Page 114 of Dirty Legacy

We’re taken upstairs a couple hours later, longer than expected. Dad’s sitting up in bed, sunken and small, bandaged and stuck with needles and lines, but he’s awake and he’s smiling and he hugs his daughter and his wife for a long time.

“Told you I’d be fine,” he grunts at me.

“Never again, old man.”

He laughs and grimaces. “Don’t think I got any more adventures in me, son.”

I take his hand and squeeze it. I want to say, I love you, Dad, but that’s not in me. Instead, I touch his shoulder, and he nods back like he knows and that’s enough.

Angie and Rowan leave with me when the sun sets. Danielle insists on staying behind. I’m not sure if the nurses will let her stay over, but we’ll see. My sister gets in the car and I linger for a moment in the darkness of the parking lot, pulling Angie against me. I stoop down to kiss her.

“It’s weird,” she says, leaning her cheek against my chest. “There’s nobody trying to kill us anymore. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“We’ll find something for you to do.”

She snorts, patting my chest. “Easy, boy.”

“I meant this.” I reach down to touch her belly.

“It’s happening, isn’t it? After everything that happened, I’m not sure it scares me anymore. If I can survive you and your family⁠—“

I laugh and swat at her butt. “Easy there.”

“I mean, I can survive childbirth. And I can be a decent mother.”

“Damn right.”

The door to the car opens. “Are you two done playing grabass? I know it’s a nice moment and all, but I really want a shower.” Rowan glares and slams it closed again.

“Better go.” Angie sighs, hugging me harder. “Think my mom’s still up?”

“Do you care?”

“Not really.”

34

CONNOR

Five Months Later

I pause in the hallway and listen.

It’s quiet. That’s strange. I’m still not used to it. Ever since Dad, Danielle, and Rowan moved into their own place down the block, I keep catching myself wondering where they are.

Not like it’s far. I could be in their kitchen in two minutes tops if that’s what I wanted.

There’s a thump and a curse from around the corner and I smile to myself.

Hell, I got enough problems here.

“What are you doing, crazy woman?” I step into the doorway of the nursery to find my visibly pregnant wife in a tank top and sweats standing on a stool with a hammer and nails, bashing away like she’s trying to tear down the drywall. “Angelina! You stop that right now!”

“Hold on, almost… almost got it…” She hits her thumb and curses. The stool wobbles wildly and I rush forward, grabbing her by the hips and lifting her like she’s nothing, placing her down at my side.

“Let me see that.” I check her thumb and it’s only a shade red. “What the hell were you thinking, Angie?”

“I’m trying to hang the pictures for the baby.”