Page 68 of Tru Blue
He helped her open the candy and she took a bite. “More?” she asked again, around a mouthful of chocolate, and everyone laughed.
After they trick or treated at a few more houses, the others headed to Whiskey Bro’s to catch the costume party, and Gemma and Truman took the kids home.
They’d forgotten to leave on the outside lights at the apartment. Truman turned on the flashlight app on his phone, illuminating the path around the building. He carried Kennedy in one arm, his other hand resting protectively on Gemma’s lower back. Lincoln was fast asleep in her arms.
“He made a damn cute Pooh bear.” He smiled down at Gemma. “And you put every princess, other than our little princess, to shame.”
“Thank you.” She stopped walking to pull him closer for a kiss. “This was so much fun. I’m glad I got to share the kids’ first real Halloween with you.”
“Me too, sweetheart.” He glanced over her shoulder at movement in the grass. Stepping in front of Gemma, he lifted his phone, aiming the flashlight toward the shadows, and his world tilted on its axis.
Quincy lay facedown in the grass.
“Stay here.” The few feet between them and Quincy felt like a mile. He crouched beside his brother, still holding Kennedy. Please don’t be dead. Don’t you fucking die on me. He rolled Quincy over, quickly grabbing his wrist in search of a pulse, feeling the slow beat beneath his fingers. Thank God. He did a quick visual inspection of his unconscious brother, looking for stab wounds or bullet holes. Fuck. He didn’t know what he was looking for. Quincy’s nose and mouth were bloody, his face bruised on the right side, with a gash over his right cheekbone. Truman rose to his feet.
“Get the kids in the car, Gemma.” The command came out harsh as he walked swiftly with a hand on Gemma’s back, moving her forward, scanning the property in case whoever beat up Quincy was lurking.
“What happened? Should we call the police?” The fear in her voice was palpable.
She looked over her shoulder, and Truman stepped behind her, blocking her view. He didn’t want that ugliness anywhere near her and the kids. His fucking brother had brought his nightmare to his doorstep, and he had no idea what else might follow.
“No police. If I have any interaction with the police, I have to report it, and I’ve got no black marks on my record since my release. I’m taking him to the hospital.” He put Kennedy in her car seat, then took Lincoln from Gemma, who seemed too stunned to focus, and strapped him in.
He pressed Bear’s speed-dial number and lifted his phone to his ear while opening the driver’s door for Gemma.
“Bro?” Bear answered.
“I need you.”
“On my way.”
“Truman!” Gemma demanded. “Talk to me. Why are we leaving? Is Quincy okay? What happened?”
He looked into her eyes and tried to slow his racing mind long enough to give her the answers she deserved. “I don’t know what happened or how Quincy got here. All I know is that he’s breathing, but he’s badly beaten and unconscious. I’ve got to get him to the hospital. But if this was a drug deal gone bad, whoever did this could come back. I want you and the kids safe—and you can’t be safe here until I know what happened. I don’t even know if anyone’s been in the apartment.”
“Okay. Oh God, Truman. What about you? What if someone is here?” She looked around the yard. “I hope Quincy’s okay.”
“Me too. But you have to go.”
She hugged him quickly. “I’ll go, but I need the kids’ stuff.”
Two sets of headlights raced down the driveway. Bear’s and Bullet’s trucks skidded to stops and their doors flew open. Bear, Bullet, Bones, Dixie, and Crystal stalked across the parking lot. Crystal made a beeline for Gemma.
Truman filled in the others as quickly as he could. Bones went to help Quincy. Gemma told Bear what she needed, and he went to retrieve it from the apartment.
“Gemma, I know this is scary, but I have to get back to Quincy and get him to the hospital, and I can’t do that until I know you and the kids are okay. Please go.”
She looked around the yard with fear in her eyes and nodded. “Please be careful.”
