“I just unlocked it because I knew you were coming and I wasn’t going to be able to open it for you,” she said with a smile. She nodded to the island behind her. “Fresh batch of cookies, honey. Help yourself.”
I snagged one and bit into it.
“How are you doing?” she asked, setting a chicken into a pan, and washing her hands.
“I should ask that of you.”
“More bad days than good right now.” She bit back tears as she grabbed a towel and faced me. “It hurts worse this time around.”
“I’m so sorry, Jill,” I rasped.
Scooby and Scrappy’s sister, Carina, had died four years ago from a rare form of brain cancer. It had nearly destroyed them, but Carina had made the family promise to figure out a way to find some kind of happy. And she’d roped me in on that promise as well. If we didn’t, she promised she’d haunt us in the worst possible way.
Tango had not been so lucky.
He was ready to marry her. They were a team. Deeper in love than anyone I’d ever known, and she was taken from him. Considering I knew how it felt to lose the only person I’d ever loved, albeit temporarily, I understood that rage at the world.
“I don’t blame you, honey,” Jill said. “Otis made his choice. And when you live by the sword, you die by the sword. But you just have to promise me that you’ll do everything you can to keep Crew safe.”
I dragged a hand down my face. “Scooby’s not really speakin’ to me right now.”
She squeezed my arm. “You are my fifth kid for all intents and purposes, sweetheart. You’ll figure it out.”
I nodded.
She slid the chicken into the oven then faced meagain. “I heard your girl is back.”
“Yeah,” I breathed out.
She smiled. “Is she giving you hell?”
I grinned. “Of course she is. She’s actually at lunch with Scooby.”
“I always liked Sierra.” She patted my cut. “Now if we could just find a woman who would stand up to Crew like that.”
“Jilly Bean, why the fuck’s your door unlocked?” Needles bellowed as he walked in the front door.
Needles was our resident medical professional and he’d always been around when we were raising hell as kids. He’d helped to channel our energy and testosterone, standing up for us when we all patched into the Howlers.
“Booth’s here,” she answered. “Otherwise it wouldn’t be.”
Needles set two bags of groceries on the counter and frowned at her. “Don’t give a fuck. Your door should always be locked.”
“Well, the day one of my kids isn’t able to stop whatever comes through that door is the day I’ll fall over in shock,” she sassed. “You know, because you taught them to fight, shoot, and drink. Remember?”
“Jesus, woman, don’t turn my words back on me.”
She gave him a sad smile, turning back to the sink, and Needles squeezed my shoulder.
“You doin’ okay?” he asked me.
I gave him a chin lift.
“How’s Sierra?” he asked, making his way to Jill, and wrapping an arm around her giving her a quickhug.
“She’s gettin’ used to bein’ back,” I said.
Needles crossed his arms and leaned against the counter as Jill started to put the groceries away.