“Don’t make me cry. I’m already emotional.” Lily knows the history between her brother and me. Everything we’ve been through to get to where we are today. It was a hard road, but the destination is beautiful.
“Look what the cat dragged in. They’ll let anyone out.” James pulls his sister in for a bear hug. His eyes crinkle in the corners as he grins.
“Better shave before the big day.” She tugs on his whiskers.
“Good to see you.”
“Yeah,” she whispers. “Wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“Nope.”
“Wrong answer. There’s police tape and your front window is gone.”
“I got it handled. Don’t worry.”
“I’m your sister it’s my job. I get paid to worry about you.”
“You don’t need to worry. Wasn’t expectin’ you till Sunday.”
“I know. I was going to see if I could crash here but I don’t think that would be smart. I have some business. Locally.”
“You can stay at my place. Wylla Mae’s old room is still set up.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re always welcome.”
“Now that that is settled. Why don’t you update me on your progress tracking Hazel down?”
“Fuck,” James mutters.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing really. Just We’ll talk later on that, yeah? Holy’s in the field.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me. I can read you better than anyone.”
“Lils...”
“Let me guess. You’ve got it handled, huh?”
“Something like that,” he tells her.
What my man isn’t telling his sister is Holy has laid claim to Hazel, and we both know that she won’t like it. Holy has particular tastes in the bedroom. He’s rumored to be on the dominant side.
Lily held her daughter a total of three minutes before she signed her rights away in hopes of giving her a better life. Things didn’t go the way she planned. I don’t know much about Hazel other than catching bits and pieces of one-sided conversations when James is whispering on the phone and talking with his men.
I try not to eavesdrop but sometimes it can’t be helped.
**
“I’m calling off the party.” James knocks back his beer and scoots his chair back.
“Why?” I grab his plate, dump the scraps, and rinse.
“Not leaving your side till this shit is settled.
“You’re going.”