Page 143 of Myla: The Hawthornes

“As far as anyone is concerned, Richie’s dead,” I countered firmly. “No reason to think he’s not.”

“Not yet.”

I nodded. At some point, they’d know he was alive, but by then they’d also know that he was in the custody of the US Marshals—not with us.

“Richie’s alive?” Myla asked, staring at us wide-eyed.

I hadn’t realized that she’d wandered back in from the kitchen and was watching us.

Instant nausea made my stomach flip.

Aoife winced and glared at me. “You didn’t tell her?”

“I didn’t tell anyone,” I replied, turning toward Myla.

“Richie’s alive,” Myla muttered, her eyes unfocused. “The hits just keep on coming.”

Fuck.

“He couldn’t tell ya,” Tommy said, perched on the back of the couch. “It was need to know.”

“Bullshit,” Myla shot back. “That has to do with club business. This isn’t club business.”

Tommy’s mouth snapped shut. She wasn’t wrong.

“Myla—”

“I think I want to go to bed now,” she said tiredly. She looked at her aunt and uncle. “Thanks for coming.”

“Always,” Molly replied as she pulled Will to his feet. They quickly said their goodbyes and left.

“You sure you don’t want us to stay?” Heather asked Myla, her hands on Myla’s shoulders. “I can take the couch. Your dad can sleep on the floor.”

“I’m not sleepin’ on the floor,” Tommy corrected. “I’m too old for that shit.”

“You’re gonna sleep in the car if you don’t shut it,” Heather replied, not even bothering to look at him.

“I’m good,” Myla said, her lips twitching. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

Soon, the only people left were Aoife and Myla’s best friends.

“I’ll go, too,” Aoife said. “We’re sleeping at Titus and Noel’s tonight.”

“One of you can take my bed.”

“I already put Sean in there,” Aoife replied. “You need to clean that pit.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Aiofe snorted like a pig and gave me a hug before turning to Myla.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said softly. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“I will,” Myla replied.

I walked my sister to the door and watched her from the porch as she got in her car and drove away. When I came back inside, Lou and Frankie had their arms around Myla, their voices so low I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Locking the door behind me, I walked toward them.

---