Page 17 of At The End Of The Day

A brow arched. Good answer. There was one of my concerns squashed. He had no resentment towards my niece or nephew because of who their father was.

She sighed and tilted her head toward the house. Yeah, that’s true. They are so damn incredible.

Every time they were near one another, he touched her, whether it was to caress her cheek, tuck her hair behind an ear, or something as simple as grazing her fingers on the table. Now was no different as he slowly stroked her jawline. They really are. Look, we were just kids back then. We ain’t so dumb no more. We got a chance to make things right, let’s just forget what happened and focus on that.

I don’t know what to do. We can’t hide out here forever, but we can’t go home. She paused to stare at him somberly. He will kill us.

I cringed and finally took that drag, my insides heavy with the burden of betrayals from the one person I never thought would do anything to harm me or my sister. Jackyl had fooled us all.

So, I’ve been thinking about that. We could always go to the cops—

White hot rage zapped through my soul so severely, my teeth grated and sweat beaded my brow. Motherfucker!

And tell them what? she snorted with a shriek.

I dunno. Be an evidence witness, or something, to their gang activity. Don’t they do that witness relocation shit?

First of all, I don’t think they would do that for a local, Mobile, Alabama gang. Secondly, the Serpents are my family, Ty. I would never rat them out. No matter where I go in this world with you when we leave here, I will always be a Serpent, and anything that may or may not incriminate my brothers and sisters will go to my grave with me. I will never betray them, not even for you.

That is one good fucking answer, Tiny, Dash’s angry, baritone voice broke through a moment before he emerged from the bottom of the screen.

“Oh, shit,” I muttered in unison with Violetta. This wasn’t good. Why did he have to hear that?

His features scrunched with rage, evil flickered in his darkening gems that were deadlocked on Tyler. And frankly, it seriously pisses me the fuck off you would even suggest that, you worthless piece of shit.

The timid pussy of a little boy I met ten years ago didn’t back off, matching his animosity right off the bat. Excuse the fuck outta me for trying to save the woman I love and her kids. Tell me you wouldn’t do the same.

Unfortunately for him, Dash wasn’t one to back down, either. Turn on my brothers? Fuck, no, I wouldn’t, but someone like you wouldn’t know nothing about loyalty, huh?

Man, fuck you. You don’t know shit about me.

“Oh, shit, here we go.”

Abruptly hopping to my feet while smashing out the cigarette, I darted from the room and down the stairs, jogging for the back door.

“Where you going, Uncle Vinny?”

“Outside real quick.”

“Can we come?” Eddie asked with excitement.

“Not right now. Stay here and finish the cartoon. I’ll be right back.”

“Aw, man.”

“Stop it,” Edwina snapped. “Mommy promised us ice cream with caramel if we’re good. Don’t be bad.”

As they argued, I rushed outside, slamming the door behind me. Bounding down the several different layers of porch built into the side of the mountain, I made my way down to the path and followed it into the woods.

“Look, this is really getting us nowhere,” her voice echoed through the trees.

Dash fired back with, “Alls I know is everything was fine. You and Jackyl were happy and everything was fine until this motherfucker popped back up.”

“That’s not entirely true, Dash.”

My footsteps slowed, warning bells ringing at the hollowness of her tone. My muscles tensing, I approached apprehensively, almost afraid to continue forward.

Dash picking up the same vibes shouted, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Tiny?”