“Yes, that’s what I need.” He gave a mirthless laugh as he headed straight towards the bar. Sliding behind it like he owned the place. Reaching for a bottle of scotch on a high shelf.
“Are they ok staying….”
“They are all welcome to stay at mine and Truths for as long as they need. Parker as well.”
Not bothering with a glass, he tipped the mouth of the bottle against his lips and took a deep swallow. “When I am back, I will get everyone settled in the clubhouse. Until this is all over that’s the safest place for everyone.”
That wasn’t his decision to make but I wasn’t about to argue with him. It was the only way to keep them safe.
“Let’s do this.” He wiped the back of his hand against his lips. “And Wicked? You look after my sister and my old lady ok?”
“Always brother.” I clapped him on the back. In a manly hug that I hoped showed him that I always had his back.
***
It was a strange thing. Being afraid to go into my own house. But I was. Not because I feared any danger there. No, it was something more raw than that.
Inside those four walls, people were grieving. Women would be crying. And I had never been good with those things. Give me violence over tears any day.
I just wasn’t that kind of man. The kind that women or children turned to for comfort. I physically didn’t know how anyway.
Still, I wasn’t a coward either. Ruin had asked me to make sure they were all safe. So that’s what I would do.
Crossing the uneven grass, I let myself in quietly. The house was dark. Dark and as silent as the grave. I had been half-expecting wailing and sobbing and somehow the quiet was worse.
Not bothering to kick off my boots I headed towards the low flickering light of the tv in the lounge.
“Hey.” The prospect was sat by the window. Looking out in to the dark street. Mentally I put a tick by his name. If he had been kicking back and watching tv I would have made sure he never patched in.
“Hey.” We were almost whispering and I wasn’t sure why. My eyes swept around the room. The reason why soon became apparent.,
Truth’s old lady Cali was curled up on the sofa. Her eyes unseeing as she stared at the muted television. Against her shoulder. Chelsea was asleep. Even in the dim light, I could see how blotchy her skin looked. How red and puffy her eyes were.
She had fallen asleep crying.
“You doing ok Cali?”
“Yeah, I’m doing ok.” Her eyes flicked towards me and then away again.
She wasn’t ok. If she had been she would have told me off for wearing my boots in the house. In the months since she had become Truth’s old lady, she had laid down the rules. One of them was to take our boots off at the door.
“Where is everybody?”
“Avery and Parker are in my bed. And well… Chelsea is right here. I told her to go and lay in your bed but she wouldn’t have any of it. Even when I told her that you wouldn’t mind.”
Of course, I didn’t mind, Chelsea had already been in my bed tonight. Not that I could ever say that out loud.
“I’ll take her up.” Gently so I didn’t wake her I lifted Chelsea into my arms. “And then I will keep watch whilst you sleep.”
Cali’s eyes widened. “Is that really necessary?”
“Yes.” A one word answer. Cali was new to the club she didn’t understand but she was about to. Hell, it would be a crash course. Luckily for her, she was a quick learner.
“Is Truth at the police station?”
“Yes.” I stood there with Chelsea cradled in my arms like a baby and studied my brother’s woman. “But don’t get any ideas, Cali. If they need you they will call.”
Cali was a lawyer, a very good one. But right now she was just Truths old lady and it was my job to keep her safe.