Page 21 of Filthy Liar

“Would both of you stop arguing? Frank and Lara don’t need to hear that shit. Besides, Beckett, I’ve already told you to stand down. Ander doesn’t get touched.”

“Mom, he’s?—”

“Beckett Donovan,” Skeeter said firmly, shutting her up instantly. “This is not a family matter, this is crew business. Slash and Hunter both agree that the best thing for the crews right now is to keep him alive, so you’re going to shut your mouth, keep your opinions to yourself, and respect the decision. That’s a direct order, understand?”

She fumed silently, muttering about going for a cigarette as she stalked off, and Skeeter let out a sigh. “I’ll deal with her. This is why it’s important to choose the mother of your children wisely, boys. Your daughters turn out like them as they get older.”

“That stabby little spitfire is all you, Skeet,” Rory replied dryly, affection simmering in her gaze. “Take her for a drive or something. We’ll meet you back here after the kids go to bed.”

He fished his keys from his pocket and glanced at Riley. “Lavaro isn’t staying at your house. That’s an order too.”

“Joke’s on you. I’m not part of your crew, so your orders don’t mean shit to me,” Riley said sweetly, and Skeeter pointed to her while looking at Rory.

“You deal with that one.”

“Sold. She’s my good child,” Rory joked, winking at Riley.

Skeeter rolled his eyes but smiled as he went in the direction that Beckett had gone, and Rory lifted her chin at me.

“Can you watch Lara while I deal with a few things? If she falls asleep, put her in the nursery. She’s been fed already.”

“I’ve got her,” I confirmed, knowing it wouldn’t take long for Lara to fall asleep from the way her eyelids kept drooping.

Rory and Riley went to talk in private, and I headed up to the nursery with Logan right behind me, Reid and Zavier getting comfortable in the kitchen to wait for everyone to be ready for the meeting.

“Where are you taking her?” Frank asked in a startled voice when I walked past a room, poking my head in to check on him. He was in Noah’s room, a game controller in hand and worry on his face as he eyed his sister.

“Getting her ready for bed. You want to come with?” I asked, knowing he’d want to know where she was sleeping.

Logan took the controller and ruffled Frank’s hair slightly, giving him a grin. “I’ll battle Noah while you’re gone.”

I wanted to let Frank be a kid, but I wasn’t going to tell him no when he reached out to take Lara from my arms to rock her himself. It would be a difficult transition for him after being her parent this whole time, but hopefully, he’d slowly let other people parent her so he could go to school and do other things.

I showed him where the nursery was, and it didn’t take long for him to get her to sleep.

He was exhausted, sitting in front of the crib to watch her sleep, and I sat with him for a while before giving his shoulder a nudge.

“We should ask Rory which room’s yours.”

“I need to stay with Lara,” he said quickly, his hands curling into fists on his lap. “I can’t?—”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, right?” I asked, waiting for him to nod before continuing. “I promise Rory and her family are good people. I know you don’t want to let them look after Lara, but you can let them help. You’re a kid, Frank. It’s okay for you to be one for a while. Go to school, hang out with friends, and let them watch her while you do it.”

“She’s my sister. I’m all she needs,” he said, but his voice wavered slightly.

“Exactly. Be her brother, but you don’t have to be her parent now. Maybe ask Rory about Greg coming over to game or something?”

“They’d let him?”

“I think so. If you guys don’t steal their shit or disrespect them, they’d let you do a lot. It’s hard to lean on people when you’ve only had yourself for so long, trust me, I know. Try, okay?”

He nodded, his hands relaxing a little as he looked over at me. “Do you think they’ll make me go to a fancy school? I haven’t been to school in ages. What if the kids think I’m stupid?”

“What school would you want to go to?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want a fancy private one though.”

“I don’t think they’ll force you to go to one. Ashburn Valley’s middle school is a good option.”

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