Page 38 of Fourteen Years

I pulled her into a hug, worriedly meeting Lucas' gaze. This kind of stress couldn’t be good for her or the baby when she already has anxiety and PTSD.

Lucas picked up the hot tea, holding it carefully in his large tattooed hand, and pressed it into her, urging her to take small sips.

“It's decaf and sweet. Just the way you’ve been liking it.” I said, watching her. “You need to relax.”

I looked back at Lucas.

“So…what do we do now?” I asked.

“Well. It’s all heresy and he’s been flying under the radar since his last run in with us. Richard is tough. We can never pin anything on him. All we can really do is monitor him and his accomplices. I’ve set Jackson up somewhere safe for now. He’s gonna stay with Nick. Find a job. Try to get back into school and even the dorms with some financial aid since his dad is a dick. But I really think this is what’s been up with Lacey’s attitude. She’s been worried about Jackson, she lost Paul, she’s going into her senior year—”

“It makes sense. That’s a lot for anyone, let alone a seventeen-year-old. I just wish she’d come to me. She always talked to Paul when she was stressed though.” I said, nodding. “Jesus. It’s always something anymore.” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I need to tell Trevor.” I whispered.

“I texted him. I was thinking about grilling tonight. Having all of you over anyway. We can all talk then. Have the kids entertain each other. He said it was good with him if it was okay with you.” Lucas suggested.

“I was gonna get Becks some breakfast and make her lay down and sleep a while. Take Nat to do something. Give her time to calm down and breathe.”

He still only had eyes for his wife, the concern palpable and radiating off of him. Becks still struggled to lean on anyone else for help when she felt like this.

Becks rolled her dark eyes at him as he narrowed his gray ones at her.

I smirked, “That all sounds perfect. Including getting this pregnant mama some sleep and food.” I stressed, glaring at my best friend.

“But I think you should stay with her and I should take Nat with the girls to the pool for the afternoon.” I added.

Lucas looked at me gratefully even as Becks started to argue.

“Shut up,” her husband and I both said together, cutting her off before she could fight us.

It was going to be a good day after all. I was determined.

Chapter 22

“We play the long game.” I spoke softly, staring across the booth in the seedy bar we frequented. Mike and Chuck stared back at me with bloodshot eyes. No one really kept too close of tabs on them. Nondescript and oily. The better people of this town liked to pretend we didn’t exist.

I raised a finger to the waitress passing to signal another round. The owner typically let us drink on the house, we provided him the poison of his choice frequently.

Tina, or whatever-the-fuck-her-name was, nodded at me and winked. The neon lights advertising different alcohol selections not providing a kind light on her features. She was past her prime and used up. She’d probably been pretty once. Not any more. Whatever. One of us would be able to get our dick wet with her tonight. Or maybe we’d share her.

“What if your boy is with them?” Chuck asked quietly, his eyes on the point of his pocket knife digging into our usual table. He was leaving quite a mark after all these years. No one had the balls to say anything though.

“I don’t have a boy any more.” I growled.

Mike laughed while Chuck’s eyes gleamed in understanding.

“I don’t give a fuck who gets caught in the crossfire.” I slapped the waitress’s ass as she set our drinks down and walked away.

“I just want Trevor Connor to pay.”

Chapter 23

Istared at Lucas across the kitchen of his house. He’d just finished filling me in on everything that had happened with Lacey and Jackson the night before.

Monica and Becks were sitting on the back patio visiting. Mon was trying to keep Becks calm, still worried about how stressed and nervous she’d been earlier.

I heard the girls playing music loudly upstairs as my friend took a bottle of beer and a bottle of water out of the fridge and passed me the latter.

“And you all can’t fucking do anything?” I asked, screwing the lid off angrily and tossing it on the counter.

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