Shrugging, I lift Paul’s lifeless body and toss it into the chipper, dusting my hands when I’m done. As he sprays out the other side as pink mist, my eyes drift down at the jellied remains of Ezra’s stepmomma, confused, because her insides don’t look nearly as pink asPaul’s. All her bits are blood red. “Why is her guts all red when his are pink?”
Pete blinks at me like I’m stupid. That ain’t the lady, bro. That’s an old batch of rotten strawberries Momma picked last week. They went bad too fast, so I used them as compost.”
“Then where the hell is his she?”
Pete blushes. “My wife wouldn’t let me hurt a woman, and I can’t say I disagree. She’s decided to keep her as a cuddlebug. I think they took a liking to each other.” He chews his cheek. “Can women like women the same way men like men? I’m still trying to figure all this gay stuff out.”
I nod at Pete. “Women who like women are called lesbians. Well, they’re also called bisexual, but that’s only if they’re attracted to men and women, not just women.”
Pete blinks at me. “This sounds really confusing.”
I slug him in the arm. “We’ll get you there.” Furrowing my brow, I add, “Ezra can’t know. I don’t particularly want to end a woman’s life, but I don’t want my boy hurt, either. You keep her in that house, chained. If Ezra so much as smells a whiff of her perfume, I’m holding you responsible.”
Pete shrugs. “That’s fine. I don’t think Maybelle was planning on letting her loose on the farm anyway. I’ll make sure we keep the door locked. I’m kind of relieved, honestly. Truth be told, we’ve never had much of a marriage. Not like Momma and Daddy. We’re married out of obligation. Maybe if she’s got herself a woman, I can find myself a man.” He stares over at me, and I can already hear the question before he says a word. “Can I have your son?”
My eyes bulge. “You can’thavehim, because he’s not property. He’s my pride and joy.” I poke Pete in the chest. “Jay will be here soon enough. The rest of The Core Four too. If Jaden wants it, I’ll allowit, but I swear to god, if you hurt my boy, you and I are going to have a problem.”
A smile splits Pete’s face. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
I stare down at his unwashed hands, still coated in blood, and raise an eyebrow. “Sure.”
With my approval, and his promises of treating my son like a lady when he courts him, Pete shuffles away, and a few moments later, Ladonna joins me, slipping her hand into mine.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I didn’t have to kill anyone, thankfully. Maybelle is keeping his stepmomma as a pet, and Ezra’s daddy’s heart gave out after a few seconds of heat. I would’ve killed him, though. He hurt my boy. No one hurts my boy.”
She smiles. “He’s a gem, our Ezra. Sassy as heck, but sweet as can be.” She squeezes my hand. “He’s going to need you. I think Barbara is his—”
“Mother,” I agree. “I’ve had a hunch for a while, just from the way he describes her. His daddy admitted it before he died.”
“She’s not long for this world,” Ladonna says. “I think she’s been sticking around just to make sure he’s safe.” Her grip tightens. “It’s going to kill him, but it’s going to happen, and he needs to be ready.”
I nod, my heart breaking for Ezzy. “I’ll love him through it. Me and Johnny.”
“And me,” she says. “And the rest of us. We’re family here, and this family takes care of our own. That includes you and all of yours.”
“We were thinking of starting up another welding shop. It’s what me and my boys love doing. Melting metal together. I talked to Dallas on the phone during the drive in, and him and the boys are getting it all set up. They’re moving my shop here too. I hope you won’t mind, Momma Ladonna.”
Ladonna chuckles and shakes her head. “Baby, I’m getting my boy back. You could build a nudie bar and I’d still be happy as a lark.” She scrunches her brows together. “Please don’t open a nudie bar, though. It might give Maybelline the wrong idea.”
I snort a laugh. “You ain’t got to worry about that.” I pause before adding, “Ezzy and her seem to get along”
“They’re inseparable. He’s really good with her too. He’d never admit it, but I think he likes her a whole lot more than he lets on.”
“That’s usually how it goes with Ezra. He puts up a wall to keep people out, but he’s a big softy underneath.”
“He’d make a good dad one day. Johnny too.” She peeks up at me, hopeful. “I’m not sure how that would work with the three of you being men, but I sure do hope Johnny will give me another grandbaby someday.”
“Momma Ladonna, I’m afraid to admit you may just have to settle for Ezzy. I’m not sure any of us want kids. I’ve already raised mine, so I ain’t missing out. Johnny might want one, one day. I guess we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. Ezzy would be a great dad, though.” I look around the wilderness surrounding us and sigh, building myself up for what comes next. “I ought to go let him know about his daddy.”
Since I don’t know where Ezzy has been sleeping, Ladonna has to point me in the right direction, and what I see when I open the door to Ezra’s temporary bedroom is enough to leave me breathless.
Inches from the door, Ezra and Johnny are kneeling, facing me, naked as the day they were born. They’re both fully hard with twin beads of pre-cum pearled at their tips.
“Those are some mighty fine cocks, boys. Daddy’s so fucking proud of you both.” I palm my bulge, which is pressing a little more snugly against my underwear than it was before. Because of them. Because ofwhat I mean to them. I smile at Ezra. “Baby, give your other Daddy a kiss.”
Ezra’s eyes roll back in his head, and he lets out an ungodly moan. It’s one that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Johnny takes a low, shuddering breath, his entire body trembling.
