Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Carson’s phone rang with a call from Griffin that he accepted on the Bluetooth. “Hey, what’s good?”
“That’s what I’m calling to ask you. What the absolute hell, Carson? Two near-death experiences in one week? Since when are you such a fucking drama queen?”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“You’re really okay?”
“I mean, I’ve been better, but I’m still kicking.”
“And Cresley and her son?”
“They’re okay, too, but you know… A lot to process.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Nothing that I can think of.”
“From what I heard, Mom and the girls have descended on your place and are cooking up a storm.”
Carson bit back a groan. “And you couldn’t have stopped that?”
“Dude, we all know better than to get in their way when they’ve got a plan to execute.”
“Well, thanks for the warning.”
“I’ll come by tomorrow to check in.”
“How’s the baby?”
“She’s… She’s incredible. I can’t wait for you guys to meet her.”
“We’re looking forward to that,” Julian said.
“Next Thursday still good?”
“Unless I get kidnapped or stabbed, I’ll be there,” Carson said.
“Too soon, man. Far too soon.”
Carson laughed and then grimaced. “Don’t make me laugh!”
“Don’t say stupid shit. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for not getting killed—again.”
“You got it.”
As they approached the first exits for Los Angeles, Carson took calls from Ethan, Jackson and Roman, all of whom were glad to hear his voice and agreed it was too soon for jokes about his recent ordeals.
“Do not come home again, Rome,” Carson told his youngest brother. “Stay focused on school.”
“That’d be easier if you didn’t keep almost getting yourself killed.”
“I’m working on improving my track record.”
Roman huffed out a laugh. “You need to stay away from that woman, man. She’s gonna be your downfall.”
“Nah, none of it was her fault, and he’s in custody now. All good.”
“So are you like actually… involved… with Cresley Dane?”
“It seems so.”
“Wow. She’s way out of your league.”
Carson wished they’d stop making him laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“You and Cresley Dane. For real?”
“Pretty damned real.”
“What is happening in this family lately? All the rules are being broken.”
“Aren’t rules meant to be broken?” Julian asked.
“Not this one,” Roman said in a serious tone. “I’m worried about you two.”
“Don’t worry about us, Romy,” Carson said. “Your sole focus needs to be on finishing school, passing the bar and getting back home to us. We can’t wait to be with you every day.”
“I can’t wait for that either, but you guys… You’re being careful, right? Not getting into anything you can’t get out of?”
“It’s all good,” Julian said. “I’m watching Carson to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
“Shut your mouth,” Carson said. “You’re the one who’s totally off the rails.”
“And you’re right behind me, brother, whether you want to admit it or not.”
“This is worse than I thought,” Roman said.
“Nothing to see here,” Carson said. “Keep pushing with school. The finish line is in sight.”
“I’m so ready to be done. Are you going to study for the bar with me?”
“If I must.”
“You must if you want to pass.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m sending you the link to the study guides,” Roman said. “You’d better get your ass in gear if you’re going to be ready by July.”
“Yes, dear.”
Roman laughed. “He has no idea what he’s in for, does he, Jules?”
“Not the first clue. I can’t wait to see how badly he bombs it.”
“Or how totally I ace it,” Roman said.
“That’s right. Watching him be humiliated by you will be the frosting on the cake,” Julian said.
“I thought you guys were glad I didn’t die.”
“We are, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t eagerly anticipating Roman wiping the floor with you on the bar exam,” Julian said.
“I see how it is. Your gratitude for my life was short-lived.”
“Right back to business as usual,” Roman said. “I’ll check on you tomorrow. Don’t do anything crazy overnight, you got me?”
“I’ll do my best. Thanks for calling.”
“Later.”
“When did our baby brother become a full-fledged man-child?” Julian asked.
“He’s a good one.”
“Yes, he is, but between us, he expressed some reservations about joining the family business when he was home for the holidays.”
“Really?”
Julian nodded. “He seems to be struggling with the expected path.”
“Did you tell him he can do whatever the fuck he wants?”
“I did, and he’s aware.”
“Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
“Dad’s mail room philosophy seems to have backfired with him.”
“It nearly did with me, too. Three of the worst months ever.”
“We all hated it, but I’m glad I did that and the other scut work he assigns at the beginning so no one can say I was handed any success I might’ve earned.”
“Well, we were handed a legacy that gave us a huge leg up. Dad thinks that’s the only reason any of us talk to him. Because of the firm. Mom thinks the same thing about the girls.”
“What?” Julian asked. “When did they say that?”
“I overheard him telling someone that at a meeting once. Kay’s heard Mom say it, too.”
“Wow. I never knew they felt that way.”
