“Shut up,” I tell him.
“I’ll be in touch,” Hal says, tipping his head at my brother. “Liam.”
“Hal,” Liam says, giving him a smile. “Nice not to be on the other side today.”
“Miracles do happen,” Hal says, stalking away from us like his ass is on fire.
“Where to?” Liam asks as he rounds the front of the truck.
“The garage,” I tell him, wanting nothing more than to go back to work and forget this entire shitty day ever happened.
“So, you ever going to tell me what happened?” he asks as soon as we’re both inside the truck and a block away from the station.
“No.”
“Damn, brother. Tell me. I’m not going to say shit. What made you snap? You’re always so calm.”
“He hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.”
“The girl?” he asks, and I know he’s talking about Lulu.
“No, but someone close to her. He deserved everything I gave him and more, brother.”
Liam sucks in a breath between his teeth. “Probably. Men like that always do. She okay?”
“Who?” I ask, my mind elsewhere as the city streets blur by.
“Lulu’s girl.”
I nod. “Physically, yes. But mentally, I don’t know.”
“Shitty people out there, man. Shitty people. What did Hal say?”
“Best case is four.”
“Four what?” Liam rolls to a stop at a light and turns his gaze toward me. “Days?”
“Months.”
Liam’s eyes widen. “What? That’s insane.”
I shrug. “I did a lot of damage.”
“Sounds like he is the one who deserves to be behind bars for four months, not you. What the hell am I going to do if you’re gone?”
“Take care of the garage. You’re a big boy.”
“You’re the responsible one.”
“Fuck. I know. Don’t let it all fall to shit, so when I get out, I beat your ass and wind up right back behind bars again.”
Liam laughs. “It ain’t gonna happen.”
“What?”
“You’re not going for four months. Hal will work his magic. You wait and see. I can’t have you gone for four months. I can’t. I’m too much of a fuckup for all that responsibility.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” I whisper. “I know Hal’s good, but I don’t think he can work that kind of miracle.”
