“That leaves the hospital. They have backup generators if the power goes out, but people who panic tend to cause problems, so I want one of you on hand to help hospital security keep on top of things.” Blake looks at me, so I nod.
“I’ll do it. I’ll bring Sorrow with me. She can sit with Stephenson.”
“No sign of him being released yet?” Kellen frowns.
“I think they’re being extra cautious because he lives alone. We offered him the spare room, but he refused. Sorrow thinks he’s being stubborn, but I know he just doesn’t want to be a burden on us.”
“Hard to know some days if I’m supposed to hate the guy or feel sorry for him.” Kellen sighs.
“I know the feeling, but I defer to Sorrow. She’s the one who got hurt in this. If she can forgive him, who the fuck am I to hold a grudge?”
“Your girl is too sweet for her own good,” Felix complains.
I grunt in response, because he’s not wrong. It’s who she is, and I don’t want to change her.
“Alright, everyone knows what they need to do. Check in regularly and for fuck sake, call in back up if you need it,” Blake orders as we all get up and start filing out.
“Yes, Dad,” Kellen jokes, ducking when Blake throws something at his head.
I feel my back pocket vibrate, so I pull out my cell and smile when I see it’s Sorrow. “Hey, baby, everything okay?”
“Yeah. We’re good. I’m heading out to pick up some more supplies and take them over to the church, just in case. It’s never a good idea to have just one evacuation point, because if it floods, we’re fucked.”
“Good point. Stay where you are, and I’ll come with you.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got the van, which is why I offered to go, as I have plenty of space. You’re busy and?—”
“When are you gonna learn, I’m never too busy for you. Now sit your cute ass down and wait for me. I’m on my way.”
I hang up before she can argue, knowing she won’t leave without me.
“That Sorrow? Everything okay at the center?” Blake frowns as he and Marcus come to a stop.
“They’re good.” I fill them in on what Sorrow said about grabbing supplies for the church.
“Smart.” Marcus nods.
“Yeah, we really should have thought about it ourselves.” Blake sighs, running his fingers through his hair. The man has been working like a machine lately, and it’s beginning to show.
“Go home, Blake. Get some fucking rest before the shit hits the fan.”
He looks about to argue, but Marcus crosses his arms over his chest and glares at him. “I’ll lock up and go with Banner. Between him, me, and Sorrow, we’ll get shit sorted. And if there are any issues, I’ll call. Serious, get some sleep. You’re no good to any of us when you’re dead on your feet. Pick up your wife andgo spend a little downtime with your family. And for fuck sake, take a nap.”
“Fine. Fuck it.”
The fact that he’s giving in at all shows how tired he is. By the time we get rid of him and argue over whose truck to take (FYI, Marcus wins), thirty minutes have passed.
When we pull up next to Sorrow’s van, Marcus looks at me. “She gonna be pissed we made her wait?”
“This is Sorrow we’re talking about. She’s more likely to apologize for making us come, even though it was my idea.”
“You need to break her of that habit.”
“I’m working on it,” I tell him as I jump out. “We’ll meet you at the store.”
“You got it.”
Sorrow climbs out of the driver’s seat when she spots me and jumps into my arms. I catch her with my hands under her ass and lay one on her. She tastes like bubblegum and home, a combination that’s become my new addiction.
