Page 58 of Whiskey's Redemption

Jamieson

“This is shit even I couldn’t think up.” Telling Wyatt that our mother’s ashes we’re now mixed in with other various people, pets, and vagrants, was not an easy task. The last thing I wanted to do was add stress to his life. He’s just getting his shit right, and telling Doll? Shit, I’m scared to see how she’s going to react.

Watching Wyatt use his opposite hand, trying to pack his bags up, is downright painful. I offered to help him, but he’s a stubborn brute and won’t even accept help with the simplest shit. He’s stressed today, and I have no idea why. Fuck, he was this way before I even told him about the crematorium. Something’s off. Something’s definitely off.

Circe is sitting to the side, staring, not saying a word. Not talking. That in itself is fucking scary, if even she can’t calm him.

“What’s going on?” I ask the two of them, hoping at least one will answer.

“Nothing,” Wyatt chirps off quickly. Yeah, something big is going on. I know it’s not them breaking up, because the rock of Gibraltar is still on her finger. The engagement ring he gave her last week has to be at least two carats. Her skinny fingers can hardly hold the thing up. I’m happy for him, really, but seeing the two of them on edge makes me itchy.

“You’re packing like there was a fire in the closet when I entered, so start telling me, or I’ll punch you in the jaw. Or I’ll tell that nurse of yours you had a relapse. She’ll be in here so fast with a syringe, you won’t know what hit you, Casper.” I’m sexually frustrated, I’m annoyed that things are worsening, and if these two don’t start talking, I’m going to lose my shit.

Just as IthinkWyatt’s about to talk, sister dearest storms into the room with her jailor slash boyfriend in tow. “Hey. What’s the big fuss you needed me to come here, Whiskey? And why is Wyatt packing in anger?”

Halting, Wyatt turns to us with fire in his eyes as I respond to Doll. “Fuck if I know why he’s steamin’ hot. Circe isn’t speaking either.” Looking at her, arms crossed and lips tight, I swear we’ll never get to the bottom of this without a serious family fight.

Traipsing in, Doll heads straight to Circe. It’s amazing how things have changed. It used to be Doll’s full attention was on Wyatt, but now she’s looking to the girl before the brother.

“Hey man, good to see you,” Risen says, offering out a hand.

“You, too. She keeping you on your toes?” My little sister can be a handful. No, she’s a basket full of grenades with one pin pulled.

Rolling his eyes, he chuckles. Doll innately knows she’s about to be outed. She turns and glares at Risen before placing her attention back on Circe. “More than you know, brother. More than you know.”

She’s had her ankle monitor off for a week now, and has been back to racing. Risen and her hooked up somewhere along the incarceration, and voilà! Love. Or, at least a heavylike.

“How’s the training going?” I ask. The reason I ask is that he’s been training right alongside her. He was once a cop, her cop, but that’s another story. Risen, he too has the racing bug. He tried out one of the cars at the house while they were holed up, and she noticed he had a knack for it. So Dad’s best friend and race partner has been working with him in one of Dad’s old Indy cars. Ben said he’s a natural.

“Yeah, good. Doll just cheats—”

“I don’t cheat! I use the full track to my advantage. Your problem is you can’t run the inside like I can. Pussy.” Rising up and leaving Circe stewing in the corner still, China tucks herself into the side of Risen. She’s happy, so I’m happy. Even if I know the history with him and Tre, I don’t bug it. That’s not my fight. Trellis and he will work it out eventually.

Turning my attention back to the pissed off brother in the corner, I watch him shove his shaver and toothbrush in the bag. We can’t leave him like this. I need to get him to tell us what the hell is going on. “Wyatt, this shit has got to stop. You can’t just keep bottling up crap when you’re pissed. Let us help you.”

Piping up, China tries her own approach, as he’s still not answering me. “Ghostman, look. Whatever the fuck it is, tell us. It can’t be that bad.”

Muttering, Wyatt pipes up, “You don’t know how bad this shit is.” He points to me. “Youare gonna be so pissed.”

“What the fuck did I do?”

Slamming clothing into the bag, he turns to Circe, clearly upset with her about something. “Ask her. She’s running off to see Carli and won’t tell me why.”

Pardon?

“You’re pissed off at Circe because she’s going to check on her friend?” China spews out, pissed at him.

“She won’t say. I’ve never held anything back from you,never. And you won’t tell me something that clearly has nothing to do with me,” Wyatt seethes.

“Why are you runningoff to Carli? What’s got his panties in a twist?” I ask.

Looking up from the floor with an apology clearly written on her face, Circe speaks. “I promised her I wouldn’t tell you, and she made me swear not one Crown goes with me. I’m sorry.”

“Circe, if you’re marrying into this family, there are never secrets.”

“Sorry, I can’t. She asked me to swear, and honestly, she wanted me to lie but I couldn’t, so I’m just not saying anything.”

Okay, now I’m pissed. “Does it have something to do with us? Is that why she made you promise no Crowns come with you?”

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