Torin (Hope City #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,7

bread into the toaster, Timothy sank lower in the chair, feeling more sorry for himself with each minute. He took another sip of coffee, anger returning with his sobriety. “Fuckin’ mayor with his fuckin’ plan to reee-vitalize some of the older warehouses. And the fuckin’ foreign Stepanovs selling out.”

After shoveling breakfast in, he pushed the plate away from him, fatigue pulling at his body. Rubbing his arthritic knee, he grumbled, “Oughta blow the whole fuckin’ thing up. See how they like havin’ their fuckin’ world demolished.”

Bob shook his head and stood, picking up his dad’s plate just as Marty walked into the room. The two brothers shared a look before Marty sat down.

“Hey, Pop, how ya’ doing today?”

Timothy looked at his youngest. Smarter than Bob, he’d worked for a different warehouse on the harbor before moving over to Stepanov’s and now was unemployed just like them. And all three of them were alone. Marty never married and Bob was too useless to keep a woman. ‘Course, their own mamma up and left when she didn’t get what she wanted. Women… only around when things are good. “I’ll bet you’re gonna tell me there are other jobs at the harbor.”

Marty sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I might have a line on one, Pops. I’m not sure they can compete with what we had at Stepanov’s, but it’ll be better than nothing.” He looked up at Bob and added, “They might have something for you, too.”

Bob laughed. “Pops wants to blow up the whole harbor.”

“Come on, Pop, don’t talk like that,” Marty admonished. “It doesn’t do any good.”

“Yeah, well, it’d make me feel a fuckova lot better. And Bob don’t got it right. Don’t want to blow up the whole harbor. Just the Stepanov Warehouse that Hope City took over. It’s only right. They take away from us, so we take away from them.” He stood and ambled toward the living room, planning to spend his day in his recliner in front of the TV. As he walked away, he overheard Bob mumbling in the kitchen.

“You know, Marty… Pops just might have a point. I kinda like the idea of blowing something up.”

3

Erin walked down the stairs of her parents’ house, seeing several of her siblings and their significant others already gathered. Offering heartfelt greetings and hugs, she tweaked the nose of her niece Colleen and headed toward the kitchen. Her mom, as with her usual get-togethers, was running the kitchen like a ship’s captain, completely in charge and making sure everyone was doing their part. Her oldest brother Sean was in the den with her father, watching a game. It wasn’t sexist, but her mom didn’t like having too many people under her feet when she was putting a meal together. Plus, in her family, if the women cooked, then the men cleaned up. As far as Erin was concerned, that worked for her.

Sean’s new wife, Harper, was in the kitchen with Erin’s mom. She couldn’t help but grin at how easily Harper fit in with their family. Colleen was bouncing around, and Erin looked behind her to see her sister, Tara, and her husband, Carter, with their arms around each other at the end of the hall. Tara was glowing, and Erin wondered how long it would be until they had a child of their own. Carter had adopted Colleen when they got married, but her niece had already declared that she was ready for a sibling.

The front door opened, and she turned to see Caitlyn bouncing in, grabbing her in a tight hug.

“Erin! How are you?”

She often wondered when others asked if they thought her answer might be different. She smiled and returned the hug, saying, “I’m fine.” Yep. I always give the same answer. “What’s new with you?”

“The marathon! Bekki and I decided we’re going to run in it!”

Bekki King was Caitlyn’s best friend, having grown up next door. Like her parents, the Kings still lived there although all of their children had flown the coop. The six years Erin spent in the military had meant the McBrides had an empty nest when Caitlyn went to college, but they’d welcomed her and Rory back when they were discharged from the Army and needed a place to stay.

She lifted her brow and grinned at her sister. “You’re really going to run in the marathon?”

“Well, I might be puking by the end, but how could I possibly turn down a chance to run in the tenth anniversary of the