Page 14 of The Devil's Scars

“What?”

“Nothing.” She took a deep breath. “Look, it’s OK. I can handle it.”

“Baby girl.” His voice gentled. “I know you been handlin’ things on your own for a while now, and you don’t ask for help, even if you need it. That’s why I ain’t waitin’ for you to ask for my help, ‘cause I’d be waitin’ forever… I’m just givin’ it to you, whether you like it or not.”

She was horrified when tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn’t speak.

“So listen up,” he said. “You don’t have to do this on your own. Not anymore. You’re home now, and you got me, and I know you ain’t comfortable around them, but you got the boys in your corner, too, believe me. We’ll do anything you need. You just ask us, Zee, and we’ll do it for you.”

She swallowed hard.

“Zee? You there?”

“Yeah,” she managed to whisper.

“You heard me?”

“Yeah.”

“So. What do you need, baby girl?”

“A crib.” She wiped her tears away. “A mattress, bed sheets and bumpers for the crib. A changing table. A high chair.”

A pause, and she knew he was writing everything down. “Got it.”

“Wolf?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, you relax, OK? Hang out, watch TV, unpack, have a bath, whatever. The guys will be there in a few hours with the baby stuff, and if you think you want to come to the party tonight, come to the bar with them or grab a taxi.”

“I can drive.”

“Not if you’re gonna have even one drink.”

“But – ”

“No ‘buts’. Someone will get you home safe when you’re ready to go, you just ask. We always have at least three sober guys, just in case.”

“In case what?”

“In case shit starts.”

“Oh. Right.”

“So.” She heard the smile in his voice. “Go have a bowl of the mint chocolate-chip ice cream that I know is in your freezer, and kick back.”

She burst into laughter. “God, Wolf. You know me so well, huh?”

“I do. Like a sister.”

“OK, then. I’ll wait here for the guys. And I’ll see about dropping by the bar tonight, OK? I’m picking up Willa and Keira from the airport at noon tomorrow, so it’ll be an early night no matter what.”

“All good.” He paused. “Hey, Zee?”

“Yeah?”

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