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The reception wasn’t sugarcoated, but every word was spoken with back slaps and hugs. We didn’t know anything other than tough love.
I hung back as they steered him out of the station toward the car.
I’d texted Beau hours ago.
After a glance at my phone, I saw the same response I’d had before.
None.
You should’ve called her.
When was I going to do that? After I cleaned up the vomit at Ma’s or before I picked up Joe from jail?
What if she was with the jackass who’d hurt her? What if she needed me?
I had to trust she wouldn’t allow herself to be alone with him again. Except I didn’t know anything about what had really happened. All I had to go on was what I saw and the very little she’d told me.
It had taken all I had to let her leave my apartment earlier. But I wasn’t her captor and refused to treat her as such. I just hadn’t been able to breathe easy since she’d been out of my sight.
Are you in pain, baby sister?
Mike fell in step beside me. “Want me to drive? I snuck in a nap while everybody was arguing about where Joe is going to stay.”
“I’m good.” I shoved my phone back in my pocket and dug out my keys. “If you need to head home—”
“I already called the station and switched shifts.”
I nodded, thankful I had the day off. “Do you think it’s a good idea to take him to Ma’s?”
She’d insisted and won out over all of us. I didn’t want her to be stressed, but there was no doubt she’d keep a watchful eye on Joe. Maybe he needed to go home.
“It’s best. I’ll stay with them tonight. We can rotate depending on who’s working so it won’t be so hard on her,” Mike said.
We’d do whatever we had to do to help our brother heal.
He pulled on my arm while they loaded Joe in the truck. “I talked to Roy. Christina came into Donnovan's raising all kinds of hell. Then she served him with divorce papers. In front of everybody.”
I winced and looked away. No wonder he tried to drown himself in whiskey. The woman had no mercy.
“Wish he’d have called one of us when that happened.” If he had, maybe we could’ve avoided the whole situation.
“Said he tried all of us and couldn’t get an answer.”
I hadn’t had any missed calls. At least I didn’t think I had.
“Why did he let Joe leave in that shape?” It was unconscionable. Roy Donnovan was a friend. He and Joe had gone to school together.
“He went to get something out of the back. Thought Joe wouldn’t move since he hadn’t for a few hours. He came back. Joe was gone.”
I plowed a hand through my hair. “Somebody needs to keep an eye on him all the time.”
“We’ll see him through this.”
I just hoped my brother was right.
Chapter Thirty-One
Beau
