Page 76 of The Slayer
“It’s fine.” Tino moved his bad arm and then winced. “Nothing whiskey and Vicodin won’t fix.”
“Tino—” Wyatt started out warningly.
“I’m kidding, Sheriff.” Tino rolled his eyes, though he probablywasn’tkidding. “I’m an upstanding member of the community. I’ll just drink milk and take an aspirin.”
“Jesus, have fun with your third child,” Wyatt said to Jules. “I’m releasing him to your custody.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Jules sounded thrilled.
“Are you dropping Chuito off? Or does he need a ride?” Wyatt asked. “I’m not technically on shift. I can take him home.”
Chuito turned to Wyatt. “What about my car, man?”
“You got a concussion. Your car can stay at the Cellar until you’re feeling better.”
“We got it,” Jules said before Chuito could argue with Wyatt.
“But I thought Romeo and the kids were in the van?”
“I got it.” Jules gave her brother a dark, cryptic look. “Don’t you have to go wash your eyes with bleach?”
“Sure enough,” Wyatt agreed. “Some days I think I don’t get paid enough.”
“Motherfucker, your wife makes more money than God.” Tino was already walking out the door, but then he turned around and wagged his eyebrows at Wyatt. “Say hi to Tabitha for me.”
“Get out, Tino,” Wyatt growled. “I’ve had enough of you for today.”
When Tino walked out the door, Chuito hung back for a little bit and waited while Jules and Wyatt talked.
When Wyatt finally looked at him curiously, Chuito asked, “Are you gonna get in trouble for not booking us?”
Wyatt shook his head. “You’re not the first two fellas I’ve locked up for fighting and then released before booking. It’s fine.”
That worked for Chuito, and he followed Jules when she headed for the door.
“But really, don’t let it happen again,” Wyatt called after him. “Get your shit together. You need to sign that fucking contract. Your agent’s started callingme.”
“I got it,” Chuito promised him.
He just hoped he was telling the truth.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Are you okay, Alaine? I know this has gotta be stressful for you too.”
Alaine looked up at Romeo Wellings, who was leaning against the door of his van, big arms folded over his chest as he stared at the sheriff’s office. It was obvious he was tense. Alaine knew he used the excuse of staying with his and Jules’s toddler twin sons rather than go in to get Tino. Alaine could have stayed with them. She watched the babies all the time at the office.
It was odd to see the apprehension in him, because at six feet six and two hundred sixty pounds, Romeo was easily the biggest guy in Garnet, and that was saying something. Still, the former Heavyweight UFC fighter and ex-con was a nice guy. That was one of the reasons Jules married him.
“I’m good,” Alaine lied as she picked up a stuffed dragon Jules’s son Charlie dropped, and handed it to him. “I’m a big girl.”
Charlie took the toy and announced. “ZioTin!”
“Yeah, I’m gonna kick Zio Tin’s ass,” Romeo mumbled under his breath.
Charlie’s twin, Freddy, chimed in, “Zio Tin!”
They seemed to agree with each other. The twins began chantingZio Tinwith enthusiasm. It was cute that they called Tinozio, which wasunclein Italian, but they called Wyattunclein English.
