Page 124 of Filthy Liar

“Deal. Go finish your movie and enjoy your lunch. I need to see what Rory wanted me for.”

He scampered off, and Alex watched him go with a small smile. “He’s a good kid. He was a little bit standoffish with me at first, but he’s relaxed now.”

“Has Landon met them yet? Going from being an only child to a big brother to a baby and a twelve-year-old can be rough, especially since I have a feeling that Gregory will be around all the time too,” I pointed out, making him shrug.

“Landon met them the other day. Frank and Greg had a gaming day at our house to get a feel for things, and Landon spent a few hours gaming with them. They seem to be doing okay together. He’s also a grown man though, which helps. I don’t think only child syndrome will hit him. He’s barely home these days anyway.”

“Secret girlfriend?” I teased, amusement flashing in his eyes.

“If Landon had a girlfriend, his mother would know. He’s a momma's boy.”

I didn’t want to burst their bubble that even the kids who were like that had secrets, so I smiled.

“Well, I’m glad they’re getting along.”

Rory wandered out with more laundry, adding it to the pile before scooping it all up and walking towards the hallway again. “Raven, follow me.”

Alex went back to the living room, and I trailed after Rory as she made her way to the laundry room to get some loads on, my eyes scanning the multiple machines.

With fifteen to twenty people always living here, no wonder there were multiple machines.

“What did you need me for today?” I asked, still a little confused since the kids weren’t around.

“Didn’t really have a plan, to be honest. Figured you’d want to be out of the house while the guys were all busy,” she answered as she shoved clothes in the machine. “I have a few things to do today, so you can ride with me.”

“Like what? Please don’t take me to a murder meeting,” I groaned, making her snort.

“Nothing like that. I have to do groceries, drop a car off for a service, and check in with Lex. She’s just purchased a storefront on the edge of Blackwater, and I want to check it out.”

I frowned. “Why did she do that? She runs Wet Dreams, right?”

“She does, but Violet finally decided to retire from stripping, she’s been doing it forever, so Lexi offered her a job managing the girls. Lexi still has to do a lot of paperwork, but she doesn’t need to be at Wet Dreams every night now that Vi is taking over a lot.”

“So, what will Lexi do?”

“Opening a tattoo studio.”

“Lexi does tattoos?” I asked with surprise, and Rory motioned to her arms as she stood straight.

“She did mine in prison when we were cellmates. She does most of ours, but she’s been itching to do it more lately, so Vi’s time of needing a new job worked well. If you ever get tats, go to Lex. She’s good.”

“I can’t afford stuff like that, and I can’t if I’m going to be a teacher.”

“If they don’t hire you because of tattoos, I’ll take them to court,” she scoffed, putting one more load in before walking out of the room. I followed, and she continued. “If you could have any tattoo, what would it be?”

“Probably my brother’s name. I want my tattoos to mean something if I ever get them,” I said, and she chuckled.

“It might start out like that, but then you crave that ink and needle.”

“What was your first tattoo?”

She stopped walking, shrugging her jacket off, and pointing to a tattoo on her shoulder blade. “I got this tattoo not long after I met Skeet.”

“Warrior?” I asked, wondering what the meaning behind it was.

“Yeah. One of the Psychos did it while drinking one night. Probably wasn’t the best idea, but I was seventeen and angry with the world. Shitty dad, no mom, and I felt like I’d survived so many things by then. I had, but so much more was coming. I’m still here though, so I guess I’m a warrior after all.”

“You just let some random guy tattoo you while drunk?”

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