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“Don’t throw it out. I’ll go through it, I’ll… soon. I’ll do it soon.”
“Whatever.” The woman waved a hand.
Gigi rushed for the door, saying nothing.
She got into my truck and sat down, pulled her sunglasses on and the visor down while I grabbed booster cables from my tool kit in the back. The hood popped on the minivan as I approached.
The woman waved at me before pulling out, not even looking at her niece as she pulled away.
“What a bitch,” I muttered when we pulled out, the two brothers following on their bikes.
“I know,” she said, not looking at me, arms folded across her chest. “Tellin’ me at least I didn’t get killed along with Kai might’ve been the nicest thing she’s ever said to me.”
I muttered, “Jesus.”
I waited to see if she’d say anything more. Rant. Cry. Something. She just stared out the window.
9
Pulling into a parking spot at the Sioux Falls compound, I recognized Skip’s motorcycle out front beside Edge’s.
I flexed my jaw muscles as we walked past, me holding her hand, her saying nothing. I doubted she even clocked his bike, so far in her own head that we hadn’t spoken the whole way back from her aunt’s.
I was ticked on her behalf. No, we couldn’t choose our relatives, and I never really had relatives to worry about, since Ma’s folks turned her out as a teen and she never looked back. My father’s parents drifted and cared more about their bullshit than what we’d been put through. I had an uncle, but he lived in the Colorado mountains and didn’t bother much with anyone, so I had no relationship with him.
But that aunt of Gigi’s was noxious. And blood or not, if someone in my life treated me like shit, they’d be out. Simple as that.
That hag didn’t deserve the kindness or the concern her niece treated her with. Then again, if Gigi treated her toxic stepsister like family it stood to reason she’d be good to her blood relatives.
Delia met us in the lobby with a key. “How’d it go?” she asked Gigi as she passed me the key.
“As expected,” she said softly.
Delia took her into an embrace. “It’s gonna be okay. I’m here, anytime you need. Okay, sugar?”
Gigi sniffled. “Thanks.”
We got into the room, and I realized the snafu.
“Can’t do this room. Need to talk to Delia,” I said, tugging her hand so we could leave.
“Huh?”
“No window,” I advised.
She didn’t question me as we went back the way we came and hunted for Delia, who we found quickly, thankfully, since she was almost to the door, ready to leave.
“Can’t do that room, Delia. If you don’t have a room with a window, we’ll hit a motel,” I stated.
She shot me an apologetic look as she palmed her forehead. “Not a worry, sweetie. I’m pretty sure I can swap you out. ” She took the key, and we followed her back into the office where she swapped it with another, adding, “Yes. Thought so. I’m headin’ out so if you need anything else, you phone me, okay? You got my number?”
“I do,” I advised, kissing her on the cheek. “Much appreciated. Thanks.”
“I won’t forget again, Jesse. My bad,” she whispered in my ear. “You told me last time and I gapped out. I’m sorry about that, honey.”
“No sweat. You got enough to worry about. Owe me nothin’.”
“You’re family so you’re wrong about that, sugar,” she said, patting my face, “but thank you for not bein’ an entitled little shit like some of your brothers.”
I smiled.
“God, that smile.” She aimed her gaze at Gigi. “He doesn’t gift us with it often from what I’ve seen but man, when he does…” She let that hang a second, then whistled low.
This got her a chuckle from me.
Gigi gave her a watery smile that didn’t touch her eyes. I took that as a cue to get a move on, so I could get her settled.
After dropping the backpack on the bed, I turned to see her staring at the window, holding her purple box. I took it, set it down, and took her face into my hands.
“Get claustrophobic,” I admitted, “because of two years sleepin’ in the joint, no window. Sometimes wake up forgettin’ I got out, but as soon as I see outside I know. I need to see sky when I open my eyes in the morning.”
She stiffened and looked at our feet.
“You all right, baby? I know you’re not, but you wanna talk about it?”
She shook her head. “That makes sense.”
I waited, eyes on her.
“About the window,” she clarified. “I get it. And at least we have our own bathroom now. Rooms with windows and bathrooms are unicorns in this place.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
She bit her lip a second, then distractedly muttered, “Gonna take a shower and need a nap. So if you got stuff to do… I’ll be… okay here.”
