“That’s a lie!” she shrieked.
“No, Mom. It’s not,” Roman cut in. “Rex is right. We’ve been worried about you for months. You need rehab.”
She shoved his hand off her shoulder and pushed him away from her. “No I don’t. I’ve raised you two boys”— she skewered me with a glare— “alone, I may add. You’re old enough to do your own thing now. It wouldn’t hurt you to cook once in a while or wash your own clothes?—”
“You’re right; it wouldn’t hurt us,” Rex snarled. “Except you sold the fuckin’ washer and dryer three months agofor smack!”
Bree’s cheeks flushed, but she tilted her chin defiantly.
“Go get anythin’ you wanna keep, boys,” I ordered, my eyes glued to their mom. “I’ll get some bags but just bring the shit you really wanna keep. You can go into Rock Springs tomorrow and get anythin’ else you need.”
They trooped out of the room and disappeared upstairs, leaving me alone with their mother.
“I can’tbelieveyou,” she spat.
I shot toward her, crowding her into the wall, and leaned down in her face. “I’m warnin’ you, Breanna, I’m holdin’ on here by a thread. For months, you’ve been neglectin’ my boys, and they’ve been protectin’ you. It stops now. This is the last time I’m gonna ask ya; come with us and get help, if not for your own sake, do it for Rex and Rome.”
Her face twisted. “I’m not going anywhere withyou.”
“Right.” I stepped back and turned, pulling my phone out as I headed down the hall toward the front door. That bitch had made her choice, and I wasn’t about to waste my time trying to show her the error of her ways. I had to get my boys organized and out of here.
Within minutes, I’d called an old buddy of mine and arranged for him to drop some luggage off. Then I called Bootneck. The phone barely rang before he answered, “Yo. How’s Cali?”
I heaved out a breath.
“Shit,” he muttered.
“Breanna’s deep in addiction,” I told him, my voice grating. “She’s not comin’ back with us.”
He paused briefly before muttering, “Sorry, Ade.”
“I don’t give a fuck about that bitch,” I spat. “I feel for my boys though. Their mother’s given them up for smack, and she hasn’t even tried to hide it to soften the blow.”
“They’ve got us, brother,” Boot reminded me.
“Just wanted more for them,” I admitted. “It’s like history repeatin’ itself.”
“Bullshit,” Bootneck shot back. “They’ve got a dad who would kill for ’em and a club of men and women at their back who would die for ’em. It’s a fuck of a lot more than you had. They’re gonna be fed and clothed and schooled. Knowin’ you, they’ll have the best clothes, the best sneakers, a nice ride, and a comfortable home. They’re gonna be okay, Ade.”
“Yeah,” I replied, my thoughts racing. “Can you ask Zara to make sure the boys’ bedsheets are changed. Gonna start house huntin’ tomorrow, but in the meantime, they’ll be at the clubhouse.”
“I’ll move out of my room for the boys,” Boot offered. “They’ll feel more comfortable next to you and it’s plenty big enough for a couple of queen sizes. There’s no closet, but I can get another wardrobe and a dresser moved in there.”
“Thanks, brother,” I said earnestly. “It’s only until I can go house huntin’.”
He let out a snort. “At least you can get Ash to help with that.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, but in reality, my stomach dropped. There was no way in hell I’d get to go see her this week. My boys needed me, and I had to enroll them in school and get them settled into the clubhouse.
“Where’s Thug?” Bootneck asked.
My spine bristled. “He’s on a little job for me. Why?”
“I could do with him here, is all,” Boot relayed. “Got Huntley Junior thinkin’ he’s the big man in town again.”
“What’s the little pissant done now?” I demanded.
“Rumor has it that he’s hittin’ up a few stores in town for protection money.”
