Chapter Sixteen
Braxten
O ak Park is filled with residents from Winchester and surrounding counties as we gather for the annual cookout that takes place every year. Nestled in the center of town with walking trails, marble fountains, and civil war monuments, it’s the town’s most historic landmark.
While everyone goes about their day eating, laughing, and socializing, my brothers and I keep watch, hoping to seek out the enemy. Several of Craig’s men do the same, strolling the park and looking for anything out of the ordinary.
The bastard is here. I can feel it in every bone of my body. Whether he’s out of sight or amongst the several unfamiliar faces, I have no doubt he’s watching.
It makes me fucking nervous to have Alice out in the open like this. If it wasn’t for her radiant smile, I’d consider hauling her back to the farm, but despite the circumstances, she actually seems to be enjoying herself.
From the moment we arrived, she managed to fit right in, just like she does in every other aspect of my life.
Watching her help my father and Gwen serve food at their station, and seeing her laugh with Ryanne and play with Hannah, only drives home what I already knew.
What I have known since the day I found her.
She’s meant to be here with me and my family.
She’s meant to be mine.
“We need to talk,” Craig says, pulling my attention to where he sits across the picnic table from my brothers and me. “I did some digging on that group home and came across some interesting information.”
The mention of that shithole puts me on edge, but I keep my body poised and relaxed. “Yeah, and what’s that?”
“Well, for starters, there is no record of any of you ever attending there.”
Shock anchors me in place, rendering me silent.
“What did you just say?” Justice asks, as if he heard him wrong.
“I combed through every person that ever entered that place and not one of your names was anywhere to be found.”
I exchange a look with my brothers, my disbelief reflecting back at me.
“I also find it mighty coincidental that right around the time the three of you left there, the entire place caught fire and the head guard was found bludgeoned to death among the ashes.”
The suspicion written all over his face is directed right at us.
“What the hell are you getting at, Clemson?” Knox asks, his tone annoyed.
“You know what I’m getting at,” Craig fires back. “I’m tired of getting the run around from you guys. It’s time you start talking and tell me the goddamn truth!”
Justice stiffens next to me, ready to blast back, but I hold up a hand, warding him off.
This one is on me.
“You want the truth, Craig? Here it is.” Leaning across the table, I keep my voice low, but the severity of what I’m about to unveil can’t be contained.
“Hobbs was a sick son of a bitch who used to love to torture little boys before fucking them up the ass. He’d tie them to whipping posts and lash them until there was no flesh left on their bones. ”
That sick feeling forms in the pit of my stomach as the memory from that night so long ago threatens to resurface.
“It didn’t matter how many of us begged for help, the state wouldn’t listen, and they would continue to bring even more young boys to the twisted fuck. So yeah, he’s dead, and the world is a hell of a lot better place for it.”
The response has him backing down, his shoulders draining of tension. “Look, I don’t need to know the details or even your involvement in this. Actually, I’d prefer not to know,” he says. “I just need to know if this could have anything to do with what’s happening right now.”
“You said yourself he’s dead,” Justice reminds him. “I don’t see how the two could be connected.”
What he says is true, but the more time that passes the more my thoughts stray back to the group home.
It’s the only place the three of us have in common other than the streets, and now knowing there is no record of any of us being there, it’s obvious this is where our attention needs to be.
However, with Hobbs dead, who else would have a vendetta against us and where the hell does Alice fit into it all?
The conversation ends when Hannah comes running over with Ryanne in tow. I look over at my father’s station that’s close by and find Alice still at his side, helping dish out food to the long standing line.
My father says something that has both her and Gwen laughing. The sound of it washes away all the unrest plaguing me, leaving something so much better in its wake.
“Hey, guys!” Hannah greets us, jumping up onto Justice’s lap. Ryanne stands behind them, leaning down to wrap her arms around her husband’s neck.
“Well, hey there, Miss Hannah J.,” Craig returns joyfully, masking any remaining tension. “You havin’ a good time?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Sheriff, but I sure do miss Amelia,” she says, talking about her best friend who also happens to be Craig’s daughter.
“She misses you too. Y’all can get together when she returns from her grandmother’s next week.”
“I can’t wait!” She shifts on Justice’s lap, turning to face him. “The race is gonna start soon. Y’all gonna come cheer me and Miss Alice on?”
