Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
BANNER
There were more tears when we got home. She cried again when I peeled her wet pants down her legs and pulled her into the shower with me, where I couldn’t stop touching her. I was afraid she’d disappear on me if I turned my back for even a second.
Once the water runs cold, I lift her out and dry her off before tugging my T-shirt down over her body.
I cup her face and kiss her nose before pressing my forehead against hers. “I know we need to go back, but I just need a moment to breathe where it’s just you and me. Hence, why we’re standing in your avocado bathroom and not my modern one.”
“Katy?” she whispers. Her throat started to hurt earlier, I suspect from years of not being used, so I told her to stop talking. Of course, she doesn’t listen to me. Stubborn woman.
“Katy’s fine. She has Blake, Marcus, and Arlo keeping an eye on her.”
She nods and lets me lead her out of the room and downstairs to the sitting room.
With the furniture all set out, it looks much better than it used to, especially with the fresh coat of paint.
But the rest of the house still needs a lot of work.
Once upon a time, I wanted nothing more than to buy it so I could burn it to the ground.
Now, though, I’m wondering if there might be a better idea.
She walks over to the sofa and curls up on the edge of it, pulling the thick quilt from the back of it over her.
“You cold?” I frown, but she shakes her head.
“It’s my emotional support blanket,” she whispers, making me chuckle.
“I’m going to make you some tea for your throat. You gonna be okay on your own for a minute?”
She offers me a smile before nodding.
I head into the kitchen and start the kettle to boil, rummaging in the cupboard until I find the tea bags she likes.
I add one to a mug with a bit of honey. Once it’s boiled, I pour in the water and stir it, leaving the bag in.
I carry it out to the living room and pause in the doorway when I see she’s fast asleep already.
I grin, shaking my head as I place the cup on the bookcase.
I sit beside her and stroke the hair back from her face.
She doesn’t stir, so I sit and watch her sleep.
I could watch her sleep for a lifetime, and it would still never be enough.
I press my lips to her in the barest of kisses before pulling back. She needs the rest.
I glance at my watch when it vibrates and see a message from Katy asking me if I’m coming home.
With Sorrow asleep, I might as well run over and check on her. She’s been through a lot today. Although I know she’s okay with my boys, I need to see with my own two eyes that she’s okay.
I rub my hand over my face and pull the blanket back before easing Sorrow up and into my arms. With the smell of paint still in the air and her throat already tender from talking, she’d be better off in her bed.
I carry her upstairs, marveling that when she’s out, she’s out.
I bypass her mom’s room and head for her old room at the end of the hall.
I twist the handle and nudge the door open with my foot before carrying her inside.
It’s like going back in time. I only remember coming up here once—to check on her when she ran away crying from a couple of kids that used to live on this street.
They’re long gone now, as are their parents, both leaving Tempest when the boys left high school.
Some families are like that. They want somewhere quiet and safe to raise their kids, but once the kids are old enough to go to college and spread their wings, the parents are ready for more excitement than Tempest can offer. Others are lifers, like my family.
I swallow when I think of them and lay Sorrow down on her bed. I glance around, and though the room mostly looks the same as it likely did the day she left, things have been moved around and cleaned up since the house was searched.
I tug the comforter up from the bottom of the bed and cover her up. I gaze around once more, unable to resist. Walking over to the mirror, I see photos tucked into the edge of the frame.
Swallowing, I trace my fingers over the younger Sorrow.
Though she’s smiling in most, I notice the progression through the images of the smile becoming more brittle and her happiness fake.
The only genuine smiles I see are in the photo of her and Katy—the same one Katy has herself—and one of her on my back, both of us laughing at each other’s antics.
I look back at the photos where her smile seems fake and grit my teeth when I see Alec smiling cockily in each of them.
I’m not sure there will ever be a time when I look at a photo of my brother and it doesn’t hurt. But seeing him with his arms wrapped around the woman I love messes with my head, especially in light of what my mom said about him only chasing after her because he knew I was in love with her.
I never saw it before. Or perhaps I did, but I was too caught up in my feelings to pay attention to Alec’s. And then he was gone, and none of it mattered anymore.
Death has a way of stripping away indiscretions.
The second they’re lowered into the ground, it’s as if their flaws get buried with them.
We focus on their laugh and their scent rather than their temper or selfishness.
None of that matters, especially not when a young man loses his life before he ever gets to really live it.
As I turn away from the photos, my eyes taking in the stained carpet on my way to the door, I can’t help but admit that I would have hated the man he would have grown up to be, given the chance.
I turn and take her in once more before closing the door and jogging back down the stairs. I slip my shoes on and head over to my place, letting myself in.
Katy is resting her head on Arlo’s shoulder. Her feet lay on Marcus’s leg.
