their two boys.
“Okay, Dad.”
Bane was smiling when he pressed a kiss to Myrt’s bare shoulder. “No panties today, baby.” She wasn’t an exhibitionist, but both of them liked the thrill of him able to touch and caress when they wanted. “See you in a bit. Get some more shut-eye if you can.”
“The big ruckus is at Vanna’s. Our house is overflow for the kids. Marian’s promised to be in charge of them today. I finished up all my prep yesterday, so I literally have nothing to do.” She snuggled her pillow, voice muffled as she finished with, “Love you, Bane.”
“Love you, too, baby.” He flicked the covers over her, passing a hand over her hair, cut shorter now, but still able to be tamed into a braid for their rides.
Jeans on, he opened the curtains a sliver and looked out over the backyard and clearing in the adjoining woods. Tents populated the circle of trampled grass, bikes parked nearby. The prospects hadn’t understood their task at first, cutting down perfectly healthy trees and grinding the stumps down into the ground. Using the downed trees to create rough benches and stools had brought the idea closer, and then Bane had treated the area like a golf course green, using a blowtorch on the weeds so there was no delay in liberally applying seed. This exact scene was what he’d had in mind. A place between his and Truck’s homes where friends and family could come on little or no notice, a place to gather for club events—a place for his brothers to bond.
He spotted Randy a couple hundred yards from the outskirts of the clearing, fluttering wings telling him the donkey was still chasing at least one chicken. It would only be a matter of time before the damn thing saw the tents, some of which were exactly the right size to attract the donkey’s attention. “Fuck.” Shoving his feet into boots, he yanked on a shirt and grabbed his cut from the hook near the door. “Fuckin’ Gunny. Motherfucking donkey.”
Myrt’s laughter chased him down the stairs.
***
Myrtle
Hand pressed against her side, she made her way down the stairs, careful to keep her skirt close to her legs with her other hand. Not that there was anyone to catch a glimpse if she happened to flash skin, but good habits were practiced even if unneeded in the moment. Or something like that.
Once on the main floor, she looked towards the living room, unsurprised to find the couch, chairs, and floor full of bodies as kids of all ages watched cartoons on their large TV. Turning to the kitchen, spanning the back of the house with the dining room, she glimpsed Marian standing at the sink. Leaning against the counter next to her sister, she looked through the window, seeing people milling around in the clearing. Their backyard was set up with various games, and it looked like several couples were making good use of the oversized Connect Four game Bane had made mild fun of when she’d offered the suggestion. He’d been in favor of the cornhole boards and croquet game, both of which were sitting unused at the moment. She yanked her phone from her pocket and snapped a picture, then texted it to him with a smiley face. It was only a moment later he responded with a devil’s grin, and she shook her head as she slid the phone back into her pocket, fingers taking a moment to trace along the edges of the other item she’d stashed there.
“You want some water or juice, sister?” Marian bumped her shoulder gently, the way her sister did everything.
Myrt stifled a sigh as she shook her head. “I’ll have to pee enough as it is, no reason to overwork the bladder today.”
Living under their father’s thumb for so long had left its mark on Marian. Before Myrt had left for Sallabrook’s farm, her sister had been quick-witted, first to make a joke or join in on a game. During the years apart, the sisters had grown into women without much contact, but the woman Bane had rescued had been nearly unrecognizable. Even after these months without the constant threat of unreasonable retaliation, Marian hadn’t come out of her shell much. Only around Sharon and Gunny’s children and their brothers. Bane kept telling Myrt it would happen, but she found herself impatient with the slow process. The happiness she’d found made her want to help Marian with the same. She deserves it.
“I’m going