“That’s good.” He heard her suck in a breath. “What did they charge you with?”
“Nothing. They didn’t have shit on any of us. Fuckin’ badges,” he grumbled.
Relief coated her voice. “I’m so happy it worked out. I was worried.” Silence for a beat, but then it was broken with the loud bickering of his niece and nephew in the background. “Arrêtez!I’m talking to your Uncle Roche. Go in the other room.” She laughed softly. “They drive me crazy sometimes. I don’t remember us fighting this much when we were five and seven, or really at any age.”
“You and I have always gotten along. Lille only gave a shit about herself, and Henri was another thing entirely. He fought with all of us, evenMaman.”
Another pause ensued. “So are you celebrating being back on the outside?”
He glanced at the three naked women and a wicked smile crossed his lips. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“That’s good. Very good.” Another pause, that time longer than the last.
She wants to say something to me, but she’s so fuckin’ nervous.“Spill it. Why the fuck did youreallycall me?”
“I’m insulted. I always call to say hi and see how you are.”
“Yeah, but you don’t always act so fuckin’ nervous that I can feel your sweat from way over here. Just level with me.”
She breathed deeply and he imagined she was frowning, her brows creasing together like they always did when she was nervous, perplexed, or frustrated. “Okay. Promise you won’t freak out on me and hang up.”
Rock’s stomach knotted. “I’m not promising shit. Just tell me.”
“Pa’s sick. He’s been in the hospital, and they think it’s cancer. They’re doing a bunch of tests, and I thought—”
“What in fuck’s name made you think I’d give a shit abouthim? He fuckin’ murdered our mother, in case you forgot.”
“I knew you’d be mad.”
“Damn straight. I’m fuckin’ pissed.” His loud voice bounced off the walls and the thin blonde stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Her gaze locked with his and she blew him a kiss before closing her eyes again, her hand running up and down his thigh. “I don’t wanna talk about it. I don’t give a shit if he dies. The way I see it, it’s fuckin’ karma,” he said in a low voice.
“Do you have someone with you? You’re almost whispering.”
“Yeah, so I gotta go.”
“Please don’t shut me out. I know Pa did something unspeakable and horrendous, but he was crazy drunk. That’s why he got second-degree murder and will be eligible for parole in about ten years.”
“And I’ll make sure I make the trip back to the pen to tell the goddamned parole board to never let his murdering ass out. I’ll never forget or forgive what he did toMaman.”
“I understand, but everyone deserves a little bit of compassion, don’t they?”
Rock’s eyes narrowed, the warmth glowing in him from an amazing session of fucking replaced with icy cold hardness. “No. Some people deserve to die without an ounce of sympathy. He’s fuckin’ one of them. I really gotta go.”
“You knowMamanwould’ve wanted you to forgive him,” she murmured, barely audible.
He jutted out his jaw, his fists clenched. “Yeah, well, I’m notMaman. She was kind and forgiving and look where it got her—murdered on a cold floor in a shithole by a cruel, drunk sonofabitch. I’ll take bitterness and hate any time.”
“Okay. I’m sorry I brought it up. I thought that after all this time you’d have softened a bit.”
“You were wrong. I’ll never soften about what he did. To me, he’s dead. I never want to hear about him again unless he’s up for parole.”
“When are you going to come out and see us? It’s been too long. You’d barely recognize Aline and Michael. We talk about you all the time, and they love the gifts you send them. It’s time to come home for a visit. I miss you.”
Her cheerfulness didn’t fool him.Poor Isa. She’s taken the role Maman had—the kind, loving peacemaker.“I’ll think about it. How are Lille and that piece of shit Henri?”
She laughed. “Lille is still trying to snag a rich man. She just divorced Robert and is already sniffing around Mr. Amelix.”
“That old fart? Fuck, can he even get it up?”
