Page 66 of Big Red

To an old friend.

To my family.

And to him.

“Thor, are you crying again?” Blade asks in the background.

“No! How many times do I have to tell you I have allergies!”

There are a few chuckles around the group. “Allergies my ass. Somebody get this crybaby some tissue.”

“Look, just because my man is in tune with his sensitive side doesn’t make him less of a man,” Madison scolds.

“Sensitive side?” Blade chortles.

“Madison!” Thor reprimands her before storming away.

Everyone howls with laughter, watching Madison chase after Thor. Standing to my feet, I pull Cindy and Colt to me as Red wraps his arms around me.

“You know what would make this night even better?” I tell him.

“Anything you want, it’s yours, kitten.”

“Ice cream.”

Red throws his head back, giving a big belly laugh. “Really?”

“Yes. It’s my biggest craving, and right now, a double scoop of mint chocolate chip on a waffle cone sounds like heaven.”

“Well, let's say goodbye and get out of here.”

Twenty minutes later, we’re loaded into the truck and on our way to the ice cream parlor. We sit at a table, talking and laughing while eating our ice cream. Red is a little jealous because the kids only want to sit on my side of the booth.

Colt told his dad they still loved him but missed me. That made my heart sting a bit. Even though I still had movie nights with them, I know it wasn’t the same, not seeing me every day. It’s okay, though, because we have forever to make up for that time.

After eating our ice cream, we play a few games in the game room before heading back to the clubhouse.

We aren’t on the road a full five minutes before flashing lights catch our attention. When the officer turns on the siren, I look at Red in a panic.

“Calm down, kitten.” He pulls his phone out to make a call, but it’s dead. “Alice, do you have your phone?”

Shaking my head frantically, I watch the review mirror. “No. I didn’t think I was leaving the compound earlier, so I left it on my bed.”

“Fuck,” he growls between clenched teeth.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Colt asks.

“It’s going to be okay. Just stay in the truck no matter what.”

“Dad.” Cindy’s voice shakes.

“It’s going to be okay,” he repeats.

Once Red pulls over, I recognize the office getting out of the truck. Xavier has been friends with Declan since middle school. He taps the window with his baton harder than necessary causing the kids to jump.

“Get out of the truck, please.”

“For what? You haven’t even told me why?—”

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