“He’s working and the kids have a sitter.”
“Do I get to meet this guy or…”
“Yes! Of course you can meet him. His life is just…”
“Crazy because he’s involved with the mob?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Sorry. All the allegations against the Murray family are just that. Allegations.” She takes a pointed sip of her cider and then tops herself up. Older sisters will bring you a beverage as a gift and drink half of it…
“The Murray family?”
“Play dumb,” Averie says, and I can tell from her smug tone that she’s about to launch into one of her older sibling girl boss themed speeches that I have been subject to from a young age. “I did the research and carried out a thorough investigation when I heard you were running across the country with this man. He seems… I don’t know. Competent, I guess.”
“Thanks.”
“Did he tell you that he won a bunch of football awards in high school?”
“That was ages ago.”
Averie shrugs. “I’m telling you. I did the research.”
By Averie’s standards, this is a glowing review, drippingwith approval. She can be impossible to please sometimes, not like any of the guys she dates seem bothered by that.
I haven’t had a girls’ night with my sister in forever. The older you get, the less time you have to spend with the people you love. After the adventure I had with Isaac, I didn’t realize how much I missed Averie or how desperate I was to ground myself in something that felt like my old life.
Averie updates me about her job, crazy clients and coworker drama, which never fails to entertain. I give her a tour of the apartment and show her pictures of Isaac, including ones that make him look good. She seems really impressed by the little study he made for me in our new place – it’s quiet with a nice modern desk and a Henry Miller chair, a tall bookshelf for all the books I’ll need and space for my favorite stuffed animal to stay perched on the desk.
I can tell he loves you.
Again, another glowing review by my sister’s standards. By the time she leaves, I feel vindicated from my most recent public humiliation. Averie really was worried about me, and I hate to make her worry.
She doesn’t give me shit about the fact that Isaac has three kids. She knows he can and does support them, and all she cares about is that they’re not the kind to take a piss on my pillow. (Averie’s concerns, not mine.) I get along just fine with Isaac’s kids so far. They’re sweet, and I can’t imagine ever abandoning them. Like me, Averie feels bad for what they’ve been through.
By the time she leaves, I’m ready for bed, but I make sure to send her a little check-in text because this feels like the best bonding time we’ve had in ages.
Me: I had so much fun. Text me when you get home.
Averie: I will. Love you Gabz.
Averie: So proud of my sister.
Ugh. It feels amazing to read that and to have a text version that I can screenshot and keep forever to remind myself that my sister doesn’t think I’m a total screw up. She never liked my ex-boyfriend so to have her giving Isaac a chance so soon means a lot to me.
There are still so many days I have here alone, but I’m ready to make a life for myself so I can be ready for life with Isaac. My first day of graduate school starts soon and I’m a lot less scared knowing that through it all, Isaac will be at my side.
As long as he comes home safe.
Chapter Thirty
Isaac
We ride for eight days until we’re out in the desert where the Iron Frontier MC club house stands. We didn’t spill that bastard Scum’s blood for nothing. I’m part of the two man scout team with Christian Shaw. This is his first ride as a patched-in member of the club and I can tell he’s nervous, even if we’re unlikely to get discovered or shot to death out here. We have to go out on foot to get close to the club house undetected, but by the time we’re there, they have a party in full swing and we have plenty of opportunity to gather the information that we need to destroy them completely.
Christian has a camera with a big lens. He’s a little on the strange side. Masculine in all those ways but with black nail polish on his finger nails. Tattoos on his knuckles say DARK SIDE. Weird kid for twenty-one. He takes pictures of all the bikes and as many people as he can from our position on a big rock we find several hundred yards away. I’m surprised they don’t have snipers up here.
But they don’t expect anyone to know where this is – or to be dumb enough to come out here to a club house with abunch of ex-DHS agents turned rogue bikers armed to the teeth. This little paramilitary won’t be easy for us to take down. Christian’s camera shutters a few more times. I hate how the sound makes me nervous, like my heart can’t take it anymore when it’s really no big deal… Just a camera.