Page 53 of Live Love Steal
“Let her.”
If she’d have taken him in earlier when we talked in the first place, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten so bad. “I gave her the copay when?” I knew when, but I needed someone else to corroborate the details.
“I think it was eight o’clock.”
“Almost four hours ago.” I squeezed the steering wheel, strangling Sharon’s imaginary neck.
Isobel noticed and stayed silent.
“Who does that shit?”
There was silence as an answer. Isobel finally spoke up. “I know you’re not asking me, you’re just angry.”
“Damn straight I am.”
“And when we get there?” she prodded.
She had a point. “I gotta play it cool.” Because if I didn’t, I’d lose custody completely.
Isobel reached across the car and put her hand on my leg. I dropped mine to cover hers. “Thank you.”
She squeezed my knee. I could’ve lost custody this morning for not showing up in court. I could’ve been thrown in jail for driving a stolen car with over fifteen grand of product in it. I could’ve been caught in the alley beating up a gang banger. I could’ve been arrested on two murder charges. Too many close calls in one day. Maybe the universe was telling me something?
Maybe I wasn’t a good father?
If I’d have quit the club when Sharon asked, I’d have been the one to take him in today. He’d have gotten the help he needed sooner. There was no guarantee that Sharon and I would be together, especially since I could hardly stand her anymore, but Noah would have two parents to take care of him, rather than one unstable parent and a father who might be arrested on murder charges tomorrow.
I didn’t deserve him.
I didn’t deserve Isobel, either.
She made a noise that caught my attention. “What if someone talks? There were three people with Victor.”
“They know better.” And Bear and Griz would make certain the ones who knew anything were dead before the sun rose.
“But…”
“Iz, the Destroyers cultivate a reputation for a reason. Days like today… people will hear rumors, and think the worst. Everyone has an alibi, but the street will know we do whatever it takes to get the job done. And, that we protect our own.”
“I’m not yours.”
“Not yet.” Maybe not ever. That was… “Iz, I never gave you much of a choice, did I? And with the problems we’re going to face because of tonight, you should bail. I wouldn’t blame you. But the others would.” That came out badly, but it was accurate.
She thought about what I said, then spoke, “I know that. Bear, as much as he likes me, wouldn’t think twice about killing me to protect you.”
Even if he knew it would send me into a tailspin I might never survive. I let go of her hand and concentrated on the road.
“Did you know Victor hit my little sister?”
I didn’t. And her change of subject was working toward a point, so I remained quiet.
“It wasn’t the first time, but this time was bad enough that she called me. I took off from work two weeks ago, drove into that sketchy neighborhood, and faced down his idiot club member’s gun to help Audrey load the car. We didn’t get all of her stuff.” Her frown filled the pause.
“Which one pulled a gun on you?” He was a dead man.
“The one with him tonight. Whoosh shot him.”
“Good.”
