Page 130 of Riot

I feel Charles' hand on my arm. “We’ll get her, don’t worry. Need to get you up.”

“How?” I sputter, as Charles and Cash’s faces come into view. “How the fuck did you find me so fast?”

“He’s definitely okay.”Wait, is that Manny?“He’s still got a smile on his pretty face.”

I laugh, but then wince from the pain. “It’s because I’m not dead.”

A few seconds later, I’m being pulled upright and Cash comes into view. He cups my face, tilting it to see if I’m injured. “Fuck, looks like you’ve seen better days.”

Charles unties me and Manny’s smile drops. I must look pretty bad.

“The boys earned their money this time.” I close my eyes, wincing as Charles cuts the rope.

“Nope, that’s where you’re wrong,” Manny says, helping with the ties at my feet. “I got roped in because the boys all left for the Parish. Happy to lend a hand, not like I get out much. Charles, tell him about the tracker in your watch.”

I balk. What. The. Fuck?

Charles grunts. “You had to go there straight away.”

Manny smirks. “Some birthday present. Think that’ll work on my ex?”

I got that watch several years ago, I never take the damn thing off. Charles put a tracker in it?

Cash takes a call, stepping away.

I turn my head. “You got some explainin’ to do, old man.”

“Told myself I’d never go through all that shit again when you went to prison,” Charles begins. “And I meant it. You got into so much goddamn trouble when you were younger after the military, then you went AWOL for a while. It may be morally wrong, but it made me able to sleep at night.”

I snort, unable to be mad at him. “And here I was givin’ the twins all the credit.”

“Oh, they found the car and tracked it through the city,” Manny fills me in. “But Cash contacted Charles when the othersheaded to St. Charles’ Parish to let him know what happened, and that’s when he mentioned the tracker.”

“Sneaky son of a bitch. Does my sister have one too?”

Charles grunts again, finally freeing my hands. “She didn’t need one. She’s never picked up a gun in her life, gone to prison or given me any grief.” His gray eyes meet mine.

“Thank you,” I say. “I never thought I’d be happy to say that I’m glad you did that.”

I get a brief smile. “If it makes you feel any better, son, I never had a need to use it until Cash called.”

“You’re so cool.” Manny frees my feet. “I want a dad like you, Charles.”

Of course, Manny has no idea Charles isn’t my real dad, but I don’t correct him.

“Get in line.”

Charles rests his forehead against mine. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

My throat thickens. “I won’t.”

“We good?” Cash comes back.

I’m in no shape to walk, so Manny and Charles each hitch me up under their shoulders and Cash stands in front, his gun pointed.

“Prez?” I hear Priest call.

“In here,” Cash shouts.

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