She laughs harder, her dark hair falling all in her face.
Royce and I glance at each other and slowly stand.
Raven drops onto her back, spotting us from upside down.
“Oh.” She smiles. “Hey.”
I look to Captain. “She drunk?”
“Yeah, actually.” He laughs, setting the bag down that he was holding so he can help her to her feet. “We stopped for ice cream and she had the bright idea to make vodka floats.”
She clings to him and my eye shift to his.
Royce walks over then and lifts her over his head.
“Hey!” she playfully scolds him but laughs as he carries her up the stairs.
When I look back, Captain’s eyes pinch at the sides. “Don’t, brother,” he speaks low.
“You took her with you. To see Zoey.”
“She wouldn’t get out, couldn’t be late.” He shrugs like it’s no fucking big deal.
I narrow my eyes and he looks away.
“Guess I didn’t fight her on it too much.”
Holy shit.
My eyes widen. “You trust her.”
He looks down a moment, and when he looks back, it’s clear. “Guess I do. How ‘bout you?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “Does Royce?”
“Maybe not all the way yet but it’s happening slowly. He wants to trust her.”
Fuck.
“Should we?” I ask him and he gives a small smile.
“I don’t know, my man. Guess we’ll find out.” Captain pats my shoulder as he walks past and into the kitchen. “So what’d the old man have to say?”
“Wild guess.” I drop onto the stool, running my hands through my hair.
“Heard we were at the warehouse.”
“Yup.”
“Fuck.” Cap spreads his hands out on the counter, his chin dropping to his chest.
“What’s going on?” Royce walks in and I motion for him to sit beside me.
He frowns but sits.
“It was what we thought. Dad got word we were at the warehouses that night.”
“And Raven.” Royce scans my face. “If he heard we were there, he knows damn well she was.”
“He’s right,” Cap says, pushing off the countertop.
“He didn’t mention her, so neither did I.” I look from Royce to Captain. “That shit Collins said that day was true. He told me tonight. He’s up for parole in a few months.”
Captain’s hands instantly go to his hair and he runs them down his face while Royce throws himself from the stool and starts pacing.
“Maddoc...” Captain shakes his head, dread all over his face. “I...”
“I know.” I shoot to stand and both Royce and I make our way to Cap. I grip both their shoulders and they do the same. “We won’t let him come in and ruin shit. Getting Zoey is priority.”
“I’m not ready to tell him about her.” Captain’s features tighten.
“I know.” I nod. “I doubt he’ll get it. They’re not just gonna take his word on being a changed man or fucking whatever the first go. We’ll deal with it as it comes.”
“Yeah, all right.”
Royce nods too and then we hear a bang and laughter up the stairs.
Royce grins despite the shittiness we all feel when our brother comes home helpless like tonight.
“Forgot. She asked me to help her get in the shower.”
My frown is instant and he laughs, holding his hands up.
“I told her to wait a minute and I’d be back.” He grins. “Thought we’d play a game of sending you up there and see if she was too drunk to notice.”
I scoff and Captain laughs lightly.
“She’s not that drunk. Just feeling good.”
“How ‘bout you, Cap?” I ask him.
He sighs. “I’m good, man. Zoey’s getting bigger every time I see her. I just ... hate driving away without her. She cried when she got put in the car today. That shit fucked me up.” He looks between us, then glances past us. “Raven.” He swallows. “She’s intuitive. That’s what the ice cream fun was about. Doubt she’d admit it, but she understands us. I’d say she cares, boys. We need to be careful with her.”
Unsure of what to say I head for the stairs.
I yank at my socks, falling against the wall with a loud thud.
“Whoops,” I laugh, tossing one to the floor and move to start on the other.
“What the hell are you doing?”
My head jerks toward the door, but my hair falls in my face, blocking my view. “Trying to get this shit off but my arms aren’t working.”
His deep chuckle has me shaking my head in an attempt to see him better, but more hair sticks to my face from the steam that’s overtaken the bathroom.
His fingers touch my forehead and he pushes it away.