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“Now, what about the money, get it for me, or I shoot him right in the face.” Her words don’t carry any emotion and seeing she left her kids without a single thought of their welfare, I doubt she’s bluffing.
“Okay, but I only have a couple thousand in the safe. You have to let me go, so I can grab it.”
I’m holding off, some, hoping the police are on their way. She doesn’t have a chance to reply, when the barrel of another gun meets her temple.
“I’d think again about threatening my husband and kids, bitch. You have three seconds to lower the gun, or I’ll blow your head right off of your body.”
Ashton’s hands shake, he’s barely ever held a gun, but in his voice, there’s no indication that he’s nervous. Anita lowers her gun. I disarm her and push her against the wall. The police siren’s blare down the street. My family is safe. Thank fuck.
* * *
Three hours later,Lainey is asleep between us, after crying herself to sleep. Devin took Collin over to Mom and Dad’s house. There is just something about my mom and her relationship with our sons.
Ash hasn’t stopped shaking. I’d mentioned to him shortly after we moved into our house, that I’d like to buy a gun. Ash who was never comfortable around them, reluctantly agreed, only if I showed him how to use it, and locked it up in our safe in the closet.
“I never thought I’d see the day I was happy we had a gun in this house. But fuck, all I think about is all the ways it could have gone so wrong.”
He holds onto me, with our daughter between us. And I’m not sure we ever want to let go of her or us, again.
37
Noah
“Uncle Greg,”Collin challenges. “I’ve been working hard on this game. I think tonight is the night—you’re going down.” Collin has been in therapy, along with Lainey and Devin since their mother pulled a gun on us. But, in the past two months, he and Lainey have gotten better, not fearful Anita will return, considering she’s in jail for a long time. Devin has left for San Diego and loves it there.
Greg and Dave have become as rooted in our lives as our own families. And it’s fun watching Greg game with Collin. He’s the only one who can bring him down a peg or two.
“Where’s the popcorn, honey? This is going to be a good show.”
I look around for Ash, and I thought he was behind us in the kitchen.
He exits from our downstairs master bedroom. “What are you yelling about out here?” He’d had an appointment with a professor at one of the universities in Seattle. It’s a smaller school, but they’re interested in Ashton teaching a few classes, primarily on watercolors. He’d have the ability to craft the class the way he deems fit. He won’t have to adhere to a curriculum, as long as the focus is on watercolors.
I shouldn’t be surprised he’d changed from his suit to his track pants.
“Look at you. Can’t stand the constriction of the sexy suit.”
“Oh, gag. Did you have to put up with this when you lived with Dad?” Collin asks of Greg.
“All the fu…effing time.”
“Good save, Greg.” I turn toward Ash. “Husband of mine, come here and tell me how the interview went.” I pull him on my lap, and both guys gag like Tia and Liam always do.
“Where’s Lainey?” he asks, scanning the room for his little girl. Those two have a bond, and it’s so fucking cute to watch.
“Oh, the little negotiator fooled Dave into playing with her Barbie Dream house, in the loft.”
“Hah, I can only imagine.” Both of our phones ring at almost the same time.
He hops from my lap to grab his, and he tosses me mine. “It’s my mom,” he says.
“That’s my dad.” It’s odd for my dad to call me. He texts, and I prefer it, because I hate talking on the phone.
“Hold on, Mom. What? What do you mean? Shit! Oh, fuck.”
I’m getting bits and pieces of Ash’s conversation with his mom. And I answer my dad’s call. “Hey Dad, can I call you back? I think there’s an emergency with Caitlyn.”
“Noah.” A chill runs down my spine. My dad’s voice isn’t right. I know it in the way he says my name. “It’s Liam. There’s been an accident. You need to get to University Hospital ASAP, son. Meet me in the ER.”