“We’ll be there, baby,” Justice promises. “Front and center.”
Damn straight, and I’ll be hoping every damn person falls flat on their face so the two of them can take home the grand prize.
“You too, Uncle Knox?” Hannah asks, looking up at my brother hopefully.
His face is expressionless as he stares back at her behind his dark sunglasses. “Yeah, kid. I’ll be there.”
“Yay!”
I knew he wouldn’t let her down. Despite his feelings at the moment, there’s no way he’d turn his back on family.
It’s why he is here now. It doesn’t matter that Alice’s arrival into our lives has wedged a void between us.
He’d never bail on me, our bond is too strong.
Just like I won’t bail on him, not when it matters most.
“We should hit the bathroom first,” Ryanne suggests to Hannah.
“Good idea. I’ve drank a lot of soda today.”
Justice stands with her in his arms, refusing to let them go alone.
“I’ll grab Alice and meet you guys over there,” I tell them.
“Okay, but be quick,” my niece orders. “No dawdling or kissing.”
“No dawdling,” I promise, “but no deal on the kissing part.”
“Fine, but not too many,” she says with a shake of her finger. “We only have a few minutes.”
I give her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ryanne chuckles at our banter. “All right, Little Miss Bossy Pants. Let’s get moving or you’re going to be the one who is late.”
Once they walk away, I tell Craig and Knox I’ll meet them on the sidelines, then head for my father’s station.
Gwen is off to the side chatting with a friend while my father introduces Alice to Pete Baker, a long time fellow farmer. His arm is around her shoulders, a proud smile on his face as if he is introducing one of his very own children.
“Hey, there he is,” my father boasts, announcing my arrival. “I was just introducing Pete here to the newest addition to our family.”
Alice blushes, clearly flustered by the doting of my father.
“I see that.” I turn to the farmer in greeting and extend my hand. “Good to see you, Pete.”
“You too, Braxten.” He returns a firm handshake. “Well, I’ll let y’all get back to your day. Thanks for the gumbo, Thatcher.”
“Anytime, Pete.”
After a tip of his hat to Alice he walks off, taking his bowl of gumbo with him.
“You hungry, son?” my father asks. “There’s a bit of cornbread left.”
“I’m good, but thanks. We should probably head over to the race. I am under strict orders not to be late.”
My father chuckles, already knowing who that came from. “Guess it’s a good thing I just served my last bowl of gumbo then.” He removes his apron, draping it on his station. “I’ll grab Gwen and meet y’all over there.”
At my nod, he walks away, leaving Alice and me alone. She turns that sweet smile of hers my way, knocking the wind right out of me. Unable to hold back a second longer, I reel her in and kiss it right off her pretty face.
By the time I pull back she’s breathless. “Hi,” she murmurs softly.
“Hey yourself, Wonderland. You having a good time?”
“Actually, I am,” she says, sounding surprised. “So much so that it’s been easy to forget why we’re here today.”
I’m glad one of us can.
“Everyone has been so nice and I’ve enjoyed getting to know Gwen more.”
My arms hug her closer. “I’m glad to hear people have been nice to you. Otherwise, I would have to kick their asses.”
She laughs like I hoped she would. “Well, you don’t need to worry about that. People have been very nice.” Her expression softens with what she says next. “It’s weird, but I’ve felt so comfortable at times that it feels normal. It almost feels…”
“What?” I ask when she trails off.
Vulnerability flickers in her eyes. “Like, maybe I belong here.”
The admission hits me like a sledgehammer, the impact of it jarring. “That’s because you do. You belong wherever I am.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, trying to hide the smile that wants to break free. “Does that mean you aren’t bothered by the way your father introduced me to Pete?”
I frown at the question. “Why would I be?”
She shrugs, but it’s obvious she was concerned about it.
“I think it’s time we clear a few things up here, Wonderland.”
“Okay,” she says slowly, clearly nervous.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you belong to me, and because you belong to me that makes you part of this family, which is why my father introduced you that way,” I tell her, putting it bluntly.
“It’s not something we take lightly. Once you’re in this family, you’re in it for good.
There’s no changing it. You get what I’m saying? ”
This time she doesn’t fight the smile, letting it ease over her face with all the beauty and grace she exudes. “Yeah, I get it.”
“Good, now let’s get our asses over to the race before that mini drill sergeant I call a niece comes looking for me.”