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He laughs wryly, not giving much away. He’s always been the most closed off of our not-so-little group. Almost as much as Mikey when I first met him. Though I don’t think anyone can master that level of stone-faced fuck-offness.
“We thought a lover was a better cover than just an ordinary employee. It means I can be seen coming in and out of her house without causing issues. It’s made for some interesting office gossip, but Josie finds it all amusing so we’ve rolled with it.”
Makes sense. Behind closed doors, I haven’t gotten any vibes from either of them like when we were at the gala. That’s good, I can't quite picture the two of them together. They’re both too introverted. Tyler needs a girl that’s loud and full of life and sass and fire. Someone who will go toe-to-toe with him and challenge him to open up and relax.
Josie, on the other hand, needs someone that can be laid-back and easygoing. Someone that will teach her how to de-stress and unwind without cooping herself up in her house all weekend. She needs someone who will make her laugh but will never be the loudest person in the room either. Someone to draw her out without overwhelming her. Someone who shows her how much she shines and shines with her.
They both need different things that just don’t fit together. It only leaves one question.
“So why have you been so eager to get out of St Graves? What demons are chasing you?”
He gives me a dry look. “Your demons.”
I cackle. A throw-my-head-back in a body-shaking, soul-deep type of cackle. It feels good even as Tyler looks at me like I really might have a screw loose. Probably more than a few.
“Obviously,” I agree, wiping my eyes. “But you knew what you were signing up for. We would have let you out at any point if it was too much. You know it too.”
His expression morphs into a somewhat guilty one. “It’s not that. I don’t regret being a Bleeding Rose, Scar. It’s the most secure home I’ve ever found.”
Relief pours through me at his words. I don’t want anyone to be feeling stuck due to obligation. That isn’t what our family is about. “Then why have you been the first to volunteer for every mission out of the city? Here, Black Hallows?”
He finishes his cigarette as he stares over the city below us. After several moments he sighs. “This needs something a little heavier.” He pulls a joint out from his pocket and I arch a brow but it’s only slightly squished. “You in?”
Obviously. It’s been awhile since I’ve smoked anything, but it used to be part of our regular routine. It sounds like exactly what I need to shake off the rest of my heavy mood. I nod as he lights up and we sit together, passing the joint back and forth a couple of times, letting the sweet and thick smoke fill my lungs and holding it until I can no longer stand it. It’s a different type of burn followed by something much sweeter than nicotine alone could ever give me.
By the time Tyler finally answers, I’ve almost forgotten what I had asked. “I have people I need to protect. For a long time, that meant always being at their side. But now…” he trails off.
I get it. “With the devil on our heels, distance is the best protection we can offer them.” I hate how much I really do understand. I always thought Ty’s only family left was his mother. He takes care of her, but I get the feeling she isn’t who he’s talking about. He doesn't have any kids or siblings. They would have been with Roe and the boys if he did. That leaves only one option.
“Is it a girl?” The weed is going straight to my head and I can’t help but grin as I ask him. I must not be alone in letting the high take over, because Ty is more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him as he groans, putting his face in his hands.
I shoot up, making myself dizzy. “Oh my god, it is.”
He flips me off and takes another hit before passing it back to me. “Yes, she is a girl. My neighbor.” He cuts off my excitement by waving me off. “But not the type of girl you’re thinking of. She’s still a kid. Or at least, she was when I left.”
I hold my tongue, sensing there’s more than what he’s saying. Tyler is the youngest of the crew, if we don’t include Jade.
He checks his phone and sighs. “It’s been over a year since I’ve seen her.” I raise my brows in surprise. Yeah, our fight has dragged out, but he’s been in St Graves plenty over the last year. Why hasn’t he gone back to check on her if he’s so worried? “She’s seventeen now. I missed two of her birthdays,” he says dejectedly, full of self-loathing.
Okay seventeen. Not that far off from Jade after all. I was picturing a child the way he’s talking about her.
“You cut contact completely?” I ask surprised.
He nods. “It was better than risking her being linked back to me. She has more than enough demons chasing her without adding ours. It isn’t just her I need to protect. She’s got younger siblings. Her sister was just a baby when I left her and her mom is useless. They’re the only family I really know. I’d never forgive myself if they got wrapped up in this.”
At least that much I can relate to. “But cutting her off completely?” I can’t help but push. Family isn’t supposed to run away. The guys taught me that. Apparently I have grown after all.
“It was better until we got our situation under control at least. It’s hard to be in the same city, to be so close, and know I can’t go check on them. I can’t reach out to her and risk dragging them into this.”
Fair enough. I would argue that it’s probably harder on both of them to do it this way, and we could protect her and her siblings, but it’s clear he’s made up his mind. I’ve been where he is before, nothing I say will change his mind.
“Well,” I offer, “if you ever change your mind, you know we’ll protect your girl.”
“She’s not my girl,” he growls.
“To-ma-to, to-mah,toe.” I shrug. They might all be his family, but he’s talking mostly about the seventeen-year-old. It says enough to me. At least I know he’s not just a creep preying on her, but no way seeing her as a child will last forever. He’s going to be in for a rude awakening when he does go back home to find out she grew up without him. “We’ll protect her either way.”
His body sags. “I know you would, but I’d rather her just not have anything to be protected from in the first place.”
