“Thanks, Copper.”
“You know I’ll have to tell the other brothers in church so we can decide the best way to handle the situation with Shane and Sydney.”
“I know. I just don’t want anyone to treat her differently.”
“They won’t,” he promised.
I nodded and stood from my seat, ready to go find Aspen.
“I think you two should stay here tonight,” he added.
“We are.”
“Good. Layla and I are too. Let’s go find our women. I’m beat,” he said and yawned.
We found them curled up on one of the sofas in the common room talking quietly. “You ready for bed, Locks?”
“Ready when you are,” Layla said and got up to go to Copper. “I’m sure I’ll see y’all tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Aspen and I said at the same time.
“We’re going to sleep here tonight,” I told Aspen and led her down the hallway to my room.
“Can you tell me what happened?” she asked once we were in bed.
“That’s an interesting way to ask.”
“Layla mentioned that you might not be able to tell me. She explained why, and I get it. I don’t like it all that much, but I do understand.”
“I freaking love my aunt. She’s really the best.”
“Layla’s your aunt?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah. She’s my biological mother’s sister. I didn’t tell you that?”
“No, you most certainly did not. So, Copper’s your uncle?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I guess he is. How have I not put that together before now?”
“Technically, you didn’t. I did,” she pointed out.
I was enjoying our lighthearted moment and didn’t want it to end, but I knew she wanted answers. “Whatever I tell you cannot leave this room. No matter what.”
“Understood.”
“Shane broke into your house because he wanted the package that keeps showing up on your front porch.”
“Why? Is it his?”
“No, it’s not. It’s cocaine, and it belongs to the person he buys it from.”
“Cocaine?” she almost shouted. “I’ve been driving around with it in my car! I took it to the post office! It’s in my fucking house right now!”
“Which is exactly why we’re sleeping here tonight.”
“Then, what?”
“I honestly don’t know. We’re going to figure it out in the morning. But since it’s Luke’s house, I’m thinking they’ll call him and let him handle it.”