Page 8 of Fighting a Riot

“We aren’t running a charity here,” Roll muttered.

Trixie’s head reared back. Yak wished they weren’t in his way because he didn’t want to hear them squabble.

“Well, you better hope your nieces never need help like this woman does. Or God forbid our daughter finds herself in a messed up sitch like this because that Karma is all for you, mister.”

Roll put a hand behind his neck and tipped his head back with a groan. Then he leveled his eyes on Yak. “I got a place she can stay rent-free… but you aren’t gonna like it.”

Trixie turned a sly look at Yak. “Or, just maybe he will.”

A hollow feeling invaded his insides. “No, man. I know it’s your property, but seriously… I…” His protest died on his lips. He didn’t want Nora so close, and yet, having her that close would mean he could take care of her.

No. He couldn’t take care of her. Twenty-four hours ago she was engaged.

“You seriously what?” Roll asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing. Do your thing. I’m not stopping you.”

Roll turned his head an inch. “You actually could stop me, Yak. You been paying me extra just to keep the damn place vacant. It’s the only reason it came to mind.”

When Yak first moved into the old house on the outskirts of Avondale, Roll had an idiot renting the converted detached garage in the back yard. The dumbass blared his music until the wee hours of the morning, which didn’t bother Yak… until the fuckin’ cops showed up pounding on his door. He and Roll had made it clear that shit wouldn’t fly, but the message didn’t sink in.

The moment the asshole was evicted, Yak had handed Roll a wad of cash. “Keep it vacant, man. I don’t have time for dipshits like that everyday.”

Never in his wildest dreams had Yak expected that to come back to bite him in the ass.

“Bet you wish you’d bought a house of your own now, don’t ya?” Trixie asked.

“Trix, you gotta lay off,” Roll said.

Yak shook his head. “Go talk to her, Roll.”

Roll dipped his chin. “Sure, but how about you introduce me.”

“I got a dozen rentals in town. One of them has been vacant for nearly six months,” Roll said to Nora.

Roll was settled in the recliner, his arm around Trixie who had perched a hip on the arm rest. Nora sat on his bed with her back against the headboard. Yak kept his distance by leaning against his dresser.

“Where is it?” Nora asked.

“Not far from here. It’s a duplex—”

“No,” Yak said, surprising himself and everyone else.

Nora’s green eyes widened at him. “Why would you say that?”

“I looked at that duplex. It’s right next to the railroad. You’ll never get any sleep.”

That was half his reasoning. In reality, he didn’t trust the area. Vamp and Cal had been out there four times to replace the windows in the past six years due to break-ins.

“I could always use ear plugs and a white noise app on my phone, Noah - I mean, Yak.”

“How do you know his name?” Trixie asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Nora smiled and Yak braced against the dresser. Yep. A real smile from her could knock him over.

“It was dumb luck, I guess,” she said.

Yak didn’t believe it was dumb luck because he didn’t believe in luck.

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