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“You broke your parole, bro. Big-time. How is it they’re not locking you back up?”
I raked a hand over my head. Weighed my choices. Mateo said I could only divulge the truth on a need-to-know basis. Even to Tobias. But this felt pretty need-to-know. I trusted Mateo to a point, but I needed a confidant and to know someone had my back. Unconditionally. And he needed to know why I wouldn’t always be at work. Why I’d have to leave at odd times. And be able to protect himself and Hope if they became targets. I’d be damned if I’d put my brother in harm’s way.
“I need to tell you something, but it cannot leave this room,” I said. “You can’t even tell Hope. Especially Hope.”
He blinked at me, clearly torn about making that promise. “Alright, brother. What is it?”
And so, I told him why I’d left, how I got Faith back, and the deal I’d struck with Mateo to get to Pittman.
“Jesus Christ almighty,” he breathed, sitting back when I was done.
“Yeah.”
We stared at each other for a long moment before I stood to go check on Faith.
“So, wait...”
I turned back to him. “She’s staying here? With you?”
Right. I’d forgotten to mention that part. “Yeah. It’s not safe for her to go back home and your place is too far. Here, we can keep a better eye on her.”
“Right.” He didn’t seem convinced. Or maybe it was because he knew our history and my true feelings where Faith was concerned.
I opened the door to go but paused. “Oh. One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“We have a dog now.”
The look on my brother’s face. Priceless.
Maybe the thing I’d said about this being fun would turn out to be true after all.
