Crossing Lines (Broken Roads #1)
1. Stella
Chapter 1
Stella
Waiting has never been my strong point.
I loathe it.
Today, though, I would deal. I was one of five adults who were trying to keep a herd of munchkins corralled in the changing department of Wal-Mart.
Wal-freaking-Mart. Ugh.
With their five hundred customers, automated tellers and only two real, person operated lines open. I just grated on my nerves. The place I loathed most in the world. I usually came in, got what I needed, and ran back out like my life depended on it. But only when I couldn’t charm Trace into coming for me.
Why had I agreed to be a part of this crazy shopping bonanza? Oh yeah, I couldn’t say no to these little demons. And if they needed clothes, they needed clothes. It was this or driving to Houston to go to the big mall. No thank you, I’d rather shoot myself in the foot.
The kids, they’re cute when they weren’t having temper tantrums, throwing things, shoving each other or—and this one was the best one yet—screaming at the top of their lungs. If I heard ‘I had it first’ or ‘mine’ one more time, I was going to lose it.
It was simple, nerve-wracking chaos, and yet I didn’t think any of us would change where we were in life right now.
The last two years had changed us all so much. Gabe, Robert, and my dad, Wayne, had been kidnapped then rescued. We’d all had to deal with their recoveries and subsequent life changes, on top of normal crazy life changes.
We had all changed how and why we did the things we did after that experience.
Like with me and Trace. We threw ourselves at as many bounty cases as we could. When not on a bounty, he worked with Chip, Tripp and his sister AJ at the family garage. I worked at my daddy’s site. He and my brothers were always busy working jobs, so I felt the need to be a part of it all.
As if working construction wasn’t enough, they spent part of their time each week at the family gym. The Malone boys and I spent lots of hours there as children and teens. Hell, even as adults, we’ve spent a lot of time in there, beating on each other.
It was our home away from home. So many good memories were built between those four walls.
Not just for my family.
A few years ago, after Kristol came into our lives, all of the girls and I took some self-defense classes. Between Daddy, the men in black—a secret faction of black ops fellas no one fucked with—and the teachers at the gym, I’d been able to advance in my karate, and all the girls had learned to fight properly.
It was cathartic and a good way to release any and all frustrations. I mean, let’s be real, kicking the shit out of someone or flipping them over and getting the upper hand in a fight was always an adrenaline-fueled good time.
It had also helped us to be able to keep up with the new changes growing up had in store for us. Namely, kids. With everyone, save me , in this group having multiple demon spawns at their ankles, daily activities never went as planned. Like today. Shopping was not what the little ones, some of whom were not all that little anymore, wanted to be doing. I was with them, but even I was out-voted.
I glanced around. They were all growing up too fast. They made me feel old. Dani Lynn, Kristol, Shelby, and Anna, my sister-in-law, all had kids who would be hitting schoolhouses in a couple of weeks. They were about to start preschool, kindergarten, first and second grades. And then there was the big 7th grader. See what I mean? They’ve grown up too damn fast.
The kids: Tyler, Taylor, Elijah, Ryan, Kaitlyn, Robbie, Matthew, and Colton all bumped around, some half-dressed and others waiting their turn. Guess who the troublemakers out of the group were today? Oh yeah, my nephews. Anna was working, which was why I was here. Trevor was out on a site with Daddy, so I’d volunteered to spend their money. I hadn’t volunteered to play referee all damn morning. They were seconds away from getting their asses tanned in the middle of Wal-Mart.
I dared some Karen to start in on the reasons not to spank kids. I’d probably go to jail. That would be a great way to round out my day for sure.
We had taken over the entire dressing area at this point, and I was helping Ryan pull up her pants leg when a scuffle caught my attention. I watched as Robbie clocked his brother on the head with a shoe. The ‘thwack’ reverberated off the stalls. Yes, he’d hit him with a fucking tennis shoe, right in the temple. The scream Matthew let loose should have had every dog in a three-mile radius running for the hills. I was faster than the others. I snatched the shoe from Robbie, scooped up Matthew, and pulled Robbie forward by the pocket of his jeans. My face was inches from his.
On my best day, my patience was bad with kids who couldn’t behave. Today, it was worse.
“Robert Christopher Malone! Why did you do that?”
“He pushed me.”
“So you thought you would brain him, in the middle of the store?” I pulled him impossibly closer, dropping my voice. It was a flashback to what Daddy used to do with us in public. My eyes narrowed. “You will apologize to your brother, and if you so much as think about hitting him again, I’m going to blister your backside. Do you understand me?”
His eyes filled with tears, but I shook that off. I wasn’t falling for it. Uh huh. Nope. I repeated myself, “Do you understand me, young man?”
“I…I’m sorry.” He tried to hide his face against my shoulder, but I pushed him back. I raised a brow and gave him the look I’d perfected by watching my daddy all these years. He finally got it. He wrapped his arms around Matthew and gave him a big hug. “I’m sorry, bubby.”
Was it bad that I wanted to roll my eyes? This would only last about thirty seconds. Then they would be trying to kill each other again. I swear, they were just as bad as Peter and Trevor.
Ugh. Boys.
“Both of you park your as—butts on that stool right there. If you even so much as twitch, we’re going to the truck, and I’m gonna get Pawpaw’s spoon. Do you hear me?”
They both went wide-eyed, heads nodding. Daddy had a damn wooden spoon that I swear he’d been whacking kids with since Trevor was a toddler. It smarted. Even as adults, we knew to avoid him if that spoon was out. These two little jerks had been introduced to it once or twice. Pawpaw didn’t mess around. One thump to the backside and they straightened up quickly.
