20. Dominguez Hills #2
“Beautiful family,” she murmured, brushing a thumb over Willow’s hair.
“I’d kill for these Sistah locs.” But even though I could tell she was trying her best to compliment the photo, staring at it brought her pain.
She wanted this and didn’t believe in me to give it to her.
The muscle beneath my jaw twitched. We had so much to learn about each other.
“That’s Camdyn’s wife, right?” she asked. “He’s boy three of seven?”
“Yep.” I swallowed .
“He’s the one who got dragged down the street?” A wave of sorrow washed over Jordyn’s face.
I nodded.
After she processed for a moment, the sorrow washed away and something else replaced it. Yearning.
“This,” she said, voice thick. “This is what I need, Jamie. Passion. Children. Love. A home. Not just safety or protection.”
“Maybe I haven’t offered you all of that,” I said, voice tight, “but I thought I’d given you the start of it. I’m trying to get there.”
“I know.” She swiped a tear. “I respect who you are, Jamie. But I still feel like everything is a process with you. The toilet bowl. Your list. Maybe you’re not just coming at me as a way to help me with my trauma by making me wait to have all of you, Jamie.
Maybe something else is there. Even besides marriage. ”
“There’s nothing else I want more than having all of you too, Jordyn.” I took a step closer, the words burning in my chest. “I will give—” The declaration died in my throat. My eyes locked on the monitor across the room. Movement .
Movement was what kept me alive in the Marines. And a lack of movement now could be the death of?—
“Who’s that?” she groaned.
I jerked a shoulder and approached an inner door that led to a large garage. “Don’t intend to stick around and find out.”
Jordyn pushed the stroller through the door as I held it open.
The air smelled of diesel and old rubber.
Sensored fluorescent lights flicked on, casting a pale glow over rows of semis.
Good thing the massive garage doors didn’t have windows.
We strolled past a few empty spots, a couple of older model trucks, and then past a new Mack Anthem.
On the opposite side of it sat a muscle car, with its white-striped center and big blue body. A Chevelle SS 1970.
“Drat. Leith’s gonna kill me.”
“Why? ”
“First, his wife’s name is Chevelle. So, this vehicle is another member of their nuclear family.
Second, he hid this car here to stop Mia from taking it to college with her.
The little princess has access to the Ring camera, so he’s waiting for winter finals to sneak it back home.
” Leith had griped about it to me as we drove down to Tarzana.
I swung open the door, not a creak. Smoothly, as if Leith oiled the hinges every day.
Jordyn tossed in the two backpacks as I gingerly lifted Rebel.
“You can go back to sleep in a sec, Reb.”
Careful where my hands touched, I placed her in the backseat on the black leather.
“The business trucks have their own garage opener. This one doesn’t.
So, Jordyn,”—I put my hand on her shoulder—“I need you to press that button on the wall.” It was at least twenty feet away. “Run and get into the car. Duck down.”
A gray pallor replaced the usual glow of her brown skin. Could I bring myself to lie and tell her we’d survive this? No .
“Jordyn! Press the button.” I got into the driver’s seat and flipped down the visor for the keys. Thanks for being predictable, Leith . I cranked the engine, and the Chevelle roared to life. The wheel jittered softly beneath my hands while the garage door slowly swept up.
Jordyn sprang into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her. I toggled the stick shift once the door cleared the top of the vehicle, Nike ready to punch the gas when two figures blocked the driveway, shotguns in hand.
“Run them over!” Jordyn ordered.
That was sort of the point until I realized they weren’t Chelomey’s men.
My older brother, Camdyn MacKenzie, stood next to the Bear.
“Get out. Now,” Brody ordered.
“Oh,” Jordyn seemed to realize they were family. “He’s your oldest brother, right? The one with the beard.”
“If that’s what you wanna call him. ”
Having done this less than twenty-four hours ago, I knew the drill. First, I raised my hands out the window and used my left hand to pull the lever from outside.
“Both of ya,” Camdyn growled. Maybe they couldn’t make out our faces from the way the fluorescent lights hit the front window.
“Nae. Just me?—”
“Ja-Jamie.” Camdyn shifted his weapon from its justified position, barrel pointing to the ground.
I stood with one arm resting on the top of the vehicle and one foot still inside on the floorboard. The poster child for nonchalance. “Tell your brother I need to borrow his car.”
Brody sniffed. “That’s how you do us? After all this time?”
“What do you mean all this time? I saw you on Independence Day. You ambushed me at a barbecue joint!” I shot back, then flitted my hand for them to move.
