Yes, she was stern.
Of course, she had high expectations for us.
She absolutely would cuss us smooth the fuck out if we disrespected her.
But she also wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to help us out of every nasty situation we found ourselves in. She would burn the world to the ground to protect us. I had no doubt she would do the same for Erica. Especially knowing of her personal struggle.
“I wish you could see how awesome you are,” I murmured. “I’m not saying that because you’re my little sister. You’re an amazing human being. Everyone who knowsyou, knowsthat. Everybody else is just the shit you step over on your way to the top.”
She hugged me. “Thank you for being the best big brother.”
“Erica, I need you to do something for me.” When she met my gaze, I continued. “Every time you feel like you’re drowning, call me.”
She raised a questioning brow. “Will you actually answer the phone?”
I nodded. “Every single time.”
“Why didn’t you answer today?”
I sighed. “I was being an asshole.”
Erica smiled at me. “That’s an everyday occurrence.”
Chuckling, I nodded. “Call it my love language.”
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Talking to Erica about Albany was a disaster waiting to happen. I loved my sister, would do anything for her, but she talked too damn much. If I shared with her what happened, she would definitely tell someone. Whether it was Cyn or Ma—or Albany herself.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
Erica studied me, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t believe you. You’re watchingSharknadofor the umpteenth time.”
I glanced at the TV just in time to see a falling whale shark crush Pepa, from Salt-N-Pepa. I muted the volume. “It’s a comedy,” I replied with a shrug.
“I saw Albany this morning.”
“Oh?” I reached over and grabbed the bottle of water I’d brought over earlier, aware that I was being watched like a hawk. “What was she doing?”
Erica eyed me skeptically. “She was leaving.”
I shifted against the tightness in my gut. My stomach roiled as I considered my choice of words. If I let on that I cared, my sister would latch on and take it as a personal challenge to “help” me. If I acted like I couldn’t care less, she’d accuse me of being a jerk, then try to “help” me find my conscience. Either way, I was fucked.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I’m sure you’re telling me this for a reason.”
“Well, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her, but she looked out of it, frazzled. She was wheeling out a few boxes on the cart. What if she doesn’t come back?”
I rubbed my forehead, tried to force a smile. “Maybe she’s just going away for a couple of days.”Because of me.
“I don’t think so. She didn’t stop when I called her name.”
My mind turned over all the possible scenarios. A case, a trip back to the east coast to handle some business …Did she quit again?Aside from the ramifications of that, I didn’t particularly want to deal with Granny asking why I’d run her PI away before she completed the job. Because that’s exactly what would happen. She would blame me, and I wouldn’t be able to deny it.
“Then again, she did tell me the other day that she had to return some packages.”
I slumped back into the cushion as relief washed over me. “That’s probably it.”
“Brother, you want Albany back, right?”
