Her mother’s face turned a squeamish shade of green, and the woman started picking at the palm of her hands.
“I have a meeting with the Department of Justice in an hour. You might want to fit in a massage before they rescind your bail.”
With that parting shot, Faith left the conference room, ignoring her mother’s wild pleas and demands that she return. She sailed past reception and made it to the elevator before her legs gave out.
She had one goal left. Meet with the Department of Justice and do the right thing. Then go home to Fire Lake and make alife for herself. One filled with the things that mattered. One that could make her proud.
Even without Gus, she knew it was where she needed to be. Maybe luck would come her way again. Maybe she would find another man to make her heart sing.
It was a big maybe. But it was all she had.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Saturday morning came quietly on the tail end of a storm that had brought a deluge of rain and high winds. Gus had gone for a run and was soaked through when he got back to his place. While his mother made breakfast he grabbed a quick shower. Neither one spoke, a he barely touched his food. He was too amped up because his brothers were due to arrive at his place within the hour.
Iris was still in Fire Lake, along with Ford and Sunday, who were as much in the dark as the boys. He’d given his youngest sister a quick rundown on his conversation with their mother and he knew the two of them had spoken the night before.
Iris and Clarice had always had friction between them. Gus wasn’t sure if it was a mother-daughter thing or if it was because they were very different people. Either way, he knew his sister would be hard on their mother, but he was staying out of it. Iris had a right to her feelings and how to express them.
He put his plate in the dishwasher and headed to his room. Once there, he closed the door and grabbed his phone to call Walker. His buddy picked up on the second ring.
“My man,” Walker said. “The boys there?”
“Soon.”
“What can I do ya for?”
Gus scratched at his head while rummaging through his closet for a T-shirt. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Probably Monday.”
“We covered that yesterday.”
“Right.”
“You good?”
Gus tossed the T-shirt onto his bed. “Yeah.”
“I’m going to guess the reason for this call is about a certain woman who’s five-foot-six with hair the color of apple cider and a butt that looks fucking hot in a pair of jean shorts.”
Gus scowled at the phone and fought the urge to toss it.
“In answer to your non-question, she seems okay.”
“You’re at The Dock right now.”
“I am. Their breakfast buffet is the best.” There was a pause. “Do you want me to pass along a message or hand her my phone?”
“Did you get the last kitchen installed?”
“Okay. Now we’re talking about work. In answer to your question, I sure did. This isn’t my first rodeo so don’t worry. All is good in Fire Lake.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“When do your brothers arrive?”
“Within the hour.”
“I’d say good luck, but I’m sure things will work out the way they’re supposed to.”
