“Besides…” I glance over my shoulder as a car rolls to a stop outside. “I won’t be alone.”
Willa climbs out with a bag in hand. Her smile doesn’t hide the red around her eyes, but like me, she’s pushing through.
“Look at you putting the guys to work.” She winks when she stops beside me.
I was surprised myself when the club’s president showed up to fix my door. There are plenty of members around who could probably do it. Prospects even. So when Steel showed up with Legacy, I had to choke back my emotion. He isn’t here as the president of the club. He’s here as a friend of Hayes.
“How are you two holding up?” Willa asks, brushing her fingers through Charlie’s wisps of hair.
“I’ll be better after the hearing on Monday.” I sigh. “At least then we’ll know what we’re dealing with.”
“Agreed.”
“At least Charlie is too young to know what’s going on. Still, I think she notices when he’s not here. She got used to him putting her to bed at night.”
“Babies take in more than we realize.” Tempe frowns. “She’ll have her daddy back soon though. The guys will make sure of it.”
My throat tightens as I glance at Steel. He paused what he was doing to listen to Tempe. Determination blazes in his eyes, and even though he goes back to work, not saying anything, I know he’s going to fight for my husband.
“I should get Charlie inside; she’s probably hungry.” I lift off the railing as she starts to stir.
“While you feed her, I’ll make us lunch,” Willa says.
“I’ll help,” Tempe offers.
“You don’t have to give up all your plans for me. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
“Nope. Pearl has the kids, and anything else can wait. I’m all yours.” Tempe links one arm through Willa’s and the other through mine, pulling us toward the house. “This is what we do for each other around here. You two are family.”
Family.
Tears swell in Willa’s eyes as they burn in mine. Like me, she’s not used to this.
After all that’s been taken, I look around at all I’ve gained. Things might be bleak, but Hayes was right; everything will be okay. I’m not the girl who showed up here, helpless, looking to be saved. I’m no longer scared or alone.
I’m surrounded by family.
Days might as well be months.
I’m tired of staring at walls.
Of waiting.
I expected my uncle to reach out to me the moment Hayes was behind bars. But he’s been silent, which is even more unnerving.
Willa has been staying in the living room, sleeping on the couch. Not that either of us is sleeping much at all. We watch TV or play cards. Sometimes we just sit in silence in the backyard and stare out at the desert.
Emotions roll in waves. Willa and I trade off. One moment we’re missing them, the next we’re angry that they set themselves up to take the fall for their club.
They’re not here because they were too busy playing hero to think of their own well-being.
I get the impression Steel didn’t know they’d done that either. Tempe said he’s barely slept. He and the other guys have been in constant communication with Tanner, but with the court closed on the weekends, there’s been no progress.
The club has stepped in. Between the guys randomly dropping by the house to fix things that don’t need fixing and the girls bringing us premade meals, Willa and I are more pampered than when Hayes and Chaos are here.
It’s appreciated, but none of it replaces them.
At least today, I finally get to see Hayes. Willa sits in the seat beside me, staring out the window as the car takes another turn.
