“I’m not going anywhere,” reminding her that it’s a promise.
She simply nods, then she makes me smile when she says, “Can I have my underwear back?”
I shake my head, she isn’t getting them back.
Chapter 24
Lottie
Myheadfuckinghurts.
Between Keola’s confession that he’s not going anywhere and that we might be in a relationship, but he’s giving me a choice to say how I feel once I know what I’m feeling. And then there’s the fact that Cedric has become a fall man or middleman for a drug ring that another motorcycle club in the state, that is also revivals of the Grim Wolves to begin with.
And to top it all off, Cedric may have been the one recruiting the teens.
My heart can’t take anymore news.
I may show on the outside that I’m steady as a rock, but inside I’m crumbling to pieces, every crack and seam splitting open again.
Keola had taken me home, leaving me with the lingering feeling of wanting more time.
As I walked into my home, both my nephew and my aunt gave me a worried look like a teenager coming home from a night of partying.
Fuck, how am I going to explain this to Finn.
The boy and I don’t keep secrets from each other. But the last thing I want is for Finn to feel like he can’t trust anyone if he finds out that Cedric has been in the middle of everything.
Finn saw how Marcus came into the building, harmed and particularly broken.
My mind continues to race thinking about how Marcus could have been covering up and protecting Cedric. I clutch my chest at the ache inside.
Finn looks at me with worry, “I’m going to make you some tea.”
Bless the child. He goes into the kitchen as I sit on the coffee table, facing my aunt as she places the book in her hand down on the couch.
“Chere, what happened?” My aunt's eyes start to soften, “When Keola messaged me, I was just happy that you were safe, but I gathered that something happened in between.”
I tell her everything, the words just spew out of my mouth in a rushing waterfall. Between what Brayden found out, what Keola knew, and who Keola actually is both our minds are still spinning, but what I don’t expect is my nephew coming around the corner, eavesdropping.
“So it’s true?” he questions me, looking for me to confirm his suspicions. I don’t know how much he has heard, but he’s already questioning.
“How much did you hear?”
“Just assume I know everything and still have questions,” he walks back over to the couch, placing my tea in my hands.
“You and me both, kid,” I say, taking a sip of the warm earthy tea. “Tell me what you know.”
He sits crisscrossed, his hands in his lap, his dark brown eyes looking at me. “Keola belongs to a motorcycle gang that aren’t completely good guys but they aren’t bad either.”
“Motorcycle club.” I corrected him. He scrunches his face, I throw my hands in defense, miming that I would be quiet.
“Keola is in aclubthat may or may not be linked to anotherclubthat Cedric may have gotten himself in trouble with.” Never underestimate a ten year old kid that’s smarter than you. He’s like a fucking sponge.
“Pretty much,” I confirm, trying to take another sip of the tea.
“And you slept at his house last night.” Finn says. I choke on my tea as it drips down the wrong pipe.
“Finnick Cole,” my aunt exclaims, with a tiny smirk on her face. He shrugs, “I may be ten, but I ain’t stupid.” Oh my head, I’m not ready for the damn birds and bees conversation with him.
