Page 39 of Pound

Not many people could say their brother got in touch with himself through what most people considered a gang. But the biggest change, that had been recently. Once JJ was back in his life. Trip finally seemed whole.

He cocked his head in her direction. “What?”

“Nothing. Just you. When did you get so wise? You’re my little brother. I’m supposed to guide you, not the other way around.” Trip gave her a quick side hug across the console.

“We got each other’s back, right? Which is why I need you to let that shit out, Meri. You were kidnapped and abused and then claimed. Followed by your ol’ man’s wife being very much alive and in the house where you were kept. I mean, come on. That’s some straight-up daytime soap opera bullshit like Mom used to watch, and you’re sitting there all proper and calm. Not to mention all the fucking shit that went down with Jake. Get mad already. You can’t keep going like this or you’re going to explode.”

Meri didn’t miss his white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. He was close to losing it himself. Whether on her behalf or because of Jake, she didn’t know. Pound had told her what he could about Jake and when she looked in her brother’s eyes, it just confirmed what he’d said. Cris knew what the man had done yet was still haunted by it, however it’d ended.

She was convinced he needed to scream more than her.

“Scream, Meri.”

Not waiting for her, Trip yelled into the car and cursed. It startled her at first, but he kept going, adding words.

“FUCKING JAKE!”

Meri felt his rage, and it fueled hers.

She balled up her fists, took a deep breath and just screamed into the car until the sound trailed off.

“That’s it, let it go, sis.”

“Fucking Jake. How could he do that? To JJ, to his kids, to everyone. I hate him so much.” She shouted the words in a rush.

“Amen. But you haven’t been able to say it because you’re the best mom I know.” He spoke softly, but she heard, and his words hit home. It was true, she’d learned to hold back for the kid’s sake, and now she held back on everything, at least a little.

“And that bastard Leone. He thought he had the right to just take me and my kids if he wanted. Who the fuck does that? He was raping his own sister, for fuck’s sake.” That was when it hit her that Anna was really Lea. “AHHHHHHHHHH!”

She shouted again, and Trip joined her. To any passing cars they would’ve looked certifiable, but Meri hadn’t felt that cleansed in a long time. Even with all her time in therapy, she felt more emotionally free shouting it out in a piece-of-shit car rolling down the 95.

“Tony,” she shouted his name but shivered at what could’ve happened to her had Anna not saved her.

“Damn right. Fuck ’em all. Pound too.”

She was on a roll and started to mirror his words but caught herself.

“No, Trip.” She reached over, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Pound isn’t wrong here.”

“Like hell he’s not. He’d rather reconnect with his dead wife than help you deal with what happened.”

“Cris.” She put the mom tone on it, and he tucked his chin just like James did when she spoke to him that way. “You’re blinded because of me, but he’s not wrong. Joe did help me through my shit, as you call it. As much as he could with the limited time we had, but what kind of man would you think of him if he just ignored her completely?”

She raised an eyebrow in question, but Trip didn’t answer.

“He’s carried that guilt for years and he got a shot at closure that most of us never get. How can you blame him for taking it? He needed it. As much as it complicates things, I’m glad she’s alive. Without her, I would’ve been sexually assaulted and who knows what else. She loves Joe no matter what happened in the past. She cares and only wants what’s best for him.”

“How can you say that? You don’t know—”

“I do, Trip. I know a little from both parties. She thought she’d die helping me and wanted me to get a message to Joe. I didn’t realize Pound was Joe at the time, but she’s sorry for everything and I hate to admit it, but I understand her.”

Meri had not seen that look of disbelief in her brother’s eyes before.

“How can you justify—”

“Let me ask you something. Do you blame JJ for how she handled what happened all those years ago? Pushing you away? Letting you think worse of her than your best friend?”

“Hell no. She did what she thought was right. What she had to in order to deal with… you know, wait, you know what he did?” Meri nodded.

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