Page 52 of Missing Marcus

Mama’s eyes filled with tears. “You can run away, but it won’t change the fact you have a family. I refuse to change her name, so you can give it tosomeone else.”

“I’ve explained this to you before. I can’t support two families,” he gritted out.

Mama’s chin rose like Gabby’s when she felt determined to prove him wrong. He guessed Mama wanted to show Daddy how wrong he treated them.

He kissed Mama and Bryanna on the cheek and left with his father.

Carl Hutchins left the car running as he pulled into the driveway next door to their house. He handed Marcus a ten-dollar bill. “Keep this for emergencies. Your mama will need you to lean on.”

Two weeks later, he handed Mama the money to buy a jar of peanut butter, jam and a loaf of bread. She smiled at him with sad eyes and cupped his cheek. They picked up their suitcases and waited for the bus. With Daddy gone, they lost their house and Mama found a job in another town. Over the years he watched his mama sit at the kitchen table and cry as she added up the bills. She smiled as she dished out two full bowls of mac and cheese. When Marcus asked her to sit and eat she shook her head, denying her hunger. Years went by and Marcus vowed his wife would never go without.

His fight with Gabby replayed in his head. Did he focus on meeting all her physical needs but never met her emotional ones? His hands curled into fists. Determination filled him as he faced his mistakes. His love for Gabby was forever but he crushed her to her very core. If he wanted to make this right, he needed to figure out how to show his wife how much she meant to him. He made a list of things he needed to change immediately. Time wasn’t on his side. He went around the world, saving people from harm. Now, he needed to save his marriage. Knight vowed to become Gabby’s knight in shining armor for a lifetime.

28

Patch sat at the kitchen table as the other men gathered around. Whiskey rushed in and sat beside him, while Taco placed a platter of assorted meats and cheeses, homemade crackers, sliced fruits, and nuts in the middle before sitting.

Leo grabbed a plate and filled it with goodies as Matthew entered, making him the last man to appear.

“Shadow and Ragu are watching the warehouse. Some information came in and Matthew wanted to call a meeting. When we finish, Saint and I will relieve them. I want a full report on everything we have in play. Mayor Thorton seems to have connections beyond the grave. Saint will start with his info on the matter and we’ll go around the table,” Leo ordered.

“Since Rahimi’s death, there has been dissension among the ranks, even more so since his second in command, Marghai’s death. It seems like the port here remains a hot spot for the traffickers and they’re moving down the coast. I suspect they’re searching out a new location for shipment drops. The gang informant who gave us the last intel missed last week’s check-in and was found in a ditch early this morning. Shadow requested Ivan and Victoria’s men to keep eyes on the gang members who managed bail. It seems as if they disappeared upon release,” Saint informed the men.

“As in, we’ll find bodies or skipped town?” Leo asked as he crammed a cracker in his mouth.

“Two of them left town immediately. A third disappeared and no one has seen him,” Saint replied.

“Next,” Leo called, reaching for a handful of cheese across the table.

“Geez, Leo, don’t you have food at home?” Patch laughed as his leader shoveled in more food.

“Listen, asshole, my wife’s pregnant. The smell of anything cooking sends her running. Melody has decided to rule the world and everyone in it. Grace has calmed down some with the crying, unfortunately not last night. I took Melody to Chase and Kassie’s for breakfast since Catherine seems to think cereal represents the root of all evil. Don’t you remember grabbing a bowl and watching Saturday morning cartoons? We didn’t die. Dude, never argue with a pregnant lady. They turn into that huge green man from those movies. I swear, Catherine’s moodier with this one than the last. You mention anything about the new addition and bam!”

Doc and Saint chuckled as they glanced at one another. “What did you suggest to her this time?”

“I merely mentioned a seventy-inch screen TV might help on those nights I’m up with the girls. She shot it down, saying no televisions in the kids’ rooms. Then I suggested a minibar hidden inside the walls for the nights Grace drives us crazy. I was half kidding. When I ordered ear and eye protection for Grace, she hit a ten on the psycho-meter.”

Doc kept his head down, but Patch saw his whole body shake with laughter.

“What does a baby need with eye and ear protection?” Patch asked as he grabbed a plate.

Leo grumbled to himself and focused on his snack.

Doc glanced up. “Come on, tell them your theory.”

“Kids are like the new service dogs. We get them used to loud noises early and it doesn’t scare them. We did it with the vacuum cleaner and keep them around all the older hooligans. I figured since we read about diffusing bombs and what can go wrong, it might be good practice for Grace to see one go off. She’ll get used to the noise. It’s not like I planned to put her close to it.”

Patch’s mouth hung open. “Dude, you’re kidding, right? Who read up on bombs?”

“Grace and me. We found a new series of books for bedtime. We already read about radiation poisoning and how to build a nuclear bomb shelter,” Leo answered.

Saint’s shoulders shook as he hid his chuckle. Patch shook his head at a loss for words. Matthew rubbed his forehead as if Leo’s proclamation gave him a headache.

“Since we got the important stuff out of the way, can I share my news?” Matthew interjected.

Leo nodded as he crammed a piece of pepperoni and cheese in his mouth.

“We found Gabby’s assistant, Jackie, and her car in a lake outside the city. It’ll take a few days for a positive ID. They found her purse and briefcase inside the vehicle,” Matthew informed the team.

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