Page 28 of Roxy's Independence
“And we’ll help him, Foxy. Him and Easton both.”
This may not be the right time, but it needs to be said. I open and close my mouth a few times before gathering enough nerve to say, “We need to get him into grief counseling. The sooner, the better.”
“That’s already in the works. Getting him there, however, is going to be the issue,” he states. “He doesn’t trust outsiders. It took him years to warm up to us and let us in.”
“Then we need to make him realize it’s for Easton. He’ll do it for him,” I press. “I know he will.”
“I hope you’re right, Foxy. Come here, I need to hold you.” I get up with Easton and we settle into Weston’s lap. “Did you know he was named after me in a roundabout way?”
“I thought maybe,” I answer. “And it doesn’t surprise me seeing as they made you his godfather.”
“Two ends of a compass, Kinsley told me when they announced his name and handed him to me. Always pointing in different directions but connected in the middle at the same time. God, Foxy, this sucks.”
What can I say to that? It does, it sucks. It’s horrific and tragic but somehow, someway, we need to find a way to heal—even if right now, that doesn’t seem possible. I snuggle into him, restmy head on his shoulder, and comfort him the best I can by simply being in his arms and letting him feel my love.
EPILOGUE
Saber
It’s beensix days since we found Kinsley’s lifeless body at the motel. Standing at the gravesite as her funeral is underway, it’s cloudy and dismal out just like all of our moods. The official report was as expected but still has us wondering what triggered Macon to do what he did.
Was it Kinsley moving on without him?
Was it because she had a child with another man?
Had he plain and simply lost his mind, knew he wanted to end things but decided he wasn’t going to do it without the love of his life?
The note he left behind is being safeguarded, it’s not being shared with the public which means it must have some sensitive information in it because otherwise, it makes no damn sense why Brick, with his contacts, can’t get his eyes on it.
Not even our tech savvy members can find a trace of it online.
And what’s got me confused, is the fact that most of Macon’s military and civilian records have been redacted. Like they’re trying to nix the important parts of his life. What was that fucker involved in? I have a shit ton of questions that I’m not sure will ever be answered.
I miss hearing the sermon because my mind is stuck on these things. My body jerks when the casket is lowered and I kick myself in the ass for being oblivious. But that seems to be the course of things lately. I can’t concentrate, I’m existing but that’s about it. Like the rest of the guys, I feel like a damn failure.
So much has happened since the night we lost Kinsley that I can’t wrap my mind around it all without wanting to tear apart the universe. Tamara and her boy were taken so we put off the service for as long as we could while traipsing through town trying to locate them. Thank fuck for Hannah, Faith, and Amelia. Our gifts feel like burdens from time to time, but if it wasn’t for the three of them, we likely may have never found Tamara and Chance. Faith and Hannah did the communication thing but Ameilia was the interpreter. She laid witness to what they saw as Chance was led through where he was being held captive and passed that information on.
They’re the real heroes.
My eyes laser in on Python as he carts his boy over to the lowered casket and tosses rose petals into the hole. As they float down, a caress floats through the air.
A sisterly touch saying goodbye to one of her brothers.
“We’re gonna miss the fuck out of you Kinsley,” I whisper. She and I may not have gotten close like I have with the rest of theold ladies, but she meant something to me—to all of us. “Take care of yourself. I hope you find peace in the afterlife.”
For the next few days, I’ve lost count of how many there have been, I become even more overbearing with Roxy than I normally am.
I’m her shadow.
I can’t stand to let her out of my sight for even a second.
She’s been pretty accommodating and hasn’t complained once.
I’ve even climbed in behind her during her bubble bath time and wrapped my arms around her, just holding her and feeling her heartbeat.
I need to feel her life essence as it flows through her body.
I’m constantly laying my hand on her just to feel her pulse, letting it soothe me.
