Five minutes later, I pull up to the curb outside Red’s house. He’s in the driveway playing basketball with his fiancé, Stella, and her sister, Selma. Lexie, Stella’s best friend is also there. Red’s six-year-old daughter is sitting on Stella’s shoulders and his five-year-old sister is sitting on his.
Shit. The last thing I need is an audience, which is what I have as they all freeze when they see me.
But it is what it is. I open the truck door and get out. Oscar is already on the pavement, then pulls the seat forward and practically drags Henri out.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Red says aggressively, but his eyes soften as he sees Oscar and Henri huddled next to me.
“We need your help, Red,” I say hearing the panic in my voice. I wave my hand toward the kids. “Oscar and Henri.”
I realize how scruffy I look. I haven’t shaved this morning. I’m still wearing the faded Iron Maiden T-shirt. At least I had the good sense to put on my boots.
Red hands Sorcha to Lexie and Stella sets Gabby on the ground.
“Let’s talk inside,” he says.
I shake my head. “No time for that. I need to leave Oscar and Henri with you. Maybe a week. Maybe longer.”
“A week!” Henri and Oscar exclaim at the same time.
“Maybe a couple of days,” I reply to them. “Until I sort out this mess.”
“Why?” Red sounds aggressive, but that’s fair. He wants to bury his past and he can’t do that if anything related to Hell’s Jury comes back at him.
“You’re the only one I trust right now. I can’t explain. I have to go.”
He glances uneasily at Oscar and Henri, then shakes his head. “I don’t?—”
“Of course he will,” Selma says as she shoves herself between Stella and Red.
“What the hell?” Stella elbows Selma out of the way. “Of course we’ll take them.” She looks at Red. “We can put an extra bed in the spare room.”
“I’m not sleeping in the same room he is,” Henri says in disgust as she looks at Oscar.
Sorcha bounces up to her. “You don’t have to. You can sleep in my room.” She stops herself. “I mean me and Gabby’s room. Gabby’s going home tomorrow.” She says to Gabby, “Is it okay if Henri uses your bed while you’re gone?”
Gabby nods at Sorcha. “I get to sleep with her tonight though.”
Sorcha looks disgruntled, but Selma jumps in. “Of course, if it’s okay with Henri.”
“Jesus,” Red says under his breath as he glances irritably at his future sister-in-law.
“Okay, that’s settled,” I say quickly before anyone changes their minds.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Red snarls as I turn back to the truck.
All his girls say, “Language.” It’s like being back at the clubhouse.
“It’s okay,” Stella says as she hugs Red’s waist. “We’ll figure it out.”
Red glares at Stella. “They have no clothes. What about school?”
“Wow,” Selma says. “Do you ever sound domesticated.”
Lexie elbows her. “Shut up.”
I turn towards Red but keep walking backwards. “They’re expelled from school. They need to stay out of sight. And… I don’t fuckin’ know. Buy them some clothes.”
I open the truck door, pause, guilt hitting me hard. I need to be a better father I tell myself as I stride over to Oscar and hug him tight. “Don’t fuck around.”