Marcus turns, hearing me come in. “Hey, man, how is she?”
“Sleeping.”
Katy jumps up and hurries over to me. I yank her into my arms and hold her as she cries, looking between Arlo and Marcus, who look pissed. None of them likes to see her cry any more than I do, but she needs to get it out of her system before it eats her alive.
Once she’s done, she lifts her head and wipes her eyes. “Sorry for crying all over you.”
“That’s what big brothers are for.”
“How do you feel about snot?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve wiped your boogers all over me.”
She shoves me, but I see her grin.
“You okay if I head back over and spend the night with Sorrow? She’s asleep now, but I don’t want her to wake up alone.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“We’re staying anyway,” Arlo says, making Katy roll her eyes.
“You don’t have to. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Not everything is about you, Katy cat. What if I’m lonely? What if I want to snuggle up with Marcus, no questions asked?”
Katy snorts as Marcus rolls his eyes.
“We’ll come over and all have breakfast together. I think Sorrow needs to decompress. I know her throat is sore from talking.”
“Yeah, I’ll admit, I didn’t see that coming.” Marcus chuckles.
Katy shrugs. “It makes sense. Something bad happened, and she lost her voice. It took something bad for her to find it again.”
“Like her getting slapped?” I scowl, still shocked my mother had the fucking audacity to do that.
“No, like you being dragged in on kidnapping charges. I think some part of Sorrow believes she deserves all the shit that’s happened to her. She feels guilty over Alec, so she takes it like it’s a penance she has to pay. But those don’t apply when they come to you and me,” she says softly.
I grab the back of her head and kiss her temple. “When did you get so smart?”
“I’ve always been smart. It’s not my fault you didn’t notice.”
She moves away and takes her seat back on the couch before looking over her shoulder at me, a hesitant expression on her face. “There’s more.”
“What do you mean?”
“More you don’t know.” She blows out a shaky breath. “I mean what I said. I’m not going back to them. I’m going to work with Olivia to get emancipated.”
“You’re sure that’s what you want?” I ask her quietly. I need to tread lightly so I don’t influence her in any way.
“Yeah, Banner. It’s time. Dora agrees. She called me to tell me she quit and to give them hell.”
I chuckle. “Of course she did. She loves you.”
“I know. Now go be with Sorrow. I’m going to watch the end of this movie and then go to bed so Arlo and Marcus can snuggle.”
I grin as Marcus grabs a cushion and lobs it at her head. I leave them to it, the laughter a much better soundtrack to walk away from than the crying from before.
My cell phone rings as I get back, so I answer it as I lock up.
“Hey Banner, how’s Sorrow and Katy?” Blake’s voice sounds overly loud in the quiet room.
I check the windows and back door before kicking off my shoes. “They’re okay. A little shaken by what happened, but they’re troopers.”
“What about you?”
“I’m fucking seething, Blake,” I admit, sitting on the sofa with my head in my hand. “They were so scared and there was fuck-all I could do. I can’t believe my own parents did this.”
“Desperate people do desperate shit.”
“It’s not an excuse.”
“No, it’s not. Anyway, that’s not the only reason I called you. Hold on, let me put you on speaker. I’ve got Wade here.”
I lean back and frown. “What’s going on?”
“Internal Affairs is leading an investigation into six officers at Tempest PD.”
“Six?”
“Let’s just say, Sorrow isn’t the only one who’s had issues.”
“Fuck.”
“My sentiments exactly. This is bigger than Sorrow. And as shitty as it sounds, I’m grateful to her that all this is coming to light because of her story.”
I grunt, wishing like fuck it was someone else’s story. My woman’s been through enough.
“I get it, I do. I just wanted to let you know that it’s being dealt with.”
“And if IA finds nothing? Cops are good at hiding their tracks.”
“If there’s something to find, they’ll find it,” Blake adds. “We know someone who’s going in as a favor to oversee things.”
“Sounds ominous. Who is this guy?”
“Not sure anyone really knows who King is. He’s a jack of all trades and the master of them all, and he’ll make sure it’s done quickly. I don’t want this hanging over our town for years to come.”
“Amen to that.”
“Alright, just wanted to keep you in the loop, and Olivia says to tell you that she’s pushing full steam ahead.”
“Tell her I’m glad Sorrow has Olivia in her corner.”
“Will do. Get some rest.”
He hangs up. I get back to my feet and plug my cell phone in with the cable on the kitchen counter. I grab a glass from the drainer and fill it with water, drinking half of it down before a gut-wrenching scream echoes into the night.
The glass slips from my hand and shatters on the floor.
“Sorrow.”
Running up the stairs, I take them two at a time as I sprint for Sorrow’s room. I throw the door open and freeze at the sight before me.