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“Thanks. I wish there was some way we could keep him from being let out, but I guess at least we have a plan,” Kendall said.
“I think it’s great that you looking out for your friend. I’m glad you called me. I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“Love you,” she said and hung up.
I sat in traffic and made a voice note about the early release of the ex-boyfriend and gave a brief outline of the call. I figured this way I had a date of inception for the case should it become one. A time and date stamp were a good thing to have in the chain of evidence, and the first notice of concern was valuable. I emailed my assistant asking for the basics on the court proceedings, answers on arriving on to a verdict or plea deal, and a copy of everything the state entered in discovery. I’d look it over. Being prepared just in case I needed to act on a parole violation on behalf of the victim didn’t seem like enough. I didn’t like the feel of this situation. The fact that Kendall called me for advice instead of winging it was a red flag in itself.
When I got home, Rory and Darren were hanging out in the kitchen. Darren handed me a beer while Rory stirred whatever eye-wateringly spicy dinner was in the stock pot on the stove. “What are you two up to? Starting your own cooking show?” I quipped.
“Nah, we’re talking about the barbecue at Mom and Dad’s for Labor Day. Kendall’s hot friend may be coming.”
“And who would that be…?” I asked.
“Julie,” Rory said.
“Okay, well, I got a call from Kendall myself. She’s worried about Julie because her ex is getting paroled,” I said, taking a drink and dropping into a chair.
“She called you?” Darren asked.
“I’m a lawyer, remember?” I rolled my eyes.
“Right. Sorry, I keep forgetting you’re not just my jerk-off, little brother,” he snorted.
“She’s that worried?” Rory cut in on the trash talk.
“I guess so. To even get someone convicted on domestic violence charges—much less getting actual jail time instead of anger management and a suspended sentence—takes a lot of evidence. It must have been bad,” I told them. “Like, multiple hospitalizations or serious injury.”
“Shit,” Darren said, and cracked his knuckles. I looked at him, wondering if he just naturally acted like the Hulk now when he was aggravated. The Marines and working high-rent private security hadn’t exactly made him more easygoing.
“I told Kendall I’d look at the transcripts from the original case, and I’ll do whatever I can. But unless this asshole violates the terms of his parole, I can’t do anything.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t,” Darren said.
“If you crack your knuckles again or use the phrase ‘put him in a world of hurt’, I swear to God that I won’t even bail you out,” I snorted.
“Darren’s right,” Rory said. “I know you’re on top of the legal side of things. But she’s been Kendall’s bff since they were kids. She’s practically family.”
“I want to help her, too, but my hands are tied unless he steps outside the law.”
“How long has it even been since we’ve seen her?” Darren asked. “About five years?”
“Before today, yeah,” Rory said with a self-satisfied grin. “She’s all grown up,” Rory mimed an hourglass figure with both hands.
I wondered exactly how sexy this woman could be, given the fact that my youngest brother wasn’t easily impressed. He was charming as hell and didn’t have a problem attracting women. If he was hyping her up to us, Julie must be extraordinary. I found myself really looking forward to this family barbecue for once.
“We’re going to look out for her when it comes to the ex,” I said, “you’re right. I’d just prefer not to lose my license to practice law in the state of New York thanks to the two of you going off half-cocked.”
“I was a Marine,” Darren protested, “we don’t act impulsively, especially when civilians could be hurt.”
“Well, I was going to say don’t talk about the size of anyone’s cock, but then Darren here made a better point,” Rory went back to the stove with a chuckle.
5
RORY
I grew up knowing how lucky I was. Loving parents, two brothers to get in trouble with and a little sister to tease, plenty to eat, and all the advantages money could buy. My dad was a big success by the time I came along, and some of my first memories were at this place in the Hamptons. We didn’t exactly grow up in a working-class neighborhood anyway, but while a lot of our classmates went to the Caribbean on holidays, we went to the Hamptons. Mom inherited the house from a great uncle and had it remodeled.
Every school break saw us running down the beach barefoot, even if there was nothing but cold wind and icy sea spray to greet us. We loved it there, and going back for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day was tradition. A lot of our neighbors on the beach came down for the end of summer barbecue and we always included extended family. My parents started using that phrase when we were teenagers, laying that groundwork for eventually welcoming our future fiancés and spouses to join us.
