“Certainly hope so.”
“Man, this not being able to talk about stuff is tough.”
“It can be, but it’s how it has to be… It helps keep our women safe.”
“Our women.” I glanced up at him and smiled. “It sounds like you guys have your own harem or something.”
“Not like that at all… Like I said before, we are family. And we do whatever it takes to protect family. Simple as that.”
“And the girl from earlier?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Good.” I smiled. “Now what?”
“You give me a chance to catch my breath, and then, I’m going to have my way with you again.”
“Is that so?”
“Unless you have something else in mind?”
“No, I’m more than fine with another go, but after that, you’re going to have to feed me.”
“I think I can manage that.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m glad you came tonight.”
“I am, too.”
23
GOOSE
“Can’t believe you’re actually doing it.”
“It’s been a long time coming.”
“You sure you’re ready to take this on?”
“No, but it’s too late now.”
The sound of my kitchen being gutted to its bones echoed through the house. Cabinet doors crashed against the floor, wood splintered, and Seven chuckled when the countertop shattered against the sledgehammer.
The way my brothers were going at it, you would’ve thought that demolition was a competitive sport. I was trying to unbolt the last cabinet from the wall when Memphis came up and gave it a hard kick.
“Careful, man. That one’s structural.”
“It’s a cabinet.”
“Yeah, and it’s been holding this kitchen up since 1974.”
Seven stepped over and gave it another firm kick. This time, the cabinet came loose, and the wall did not collapse. At least, not yet.
Seven gave me a look as he muttered, “You’re welcome.”
Across the room, Skid was prying off the old, rotten trim with surgical precision, making sure to remove every last speckle, and Rusty was busy busting up the old tile floor, tossing the broken bits into a wheelbarrow as he went. Sawdust and grime hung in the air like a warning that my house would never be the same.
But then again, that was the point.
The old gal had been waiting a long time for this, and I had, too.
