CHAPTER TWO
A loud buzz fills the claustrophobic room. My brother appears in the narrow doorway, escorted by an armed guard. A faded gray jumpsuit dulls Walker’s already pale complexion. He blends right into the dingy walls of the visitation area like a shit stain on concrete.
The fluorescent light flickers from above, threatening to burn out. It would do us all a favor, but the stench would remain. I wrinkle my nose. This place reeks like stale piss and corruption.
Walker’s muddy brown stare is flat as he shuffles forward.
Dark circles hang heavily under his eyes.
Neglect coats his jaw in thick stubble. It matches the disheveled mess that his hair has already become.
As he drops onto the chair on the opposite side of the bulletproof glass, I can practically hear his spirit dying.
I lift the phone to my ear, waiting to speak until he’s clutching his own receiver. “You look like shit, bro.”
His expression hardens into stone. “Did you come here to ridicule me?”
“Nope, this is more of a courtesy call. To make sure you’re… taken care of.”
Walker raises his cuffed wrists. “Can’t even take a shit in peace.”
I’ve spent enough nights in jail to have personal experience.
My petty crimes aren’t worth mentioning compared to his, though.
“Probably won’t for many years to come. That’s what happens when you’re on the hook for attempted murder.
You’re lucky it wasn’t considered premeditated or you’d be facing a life sentence. ”
My idiotic brother was high on who knows what and convinced himself that after our boss died, his estranged son—our cousin—would return to take control of the crew.
That delusional state drove Walker to send Colton a message.
I only went along for the ride to make sure my brother didn’t do anything too stupid, as if assuming Colton would actually want anything to do with his past life wasn’t bad enough.
He’s still in the hospital recovering after Walker’s trigger finger slipped while under the influence.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” my brother drawls.
I scoff across the tapped line. “Is that what the judge told you?”
“You’d know if you bothered to show up to the trial.”
“Initial hearing,” I correct.
“Same thing.”
My grip on the phone tightens while I picture hammering some sense into his thick skull. “It’s really not.”
That ignorance is just one reason why he’ll rot in county before getting transferred to a more permanent cell. But he’s not ready to accept that.
“Gonna bail me out?”
Laughter bursts out of me. It’s the humorless kind that’s reserved for especially stupid scenarios. “Never took you for a comedian.”
Walker narrows his eyes at my theatrics. “Not tryin’ to be funny.”
“Well, I sure think your optimism is a joke. The judge said no pre-trial release. That means no bail, brother.”
“Why not?”
“Is that a serious question?”
His empty gaze gives me the answer.
“You’re being charged with attempted second-degree murder, moron,” I state. “They’re not letting you out, especially after you ran from the police. Talk about a flight risk.”
“Don’t have to be a bitch about it,” he grumbles.
“You almost killed Colton,” I hiss.
That shot still rings out in my nightmares. I almost flinch from the memory, especially when his glare pierces me, but I refuse to expose a weakness. I just give my brother the glower he deserves.
Walker grunts. “Go fucking figure. You’re taking his side.”
“As if that wasn’t obvious when I didn’t flee the scene with you.”
“My own sister ratted me out,” he sneers. “Un-fucking-believable.”
I palm my forehead, trying to block his stupidity. “You incriminated yourself. There’s no denying it.”
Which is further proven as he chomps on nothing but his guilty conscience. “Pretty proud of yourself, huh? Got off without so much as a ticket. Is anyone coming to my defense?”
The hollow pang in my chest is an unanswered echo. “Wouldn’t know. They’re all gone.”
Walker goes deathly still. “What’d you mean?”
“Cops raided the compound after you shot Colton. Everyone scattered. Haven’t heard a peep and it’s been nearly a week.”
That makes him go quiet for a long moment. “Nobody stuck around?”
“Not that I’ve seen. Jax didn’t even bother to say goodbye.” Which should’ve hit me harder than it has.
If anyone stuck around after all hell broke loose, I would’ve put money on Jax.
That money would’ve been lost. The three of us were as thick as literal thieves and often teamed up together.
Trust is impossible in our line of work, but we relied on each other when it counted.
At least until my brother went on a rampage and my so-called friend took off without even giving me a middle finger salute.
All I’ve ever known disappeared practically overnight. They were my family. We took care of each other, as best as a pack of criminals can. I suppose ditching each other comes just as naturally.
After the initial shock of abandonment wore off, a detached numbness spread. I’m upset but not devastated. In the following days, I’ve realized this is a blessing in disguise. For the first time in my life, I can choose my path.
“Well, shit.” Walker almost sounds remorseful. “What’re you gonna do?”
I straighten my shoulders. “For now, I’m planning a wedding.”
He eyes me skeptically and for good reason. I might be trying to go legit, but party planning is an extreme. It wouldn’t belong in my wheelhouse even if I got a complete personality transplant.
“Who’s getting married?”
My voice drops as I whisper, “Can you keep a secret?”
Walker looks ready to choose his jail cell over finishing this conversation.
“Colton and Bianca,” I chirp before he can holler at a guard.
His eyes bug out. “You’ve gotta be shitting me.”
I allow my smile to stretch to obnoxious proportions. “And their upcoming nuptials have made me realize anything is possible. Who knows what tomorrow might have in store for me?”
My brother has proven that the path we were on leads to a dead end. I want more for my future. And maybe I’ll finally get it.
Walker guffaws, as if I’m the disappointment. “Aren’t you a ray of gloating sunshine?”
Rather than stoop to his level, I exhale softly. I’m choosing to use this as an opportunity for a fresh start. “Don’t be jealous. I’ll send you a letter from wherever I end up.”