“You saw him this summer?” Camdyn spun on our big brother, a vein protruding from his neck more prominent than the silly knife tattoo he got in high school. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We tried to do an intervention before everyone arrived on the Fourth, Cam!” Brody argued. “Now plug your pipe hole. Backup.”
I grinned. Knowing that was all I needed to redirect their attention. Now, if I could only get them to move. Seated again, I slammed the door. The engine idled.
“Brody, is it because I did not”—Camdyn’s hardened voice fractured for a moment—“save him. I’ve carried that guilt for over half my life.”
Brody growled and grunted.
“What are you gonna do?” Jordyn whispered.
Run them over . I tapped my fingertips on the side of my thigh. Then I exited the car again. “Listen, Cam. I love you.”
“What about me?” Brody asked.
My eyes remained on my closest brother—number three—but I grunted an affirmative to the arrogant firstborn .
Camdyn shook his head. “Y’all don’t want me using! That’s what this is about. That’s why I didn’t get invited to the intervention.”
“I don’t need an intervention! Besides, it wasn’t an intervention; it was an ambush. ” I growled. Regardless of being taller than him and just over eye to eye with Brody, my statement went way over their heads. Lightyears. “I?—”
“Ye daftie , wee clipe .” Brody glared at me, calling me a snitch. His mouth sharpened like the Strider’s SMF knife I used in special ops. “Shouldn’t have told Cam this. So allow me to share?—”
“Don’t you dare!” I gritted out.
“As a matter o’ fact, the wean utilized Leith’s services. He helped Jamie save a lassie. Nae thank you call, text, not a note in the mail. I’d distracted my mate, Rocket.”
Camdyn glared at me. “Leith helped you do what?”
“Don’t worry. They didn’t need the likes of us, bràthair ,” Brody added. “Apparently, this one’s a Marine Rat.”
Now, Number One had crossed the line. Still, I didn’t get a chance to respond because Camdyn rounded on me. “I’d do anything for you, Jamie. You went to Leith? He’s our big brother, but he … hardly knows his way around a gun.”
“I know.”
Sometime during my quick explanation, Jordyn slipped out of the car and gave a small arched hand wave. “Hi, guys. He saved me.”
“This is Jordyn.” I stalked to her side and rushed through the introductions. “We were just leaving.”
“Jordyn, you prefer a laddie with quiet strength and lethal capabilities, do ya?” Brody chuckled. “Or so I’m told.”
“Yes and no.” Jordyn stepped forward and held out a hand. When Brody shook it, she gave his hand a firm pump. “I love Jamie MacKenzie. He’s my best friend. And I pretty much love everything about him, quiet strength included. Now stop trying to insult your little brother.”
Camdyn shook her hand. “My wife will love you. Forgive this one.” He jutted his head to Brody. “Justice hasn’t been putting him in his place like usual since managing Leith and Chevelle’s restaurant.”
“It’s true. My wife works too much. Too independent.” Brody nodded. “So, if I hurt your feelings?—”
“Not my feelings,” Jordyn said.
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, if I hurt the bampot’s feelings, my apologies.”
I folded my arms.
“You’re coming to our parents’ house?” Camdyn’s eyes linked with mine. “That way, you can tell Leith you need to borrow his car. Although, I’m sure he’d probably give you his Audi A7 to save this old girl.”
“Negatory. I’d rather send him a cashier’s check in the mail with no return address.” I sneered. “One of you screwed me over.”
“Excuse the heck outta me? Gone is the little boy who looked like he couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag. Who is this man?” Camdyn scratched the back of his head. “Because what you won’t do is accuse me?—”
“It was either you.” I glared at Brody. “ You or your brother, Leith. Or your father. As members of Clan MacKenzie, I’m branding you all traitors!” I turned to Jordyn. “Get in the car. Let’s go.”
Her eyes widened at the bark in my voice.
After doing an about-face, I strode around the car.
A hand dropped on my shoulder. I rolled away from the touch before Brody could apply pressure, spun around, back foot planted, and threw my arm into an uppercut that sent him stumbling backward. “Don’t touch me!”
A dazed look flashed before his eyes. Little Brody licked the blood from a gash on his bottom lip.
“Alright. First one’s free, Jamie. I see you’ve still got that mouth of yours.
I suppose it’s because we always allowed you to have your say.
” He dipped his head. “Well, on account that you were speaking, we’d allow you to have your say.
Mark my words. You say another thing about your family?—”
I stepped toward him.
“Okay, you proved your point, bro,” Camdyn said.
I jerked away when he put a hand on my chest.