out as he passes the living room.
My freak-out dissipates as soon as I hear Wrath’s big, booming voice from the foyer.
Other than everyone happy Murphy’s out, the mood is somber in the house.
“We should make an appearance at the clubhouse,” Rock suggests to Teller. He glances at the clock and then me. “It’s early. The kids can come. Play out back a little.”
Teller nods and Wrath promises to run next door and drag Murphy and Heidi over.
Go to the clubhouse without Z? I don’t know if I can do that.
One glance at Rock says it’s not optional.
Chapter Twelve
Lilly
After discussing the logistics of who is riding in or on what vehicle, we end up at the clubhouse.
I haven’t been here since the night Z was arrested. I’m rooted to the gravel, staring at the spot where the cops threw Z to the ground. Unable to move
forward or say a word.
“You okay, hon?” Rock asks, touching my shoulder.
I snap out of my trance and shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“We won’t be long. I didn’t want you alone at the house and we need to take care of a few things here.”
“It’s okay.” I’ve noticed, even though Rock rarely apologizes for anything, he seems to be sensitive to how his decisions effect everyone around him.
“I’m okay,” I assure him. “Ready?” I take Chance’s hand. He doesn’t seem to be affected by being at the clubhouse. I parked in a totally different spot, so maybe that helped.
“Is Daddy here?” he asks.
Or not.