Chapter 30
Bailey
Dalton joined us at the house, notebook flipped open and serious lawman demeanor wrapped around him like a cloak.
While Emory dumped grounds into the coffee maker, Flynn told Dalton how he’d spotted Snake on the camera and immediately pursued him.
I cringed. “And you say I’m reckless.”
“You are,” Holden said, and I sent him a dirty look. Now was not the time to be a smart-ass.
Flynn took hold of my hand under the table. “I knew what I was dealing with, but I should have called first. I wasn’t thinking. I just didn’t want to let him hurt your family.” He glanced uncertainly around the table, making eye contact with Holden and Gray.
Axel hadn’t joined us.
“My family,” he said tentatively. “If you all still feel that way.”
“Of course they do,” I said quickly.
Flynn shook his head. “You can’t speak for them on this. I let you decide how you felt about me when I told you. It has to be the same with them.” He cleared his throat. “If you don’t want me and Aiden here for Thanksgiving after everything, I’ll understand.”
My heart wrenched as Holden and Gray exchanged a troubled look. I squeezed Flynn’s hand so hard it had to hurt.
“Holden…” I begged with my eyes, every ounce of me trying to convince him that he couldn’t turn Flynn away. Not now.
“Bailey loves you,” Holden said. “Of course you’re welcome.”
I exhaled with relief.
“But,” Holden said, “we do need to talk this out. Make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“About what?” I challenged, temper flaring hot at the deep regret in Flynn’s eyes. “Because I’m not leaving Flynn.”
“I know,” Holden said. “I just want us all to understand each other, that’s all. But let’s not keep Dalton waiting. Finish your statement, Flynn.”
Shiloh settled beside Holden—not touching him, which was a sure sign of my brother’s tension.
Gray helped Emory bring over mugs of coffee, the carton of milk, and a container of sugar.
Axel came in and leaned in a corner, arms crossed, while Flynn talked and talked, recounting everything that had happened tonight—including Snake’s threats to tell us everything and Flynn’s decision to turn him in anyway.
Flynn’s voice grew scratchy, and the shadows under his eyes darkened. The man was exhausted.
He didn’t need to go through another interrogation after this one.
I pushed my chair back. “Holden, can I talk to you while they finish up?”
He raised an eyebrow but nodded, following me into the living room. “What’s up?”
I kept my voice pitched low. “Please don’t grill Flynn about his past. He’s full of guilt and pain, and he wanted to tell you.”
“And what about you?” he said. “We said no more secrets.”
“This wasn’t my secret to tell. Surely you can understand that. This isn’t just a question of Flynn being honest. This is trauma, Holden. Do you get that? His stepfather was horribly abusive. He had to see his brother lying on the floor, bleed—”
My voice broke, my tangled emotions getting the best of me. I hated this. Hated that Flynn was in this position. Hated that my brothers were unhappy. I wanted, no—needed—us all to be a family. I couldn’t imagine going on without Holden and Gray and Axel, but I couldn’t give up Flynn either.
“Shit,” Holden said, dragging a hand down his face. “I forget sometimes.”
“Forget what?”
“How insightful you are,” he said. “You know trauma. You’ve lived with it. You see more clearly than the rest of us sometimes.”
“I don’t know about that,” I hedged. My brothers were the ones who’d really suffered, not me. I was just here for the aftermath. “I just know he was protecting his brother, Holden. His little brother. Someone like me.”
Holden looked pained. “I hear you.”
“I’d do it again, too.”
Flynn’s voice startled us. We turned toward him.
“You want honesty, and that’s fair,” he said gruffly.
“I’ve spent years thinking about what I did.
Why I did it. What it cost me. And I always come to the same conclusion.
I’d do anything, pay any price, to keep my little brother safe.
I’m just sorry I waited too long, that I didn’t get him out of there sooner.
I didn’t know how bad it had gotten without Mom there too. ”
“Where was your mom?” Gray asked from behind him.
Flynn came farther into the room, and Gray, Dalton, and Axel followed. I went to him, tucking in against his ribs, wrapping an arm around his back, and hopefully lending him some comfort. He wasn’t alone. I would always be on his side.
“She got a new husband,” Flynn said. “Took off. I was already out of the house. Left young because I only seemed to enrage my stepfather more. I thought leaving would make it better.”
“But it didn’t,” Holden said quietly. “Because the man was an abuser.”
“No, it didn’t.” Flynn held me a little tighter. “I know I’m probably not what you want for Bailey. I’ve got baggage, and I can’t promise I won’t ever let it weigh on him.”
