Page 71 of Sugar and Skulls

My dad went to jail to protect me. He killed for me.

Crow.

Where does he fit in all this?

Katie…what about Katie!

Dirk pulls my socks and shoes off bringing me back to my reality. Water is running in the next room. Raffe walks out wiping his hands off on a towel.

“I got the tub filled for you. Go soak.” He nudges my knee gently as he sits down beside me.

I briefly glance at the bathroom door. “I’m so selfish I forgot to ask about Katie. What is Bill going to do with her. She has school tomorrow too,” I say sadly.

Dirk places both of his hands on my knees, crouched in front of me. “He talked your social worker into helping him. Katie’s mom signed paperwork to give Candice temporary custody. It’s a start. If Katie’s mom doesn’t clean up her act then we will petition the court for full-custody.”

“Candice?” Wait my dad said something about wanting Candice to have custody of me when my grandparents passed.

“Ally’s mom. You met her at the warehouse,” Raffe reminds me gently.

“So, so she’s at the warehouse with Candice?” My brain has overheated. Everything is coming to me slowly.

“With her and Bill,” Dirk says, pulling me off the couch and walking me to the bathroom. “Don’t worry about Katie. They are taking good care of her. Bill and Candice are enrolling her in the same school Ally goes to in the morning.”

I stop dead in my tracks. “Bill and Candice…are they?”

Dirk shakes his head. “I don’t know what they are, Jess. I only know they are good friends. They lean on each other.”

I sigh, dropping my shoulders. I’m so goddamned tired all of a sudden. “Katie will be happy. She didn’t really have any friends in school,” I say quietly.

Dirk tugs on my arm. “Did you?” he asks.

“No,” I simply state before closing the door behind me.

After taking the warm, fragrant bath I’m truly exhausted. I climb out, dress in the clothes Raffe laid out for me, then stand at the door. I don’t have the energy to do anymore talking or thinking for that matter. I take a deep breath and open the door. Raffe and Dirk have made beds for themselves on two of the couches.

Raffe jumps up. “You want a snack, a drink, anything?” he asks, dipping his head to catch my eyes.

“No. Just sleep,” I murmur, rubbing my eyes.

Dirk walks over and gives me a gentle kiss on the lips, whispering a quick goodnight in my ear before stepping away. Raffe takes my hand and guides me upstairs.

“If you need anything just holler.” He tucks me into Dirk’s bed, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. He winks before heading down the stairs. “Sleep tight, sweetheart.”

My eyes blink sleepily as I listen to their hushed voices. I smile, secure in the fact that no one is going to take what’s mine tonight. Not with the two scary, sweet men downstairs. Tonight, I don’t need to sleep with one eye open.

Chapter Thirty-One

Dirk

???

Giggling is what stirs me from the best sleep I’ve had in some time. Raffe and Jesse being under the same roof as me probably has a lot do with it. I hate admitting that. Does it make me weak? Probably.

What the hell are they up to? When I sit up and look over the back of the couch the visual that greets me is straight out of a fucking Hallmark movie. Raffe and Jesse are covered in flour, their heads bowed over a bowl. Raffe is stirring whatever is in it with a large wooden spoon. Jesse is supervising, a beautiful smile on her face.

They are so goddamned beautiful together it makes me question whether I should join them or get up and walk out the door right now. Jesse sense’s my scrutiny, her eyes meet mine across the room. Her smile widens.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” She gives me the cutest little wave in greeting.

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