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“What can I do?”
Her eyes watered and she looked away. “Give him grace. Be kind. Don’t give him a hard time. He’s carrying a hard load, you know?”
“Of course, but still… he has to get his grades up or he’s going to fail, Lena.”
“He did mention liking not having homework for your class. Is that something you think you can talk to the rest of his teachers about? With all of his siblings and having to care for them until his mother gets home, he really doesn’t have the time to do anything once he leaves school.”
“I can’t force them to follow my example, but I can, however, give him time to work on things for other classes while he’s in mine if that will help. Also, there are after school and weekend programs that he can sign up for to get some time away if there’s someone else that can watch his siblings.”
“There are. My parents and I alternate between keeping them, but Latrina often just lets them stay home with Pierre.”
“I’m not sure Pierre being parentified this young is good for him, but it’s not my place to say. I’m sure he also needs some one-on-one time with adults in general, so he can remain in a child’s place, not just his mother. Maybe I’ll speak to his mom about taking him to a few games or something. See if that’ll help.”
Her head lowered briefly as she released a shaky breath. “I’m sure they both would love that, Tyreek.” When Lena lifted her head, her eyes were free of tears. She licked the corner of her mouth and swallowed hard. “I need to get out of here. Do you need anything else from me?”
We both stood at the same time as I shook my head. “Actually, with Latrina working so much, is it okay if I get your information and put you down as a point of contact for Pierre?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Unfortunately, anything personal that could have happened between us would yet again have to wait. As long as Pierre was in my care I wouldn’t speak to Lena outside of him, however, each time I saw her, she piqued my interest even more. I believed blocks were between us for a reason, though, even if I didn’t know what that reason was. Maybe I was being kept single for a specific woman, and maybe Lena and I just wouldn’t be good for each other. Either way, it was good to see the beauty again. And who knows, maybe the third time will be the charm.
CHAPTER20
Piper
My bond was posted as soon as I received one and my uncle bailed me out. I was sure that was because my father was laying low since there was a warrant out for his arrest as well, and my suspicion was confirmed when I was taken to one of his hideaway homes in Saulsbury, Tennessee, which was only about an hour or so away from where he lived.
The whole ride there, I couldn’t help but replay getting arrested repeatedly in my head. That was a first, and I was sure it was because the hotel had security cameras that had caught us going up to Thurston’s suite. It kind of pissed me off knowing Nathan and I were the ones who got picked up first when this was my father’s plan and he was the one who let off the shots, but that was usually how things worked.
When we finally arrived, I rushed through the front door of the old, longhouse in search of my father. I found him in the back room, pacing as he smoked a cigarette. At the sight of me, he motioned his head toward the pack that was on the dresser in case I wanted one, and of course, I did. Smoking had been another nasty habit that I’d picked up trying to spend quality time with him, and now, I couldn’t stop.
“Did you say anything?” were the first words out of his mouth.
“Of course not.”
He waited until I leaned against the dresser and took a few puffs of my cigarette before speaking again. “My connect at the D.A.’s office told me they have the video of us going in the hotel and getting off on his floor, but they don’t have a visual of who did the shooting. I took their phones, so the footage of you stealing has been deleted. I need you to do me a solid in return.”
Baring my teeth, I released a heavy sigh as I stared at him in disbelief.
“Haven’t I doneenoughfor you? Me doing things for you is the reason we’re in this position in the first place!”
“That was you earning your keep, just like anyone else.”
I scoffed and shook my head, unsure why I was having such a hard time believing the words that were coming out of his mouth. “You act like I asked to be born. I didn’t choose to be here, so I shouldn’t have had to do any of this shit just to earn my keep. Do you hear yourself right now?”
Ignoring my statement and question, he scratched his head and sat on the side of the bed. “We need to get on the same page, Piper. I have a plan that can get us both out of this.”
“And what about Nathan?”
“He’ll have to do some time regardless. With the story I’ve come up with, it’ll only be manslaughter and he won’t be looking at life.”
“Life?” I stretched, pushing myself off the dresser. Now, I was the one pacing. “He shouldn’t be in there anyway, Daddy. You’re the reason any of this happened, and you’re the one who killed them!”
“Yeah, to protectyourass!” he roared, charging over to me. “Now either you can repay me for that and do what the fuck I say, or you can be looking at life or the death penalty for four counts of murder right along with his ass. Either way, I’ll flee the country tonight before I go down for this shit.”
My posture was hunched as I covered my face with my hands. Weaving my hands through my hair, I avoided his eyes, unable to look at him.
I weighed my options briefly. It wouldn’t hurt to at least hear his plan out.