“I want you to lean on me,” I said. “Give me your fucking baggage. I’ll carry it for you.”
Flynn looked down at me, his small smile sad. “It doesn’t work that way. I wouldn’t want it to anyway, baby. You deserve better.”
“No,” I shot back, a flush of anger heating me from the inside. “You deserve better. You, Flynn.”
He shook his head. “I own my mistakes.” He met Holden’s eye, Gray’s, and then Axel’s.
“I should have trusted you all sooner. I tried to tell you a couple of times, but I let my fears get the best of me. I’m real sorry about that.
You’ve been nothing but good to me. And I can’t lie to any of you.
I am full of regret that I took a life, but if Aiden was in danger—or Bailey—I’d do it again without blinking.
Hell, I came very close to taking out Snake tonight. ”
“Because he knew your secret?” Axel asked, voice tense.
“No, because he suggested Bailey would leave you all and run away with me if I fucked you over.” His eyes blazed, and I could see just how intimidating Flynn could be.
“I’d never come between you all. That would break me.
Because your family is fucking inspiring.
Your loyalty and trust and love is something really special.
I’d never rob Bailey of that. If you couldn’t accept me… and he had to choose…”
My chest tightened. Talk about my worst fear, spoken aloud. I sent a desperate look toward my brothers. Holden was intensely focused on Flynn. Axel was watching Dalton, gauging his reactions.
Gray saw me, though. His expression softened.
“You’re not coming between us,” he said. “We’d never let that happen. Right, guys?”
“We’d never make Bailey choose,” Holden said. “Besides, how can I judge you for something I’d do?”
Flynn’s brow creased. “What do you mean?”
“I’d do anything to protect my brothers. Any one of us would.”
Gray and Axel made noises of agreement. We’d all been through some shit with our foster dad after he spiraled into alcoholism.
He’d hit Axel once—after Gray split and Holden was in college.
When Holden got home and found out, he’d threatened to end him if it ever happened again.
My big brother wasn’t just speaking empty words. He got it.
“I know abuse,” Holden continued. “I know trauma. You did the best you could in a terrible situation, Flynn. I believe that.”
Shiloh crossed the room to stand near him, and Holden cast him a grateful look.
Between them, their pinkies brushed, but nothing more.
Holden was too stressed right now, but later, when he needed it, Shiloh would be there to touch.
I’d seen my brother evolve from completely averse to seeking out hugs and kisses.
“I’m sorry you had to go through any of that,” Flynn said.
“I’m sorry you did too,” Holden replied, voice full of sincerity.
Dalton cleared his throat. “I need to go file this report.” He paused to kiss Axel, giving his hair a gentle tug. “Go easy on him, darlin’. He’s a little feral, like you, just in a different way. Like one of those skittish animals of yours.”
Axel rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. “Go do your work. Don’t stay out all night, though.”
“I’ll try to move the wheels of justice a little faster just for you.
” He paused to clap Flynn on the shoulder.
“Thanks for your statement. I’ll let you know if we need anything more.
I checked his record. Now that Snake violated parole, he should go straight back to prison for another five years before he has any hope of early release.
You all don’t have to worry about him anymore. ”
“Wait,” I said as Dalton reached the door. “You checked Snake’s record. Does that mean you knew about Flynn?”
Dalton paused by the door. “Of course I did.”
“Seriously?” Axel asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked,” Dalton said, seeming sincere.
“Holden wanted to respect the Redemption Road’s edict to give felons a second chance without judgment.
I respected that enough not to share his private info.
But that asshole out there also shows not everyone is ready to give up their old ways.
I was damn sure not letting my family work with a felon without checking him out. ”
“But I killed someone,” Flynn said, sounding stunned. “You didn’t want to keep me away?”
Dalton shrugged. “Involuntary manslaughter, meaning it was accidental. Abusive situation. It was a damn crime you went to prison at all.”
“That’s what I said!” I exclaimed.
“Flynn isn’t a danger to any of you. If he was, I’d have made sure he didn’t stick around. This man never gave me any worries. He’s one of the good ones.”
“Well, thanks, Dalton,” Holden said. “I appreciate you looking out for us.”
“Yeah,” Axel said with a frown creasing his forehead. “Even if you didn’t share with the class.”
Dalton gave him a knowing smile. “Darlin’, you didn’t want me to tell you Flynn’s truth. You wanted that to come from him. I’m smart enough to know that.”
He went out the door, leaving an awkward tension behind.
“Well, it’s late—” I started.