He snorted. “Funny, I literally have all day so wait here while I go get him.”
I sank back into the seat, and rested my arm on the window ledge to try and breathe through the nervousness that was making me feel sick.
The place seemed different, but it hadn’t changed all that much. There was a shit load more cameras, but the feeling of freedom still lingered in the air. I had spent some of my best times here, and I had also some of my worst times because of it.
A lot has happened over the last couple of years that has come close to the worst times but now I’m home, they seem so far away.
I inhaled deeply when Slade walked out of the bar. It hit me like a hammer to the head how much older my brother was looking. There was a number of grey hairs streaking through his dark locks. His squint lines spreading out from the corner of his eyes had grown deeper. And his shoulders sagged a little heavier than before. God, I’ve missed him so much. He’s the only guy I’ve ever been able to rely on and guilt sets in when I’m constantly reminded of how many times I’ve let him down.
Come on, Lil, this is the moment we’ve been preparing for.
I have played out over a hundred different scenarios of what my return could look like, and I’m hoping and praying that it’s not the scenario where Luca puts a bullet in my head and buries me in the middle of nowhere, keeping his murderous promise.
Though he’s looking older, my brother still looks good. I was worried for a time that he wouldn’t be himself again after losing India. But as he instructed the prospect to open the gate, I saw glimmers in him of old.
I miss the times when he smiled at my arrival. Today he’s guarded. Bringing myself into the present, I drive through and park up and he leans on the car, rather than opening my door.
Seconds drag out, neither of us saying a word. I’m well aware he’s been the brother I’ve never deserved and I’m the sister he should’ve been rid of years ago.
“What are you doing here, Lil?” he finally asks.
“I’m home, brother. And I’ve got to tell Leo something.”
“For how long this time? A week? A month?”
If only he knew why I left the last time.
“For good.”
Staring off toward the club, I begin to worry he’s going to send me away before I have the chance to see Harper.
“What do you need to talk to Leo about?”
Since he’s the one I need to get me through the door, I tell him, “While I was driving here, I overheard some guys at a bar talking about the club. Saying how they were gunning for you all.”
I now have his full attention. “What guys? Another club?”
My half-truth is getting more difficult to tell. I should’ve prepared for this. “They weren’t wearing patches, but they could’ve been bikers, I suppose. Now I’ve told you, I need to go see Harper.”
“I ain’t got a clue how your return is gonna go down and I’m not sure I have it in me to be the buffer for you again.”
Shaking my head, I’m quick to tell him, “I’m here to stand on my own, take responsibility for my actions.”
“That’s good to hear, but I gotta say, I won’t believe it till I see it.”
Another notch on my guilt trip. I deserve it.
“Please, Slade. I fucked up but I have a grandson who doesn’t know me.”
Slade pushes away from the car and opens the door. I climb out but he steps in front of me, blocking me.
“It’s your fault you’ve missed out, Lily. You’ve ducked out too many times, no one’s gonna trust you easily.”
“I know, Slade. I know.”
His eyes move over my shoulder, and I turn to see Zach jogging toward us.
“Hey, you’re back,” he points out.
