Page 77 of When The Noise Stops

"I don't know how long she's staying. I don't know what happens next. I just—I wanted you to know. That's all."

"Okay."

We sat there. The apartment was quiet. I could hear the TV in the background.

Then a knock at the door.

I got up. Opened it.

Gabby was standing there.

"Mom said to come get Daddy," she said.

"She said you been over here too long."

Knox stood up. His jaw tightened.

"Tell her I'm coming."

Gabby looked at me. Then at him. Then back at me before walking off.

As soon as he left, I called Ronny.

She picked up on the first ring.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Why do you always assume something's wrong?"

"Because you never call me this late unless something's wrong."

I sighed. Sat down on the couch. Pulled my knees up.

"Knox's ex-wife showed up."

Silence.

"His what?"

Chapter 32

Lila

The morning after Knox's ex showed up, there was a knock at my door.

I had just got out of the shower. I had a huge order today.

I opened it.

Tiny was the first one I saw. Hawk behind him. Sully leaning against the railing. Deacon at the bottom of the stairs.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Tiny looked at me. Serious. No joke in his face.

"We need to talk."

I stepped back. Let them in.