Page 86 of Blackout

Chapter Thirty

Lacey

The first time my father went to jail, I was just a kid. Come to think of it, I was probably around Danny’s age. When he left, he told me he was going away for work and he’d be back in less than a year. Once a month my mom would take me to visit him. We’d go through the metal detectors and a series of fireproof doors until we finally settled in the visitor’s room. A guard would stand close by watching our every move and my father would be dressed in his ‘work uniform’. It never dawned on me that it was all a lie until I was a teenager and he got locked up again.

His second sentence he did at a federal penitentiary eight hours away. My mother was remarried by then and my stepdad didn’t like the idea of her making long trips to see her ex-husband, which left Blackie as my chauffeur. He didn’t take me as often as he went to visit and that was partly because of my age. It was more of one and done thing because I broke down when the buzzer rang, signaling my time with my father was up. The guard came over to the table and I was forced to say goodbye, not knowing when I’d see him again.

I watched him walk away and stared at the numbers on the back of his prison blues until he was out of sight. I silently recited those numbers the whole ride home.

Eight, eight, zero, six, four, one, six, two.

Recalling that day is the very reason I couldn’t bring myself to go to my father’s house this morning. I didn’t want my last memory of him to be his back as he walked out the door yet again. When Blackie left the house, I wished I was still the young girl everyone sheltered. The girl who believed the lies and didn’t care her daddy was away because she knew he’d always come back.

There was no coming back this time.

Not for thirteen years.

I’ll be forty years old by the time he’s released.

Danny will be a man and my baby almost a teenager.

The more I thought about all of that, the more I wanted to crawl into bed and sleep. If life had a do not disturb feature, I’d flip the switch and ask to be woken up in thirteen years. Unfortunately, I was shit out of luck.

But I wasn’t the only one.

Reina was feeling everything I was, and she was feeling it tenfold.

Before Blackie left this morning, he told me my dad didn’t want her accompanying him to the district attorney’s office. Apparently, I was more like my old man than I realized because he didn’t want Reina’s last memory of him to be in cuffs. Instead of taking Danny to school and surrendering with her at his side like they had planned, he said his goodbyes at the house and rode to the office with the club.

I’m sure she didn’t take that too well.

In fact, I bet my last dollar she’s a mess right about now. She’s probably sitting at home, replaying all the years she spent loving my father, wondering why their story didn’t end quite like she dreamed it would. Glancing at the digital clock on the cable box, I realize she should’ve already dropped Danny at school and reach for my phone on the coffee table.

She shouldn’t be alone today and truthfully, we both could probably use each other.

Pulling up her contact, I hit send. My call goes straight to voicemail. I try again and get the same result, but this time I leave a message, telling her to call me. I wait five minutes before calling once more.

The mailbox you are trying to reach is full.

Fearing she’s worse than I thought, I stand and head into the kitchen to grab my keys. I should’ve seen this coming, but I’ve been too wrapped up in my own shit to think of anyone else. Reina’s been so strong throughout this whole ordeal, she was bound to break, eventually. I mean for God’s sake, there is only so much heartache a person can stand. She’s had more than her fair share.

With my keys in my hand, I start for the door. I don’t quite make it because my phone rings. Figuring it’s her returning my call, I don’t bother to look at the screen as I swipe my thumb across it. Lifting it to my ear, I continue to head for the front of the house. I freeze mid-step when I hear Nico’s frantic voice.

“Lace, it’s Nico…oh…God,” he stammers.

“Nico, what’s wrong?”

“Shit, I’m coming,” he calls to someone. A siren wails in the distance and my heart plummets as my body stills in fear.

“Lace, you there?” he questions breathlessly.

Swallowing, I struggle to find my voice as dread swarms my veins. I close my eyes and brace a hand on the door.

“I’m here,” I croak as my knees go weak.

“Listen, there’s been an accident.”

It’s the words no one ever wants to hear.

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