“Is it true?” Carson asked. “Would any of us speak to them if we didn’t work for them?”
“I want to think we would, but I’m not sure.”
“I’d talk to them,” Carson said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them—and the rest of you—but mostly them and Gramps.
They never gave up on me and spent a fortune to get me clean.
Without that, I’m not sure where I’d be today.
It wasn’t all bad. We had good times with both of them after the dust settled. ”
“We did, but the dust hung over everything,” Julian said. “At least it did for me.”
“You were much more present for the worst of it than I was. I checked myself out.”
“You ever think that was because of them and what they did?” Julian asked.
“Nah, that was no one’s fault but mine.”
“Still… They created a situation that made you look for a way out.”
“I guess we’ll never know if it would’ve happened either way.”
Julian merged onto the 405, headed north toward the Westside. A few minutes later, they took the Wilshire Boulevard exit toward Beverly Hills.
“Are they still behind us?” Carson asked.
“Right behind.”
“Good.”
“You must be beat,” Carson said. “You certainly didn’t have a five-hour round-tripper to San Diego on your bingo card for today.”
“Neither did you, and if you’re okay, so am I.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“No problem.”
Carson huffed out a laugh. “Sure it wasn’t. Did you have to cancel a gig?”
“We postponed it to tomorrow night.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry.”
“It was for a good cause.”
They pulled up to Spencer’s house a few minutes later to find numerous cars parked on the street—one for each of the girls, their mom, their dad, Ethan and Jackson.
“It’s a full-on fucking party.”
“Everyone’s upset,” Julian said. “Tell them to get lost.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“You can if you want to.”
Julian got out of the car and came around to help Carson, who couldn’t believe he actually needed to be helped out of a vehicle like his grandfather did at nearly ninety-four. “Take it slow.”
“That’s my only speed at the moment.” His legs felt like they were made of Jell-O, and his body ached from the long hours in the car.
As he watched Cresley carry a sleeping Ty into the house, he wished he could do that for her.
“I hate that she’s walking into a Remington family circus after the day she’s had. Will you show her where my room is and tell her to put Ty to bed up there?”
“Yep.” He turned Carson over to Jackson, who’d met them at the door. “Find him a horizontal surface.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hey, Cres, wait up,” Julian said. “I’ll take him for you.” To Isla, he said, “Be right back.”
“Take your time.”
When they walked into the kitchen, Carson, who was leaning on Jackson, was swarmed by his parents, sisters and grandfather.
“What’re you doing out after curfew?” Carson asked Spencer.
“Checking on you, my friend.” He put his hands on Carson’s shoulders. “How’re you holding up?”
“Better now, but I need to sit.”
Corbin took over for Jackson and walked Carson to the family room, located next to the kitchen.
“Are you hungry, honey?” Kate asked.
Until he’d gotten stabbed, she hadn’t called him that since he was ten. “I could eat something.”
“Coming right up.”
“You guys… give Cresley some space when she comes downstairs, okay?”
“What do you think we are, Carson?” Jordan asked. “A pack of savages?”
“You said that, not me.”
Gillian came to sit next to Carson on the sofa, her soft eyes wet with tears. “I was so scared for you guys.”
“Sorry to do that to you, pumpkin.”
She smiled at his old nickname for her. “It’s not your fault. Thank goodness you’re all safe.”
“Could you find me some Advil? Like, four of them would be good. There’s some in one of the kitchen cabinets.”
“Coming right up.” She leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for not dying on us, but enough of this stuff, you hear?”
“I hear you.”
Kaidan returned with the pills and a tall glass of ice water.
“Thanks.”
“How bad was it?”
“Pretty hairy for a time, but we survived. That’s all that matters.”
“We’re very thankful that you survived.”
Kate came into the room, carrying a tray with pasta and sauce, salad and bread.
“That smells great, Mom. Thank you. Will someone check on Cresley? I’m sure she’s starving, too.”
“I’ll go find her,” Kaidan said. “Be right back.”
Cresley sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, stroking Ty’s hair and watching him sleep while Julian stood next to her. “I’m afraid to let him out of my sight.”
“I understand, but the threat has been contained. Marlon is locked up where he belongs, and you can breathe easier.”
“I know that, but I can’t seem to get my nervous system to accept the news.”
“You will. In time.”
“Hey, guys,” Kaidan said from the doorway. “Carson’s asking for Cresley.”
“It’s safe to leave Ty to sleep,” Julian said.
“What if he wakes up and doesn’t know where he is?”
“We’ll check on him,” Kaidan said. “Come have something to eat.”
“I’m not sure I could but thank you all for your kindness.”