Page 62 of Cup of Lies

Kaitlyn is impressed with the many motorcycles in the garage. There’s always someone in there working on them. Since they’re all new-looking, I’m guessing they’re modifying them, detailing them, or just doing random maintenance. Bizzy and Gibson both give me a nod as we pass.

Once inside the big house, we’re met with the heavenly scent of bacon. My stomach rumbles audibly and it makes Kaitlyn giggle. She’s so fucking cute.

“Look, Uncle Caius, they have a pool!”

She runs through the kitchen and over to the back door, in awe of the sparkling water. While she points through the glass,enthralled in what she sees, I’m still reeling over her calling me Uncle Caius.

So shedoesremember me?

It’ll take some time, but I have hope we’ll get there.

“Can we eat outside by the pool?” she asks, nose pressed to the glass.

“Yeah, kiddo, that’ll be fine. Go ahead and sit out there. I’ll bring some food to you.”

She all too eagerly bursts out the back door and claims a seat at the patio table. Sunshine plops down by her feet, both of them seemingly happy with their morning so far.

“Heard she walked in on you,” Bermuda says, coming to stand beside me. “Looks like she’s over it.”

“Guess Nees told you?” I scrub my palm over my face and nod. “They fucked with her head. We’ll see what all she truly remembers and if she’ll ever forgive me.”

“Let her go swimming and I’d say you’ll be forgiven.” He clasps me on the shoulder and squeezes. “Come get it before Bizzy goes in for seconds.”

It takes a couple of trips, but I manage to get enough food for me, Kaitlyn, the dog, and a plastic container filled with stuff to take back to Romy. By the time we finish eating, Koyn and Filter step outside to join us. They light up to smoke, far enough where we don’t smell it, but close enough that Kaitlyn scrunches her nose.

“Smoking is bad,” she whispers to me. “Are those men bad?”

I wash down the rest of my food with some orange juice. “Nah, kiddo. They’re good people. You don’t have to worry about anything here.”

“I think Mommy likes it here.”

“Why do you say that?”

She keeps her attention on the strawberry slice she’s trying to stab with her fork. “This morning she was being lazy and happy. She doesn’t ever get to be lazy.”

“Oh yeah? How come?”

“Daddy…” She frowns and flashes me a confused look as though something isn’t computing in her brain. “She just had to do a lot of stuff at our house. I think my baby sister makes her sleepy.”

My heart aches for this child. She’s been through so fucking much in her lifetime.

“We’re going to meet later this evening,” Koyn tells me as he stubs out his cigarette under his boot. Then he picks up the butt and tosses it in an outdoor trashcan. “We need to debrief and plan what’s next. You good?”

“I’m good,” I assure him.

The back door opens and a blonde with arms full of Walmart shopping bags comes out. Copper’s woman, Stormy, is beautiful. She’s also feisty as fuck. I suppose to be with a guy from a biker gang, you’d have to be.

“You must be Kaitlyn,” Stormy says as she makes her way over to her. “Did you get your stuffies and dolls me and Hadley left for you?”

Kaitlyn nods, smiling shyly. “Thank you.”

“Of course, sweetie. We heard you left in a hurry and didn’t get to bring any of your belongings.” She hands her a bag. “Don’t worry. We got you some things.”

Kaitlyn reaches into the bag and pulls out a sparkly pink blob of material. “A swimsuit!” She waves it around with such excitement, she nearly takes out her mostly full glass of orange juice.

Stormy winks at me before speaking to her again. “I brought my swimsuit over too. We could go swimming if you want. I got some other things for you.”

Kaitlyn eagerly empties another bag that has some pool toys and a unicorn floatie inside. Her breakfast is a thing of the past as she now sits on the ground, digging in more of the bags. Sunshine, the nosy dog, sniffs in one by Stormy’s feet.

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