“Tell me something about her.”
“Blonde.” A watery chuckle escaped. “Newly…weds. Gerry bought…their home. When…my house…available. She talked…my dad…into buying as a…rental. So, we…would be…close.”
Thunder stood by my side the rest of the day. Through the luncheon, on the drive back to my house, and even through the exhaustion as we all sat around my kitchen table. No one paid attention to the bullet holes and torn-up grass in the front.
“Did anyone else think that was a who’s who of the underworld?” Pretty asked, eating his sandwich with his mouth full.
“I thought a fight was going to break out, so I had a hold on Aunt E’s back, and Zook stood behind me taking pictures. We sent them to Cyph already.” How sat at my counter, eating potato salad out of the plastic container. Pretty wasn’t interested, so How was safe. It wasn’t my mother’s recipe.
“Seriously?” Sabre reached for the bag of chips, pouring some onto his plate. “I wanted pictures, but I couldn’t figure out a way to do it without drawing attention.”
“No, the best part was when that woman asked Grizz what he did for a living.” Op laughed. He hadn’t been on the list of bodyguards, but Stella had pulled through the gates by herself, and he’d volunteered.
“Who was…that?” There had been people from every section of Gerry’s life, and I couldn’t place the woman they were talking about.
“I’m not sure, but when she asked me, all I could think of was the time Gerry questioned if I was ‘one of those starving artist types.’ I told her I was a carpenter.” He jiggled Meredith as she sat curled in his lap. “Don’t think she expected that.”
“At least it wasn’t the man who propositioned me.” Pretty continued to eat his sandwich.
“Who did that?” Wreck leaned forward, forgetting the plate in front of him as his elbow dragged through the ranch dressing.
“Some lawyer type. He asked how I knew Gerry, and when I said I was family, he got a little too close. The dude pushed up on me, grazed my ass and shit. I was bored and thought about hitting it, but lawyers are not worth the energy.”
“I’m glad…it’s over,” I said, changing the topic.
“Me, too.” Grace leaned towards Sabre. “When are we going home?”
“Whenever you’re ready. I didn’t know if you had anything to do while we’re here. Count’s closed the tit show until we get back. I also called Kelly. She’ll stay as long as you need, but when she has class, Pebbles is going to take over.”
“Take…whatever you…want from… your Dad’s house.”
Her brow puckered. “What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
“In case…looted. Take what…you want. Dad’s.” Silent tears fell from Meredith’s eyes as she tucked her face between Grizz’s neck and shoulder.
“Tomorrow. I also need to get the rest of my stuff from the pool house.” Her lips tipped up at the corners. “You never grabbed JR’s college fund from the closet,” Grace directed at Sabre.
He shrugged. “Oops. I already had Count create a fund for JR, so if the money’s still there, we’ll start saving for this one.” He nodded towards her.
“Just let me know when you’re leaving, and I’ll walk over.” Stella’s curls bounced around her heart-shaped face.
“No.” Dead’s voice rang out across the table.
“My parents live in this neighborhood.” I hadn’t seen them in several years, but it was nice that they supported Meredith. Gerry hadn’t made very many friends in this neighborhood.
“I don’t care.”
“Her parents offered me their spare bedroom when they figured out I’m her bodyguard.” Op yawned, stretching his arms toward the sky. “I’ll take care of it.” Dead stared at Op, but Op wouldn’t back down. “I said I’d take care of it.”
“Things…to do. I stay.” Every eye at the table turned to focus on me, but I didn’t elaborate. I wasn’t ready to return to the clubhouse when I needed to deal with this house. It hadn’t been a home, and it was time to take what I wanted and leave.
Thunder and I hadn’t talked since he’d walked out of the bedroom doorbefore I’d left for the dinner with Alex. It had been days, and while we still stood side-by-side, neither one of us had addressed where we were heading.
No one pushed us, but we were awkward with each other.
“Alright,” Thunder said, catching my gaze. He had already accepted whatever fate I decided.
***