They knew when and how to do shit and get away with it. I blamed Anna. She was too damn easy on them. At least their other grandpa, Anna’s dad Robert, was just as strict. God help us when they hit the teen years. We might have to lock them in a jail cell for a few months. Or until they grew out of it. Would they ever grow out of it? I didn’t… Shit, we’re screwed.
“Okay, now that the entire store has been subjected to this nonsense, I think we have enough to start with.” Dani Lynn rubbed her temple.
I snorted. Yeah.
“We can come back later now that we know what sizes they’re actually in and not have to do this—” Kristol waved a hand over the kids “—again. I need a drink.”
“How do we do this at cookouts and the lake? They seem to be wilder here,” Shelby said as Kaitlyn took her hand. She had the good kids with her today. The twins were great kids, but they had the energy level of a pair of three-year-olds. It almost rivaled Kris’ twins. Almost.
“I’m just ready to go. Anna can do this next time. You heifers are nuttier than a fruitcake at Christmas for even attempting this.” I caught movement from the corner of my eye. Matthew was trying to pick up his shoe box. He was super excited for Hulk sneakers to wear to preschool, but as usual, Robbie was being a jerk and knocking it from his grip.
I didn’t warn him. I leaned over and popped him on the butt with my open hand. He turned and started to tear up. “Cry, and I’ll give you a reason to. Get your box and march your butt that way. I’m not telling you again.”
I took in a deep breath and rubbed my neck. I hated being the bad guy, really, I did. But damn. I should have said no to today. I’d not been feeling right for a few days, and this stress would make the preacher curse. I really should have stayed in bed this morning. It was late when we got back last night, so the lack of sleep wasn’t helping my mood. Dani Lynn wrapped her arm around me and leaned in. “It sucks being the bad guy, but it’s the only way they’ll learn.”
I gave her a weak smile. “I know. It’s not just that. I’m freaking tired. I’m taking them to the house, and we’re all taking a damn nap.”
“I’d pay for a nap right now, but some of us have to go back to work.”
“Hey!” I growled as Shelby sauntered by. “I just got home from work a few hours ago. Don’t make me kick you in the butt, woman.”
“And y’all say the kids don’t know how to behave.” Dani Lynn was still laughing as we moved to the line.
I scowled. She may have had a point, but I’d not give in and tell her that. Not today.
The scenery from where I sat on top of the fence by the barn was so comforting. I’d driven out here to help Dani Lynn with unpacking and to pick up Carter, but now I was distracted. The boys were off playing with the Landry horde, chasing chickens or petting bunnies. With these kids, anything was possible.
The new fence had drawn me over. I’d been here for a long time, thinking, relaxing, and letting the tension of the morning fade away. I hated to be the bad guy when it came to the kids. They needed discipline, but damn, I felt like an old hag right now.
“Sissy, ready to go?” Carter’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned and hopped down from the fence top. My feet hit the ground, and pain shot up through them. I winced at the feeling of fire ants running along my ass and thighs. Jesus. I did a little hop and jogged in place. I had to get my blood circulating again.
Carter, who had been a few steps ahead of me, stopped. His brows pulled down into a confused scowl.
I snorted. “What? My ass is asleep.”
He shook his head and muttered something I didn’t catch as he walked on to the truck. I grinned as the feeling returned in my lower half. I went over and scooped Matthew up, tickling his sides. “Let’s go to Pawpaw’s. Auntie needs something to eat and a nap.”
When I put him back on his feet, he and Robbie ran for the truck. They liked to climb up on the running boards and into the seats themselves. Even if that meant it took an extra five minutes of waiting, I always let them do it themselves. It wasn’t worth fighting over. You know what the old ones said: ‘Pick your battles.’ They were boys. They liked to climb, so I let them. But honestly, it was good for them. They needed to learn that independence and to do things for themselves when they could.
My stomach growled loudly as I watched them. I was more than ready to go. I’d eat until I was ready to collapse, get into something comfy, and then crash. The nausea was starting to come back, though. It had been a constant worry all day today that I was going to puke. What. The. Hell? I was beyond annoyed at that. I’d blamed all of the fast food I’d had to endure on the last case we’d worked. Whatever it was, I hoped it would pass soon. Daddy had put steaks in a marinade and left them in the fridge this morning. One of those bad boys had my name stamped all over it. I was going to savor it. Every single bite was going to fill my gullet.
“You look constipated making that face.”
I glared at my brother. He was a real shit sometimes. The door slammed behind me, and I started my truck. “Don’t make me leave you on the roadside.”
“You’d never do that.”
“Keep testing me, and I will. You’ll learn some manners one way or another.”
“Nooooooooooooo!” My eyes jerked up to the rearview mirror. Robbie was covering his nose, and Matthew was wearing a face that made my brows pinch. Then the smell hit me. My stomach protested as I fought to get the truck windows down.
“Jesus, what did y’all feed them today?” Carter laughed while pinching his own nose.
“Nothing that smelled like that, I can promise you. Dear God. Please just let that be wind.”
“Wind? Sissy, really?”
“What?”
His brow arched. “He smells like a rotting zombie. That was more than wind. I’m not doing it.”
“I’m not doing it,” I rushed out.
I was older.
What I said went.
Carter and I shared a brief look, and he nodded. In unison we said, “Dad can change him.” The grin on my face grew. Now I just had to make it home without barfing...this kid’s butt smelled horrid.