by Andrew Grey
“Let me guess, Eileen?” Clay laughed softly.
“She said that if I had my arm under my robe without putting it in my sleeve, I’d look like a duck when I tried to move it, or something like that. She was in a goofy mood this morning.”
“It sounds like it. I’ll see you at my place,” Clay told him. “Maybe we can talk before you and the kids leave.” He didn’t want them to be alone, but…. This whole situation had him turned upside down and he wasn’t sure how to right himself again. Not where Andrew and those two amazing kids were concerned. It felt like they were moving away from him. He knew that was stupid. Andrew was going back home, something Clay knew would happen once this shit with Harper was over. Why did it seem like he was being abandoned?
“I was hoping that you’d come with us. If you think there is still a chance of danger, then I thought that maybe….”
And with those words, Clay’s internal ship righted itself for a few seconds. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as he stood in the middle of the sheriff’s office parking lot, not paying attention to anything because Andrew stole all his attention.
“Is that the only reason you want me there?” He had to ask. This rocking like one of those damn ship carnival rides was starting to make him loopy.
“Of course not. Is the only reason you’re sticking around because of your job?”
Leave it to the lawyer in Andrew to turn the tables.
“No. I wouldn’t care if this thing was over or not. I’d still… I do still want to be with you.” Andrew held part of his heart. Clay knew that, just like he could feel a piece of Andrew’s beating as part of his.
“Then you and I will talk once we get to your house. I need to go and get Petey in the car or I’m going to be late picking up Duane and Auburn. I’ll see you soon,” Andrew said, then ended the call.
Clay got in his car and drove home quickly. It started sprinkling as he walked into the house, and by the time he was done changing, the rain was coming down steadily, streaking the front windows when it blew in the wind.
The doorbell rang as Clay unlocked the back door so Andrew and the kids could get in quicker. He walked through the house to peer out the front window. His body tensed, because it was hard to tell who was outside in this weather. Clay turned on the lights and unlocked the front door, then pulled it open, his mind and body ready for anything.
“Uncle Frederick?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”
“You and I need to talk.” His uncle stepped inside, and Clay closed the door. His uncle’s short black hair, touched with gray, lay plastered to his head, his shirt and pants damp.
“What about?” Clay asked.
“Marlene told me you stopped by the house today. You all need to leave her alone. Harper is in jail and probably going to prison. She needs the chance to grieve and process all that. The police visiting us every few days is only upsetting her.” He sounded reasonable, but the wild, manic look in his eyes reminded Clay of the last time he’d seen Harper, when he’d thrown that knife. Clay had never realized how much alike his uncle and cousin were.
“I can’t do anything about that. There are links that indicate that Harper has been in touch with her.” He held his uncle’s gaze, a staring contest ensuing until Uncle Frederick looked away.
“Harper has never contacted his mother,” Uncle Frederick said levelly, and it clicked for Clay. Everything fell into place in an instant.
“No. He contacted you. The blankets at the hideout, the bits of information that Aunt Marlene had—they all came from you.” Clay’s heart beat faster and faster, but he kept his outward calm. “It was all you, wasn’t it? You planned his escape….” Clay stepped closer, needing to intimidate. “You’re the person Harper was calling all the time. You were calling the shots.” Clay didn’t wait for confirmation or a denial. “Why?” he demanded. “Why would you do this?”
“How else was I supposed to keep up?” Uncle Frederick answered in a tone that bordered on yelling, his eyes growing wilder. Under normal circumstances, he’d ask his uncle to leave, but he had just kind of confessed to selling drugs and God knew what else. “My little brother was so successful. He had a nice house, and all I could afford was a piece of shit way out in the middle of nowhere. And your mother took delight in pointing that out to Marlene every chance she got.” The pent-up resentment and anger fountained out of him.
Clay listened and took in every detail of what he said. “So you, what?” he prompted. “Started dealing in order to catch up to your brother?” He sneered slightly. Part of what he needed to do was keep his uncle’s anger flowing. That was the only way he was going to get the answers he hoped for.
“It was for extra money, and it worked. I sold for years. Harper supplied his school, and I made enough money to get a better house. It wasn’t a big deal.” Uncle Frederick shrugged and grinned. “I pulled one over on you guys for years. You took dealers off the streets all the time, while my business quietly grew. I didn’t have to do a damn thing.” He laughed as though he were high… too big and too loud.
“You pulled in Harper?” Clay needed to get the details, though his uncle had already admitted to plenty.
“Sure. I had to have someone. And as we grew, he….”
“Was your muscle. He ran the product and did the dirty work. Nice arrangement.”
Uncle Frederick grinned. “He loved it. Harper loved using his hands… always did. And he made plenty of money and had all the fun he liked.” His uncle banged the door with his fist, and Clay had to stop himself from flinching, the anger and resentment bubbling up like prehistoric tar. “Then he was stupid and got caught… again.”
“So you planned to get him out.” Clay held his breath.
“You’re damned right I did. He wasn’t going to last inside again. Hell, he was going to spill everything. And arranging the breakout was damned easy. No one was supposed to get hurt, though, and once he was out, Harper was supposed to disappear!” Uncle Frederick clenched his fists, and Clay had all he needed. “But could he? Fucking no. He had some bug in his ass about the judge. What he should have done was head for Texas or Florida. Far away from here. But he was as big an idiot as his fucking mother.” He shook from head to toe, and Clay thought he was having a stroke.
Clay reached to pull his phone out of his pocket, but Uncle Frederick smacked it away and drew a small gun from his coat pocket. “You don’t need to do this,” Clay said calmly, trying to deescalate the situation.
“I have nothing to lose.” His uncle waved the gun, and Clay slowly backed into the living room—until he heard the back door open.
Shit and hell, Andrew was coming in with the kids…. That was the last thing he wanted.
“You have plenty to lose,” Clay said more loudly than normal, hoping to hell Andrew heard him. “You aren’t going to get away with killing a police officer.” He didn’t hear anything more, so maybe Andrew got the message. At least he thought so, as Petey raced into the room, barking at the top of his lungs. Petey had rarely been aggressive with anyone, but he took after Clay’s uncle like a shot, snarling and clamping his jaws around his ankle.
Uncle Frederick jumped, and Clay threw himself at him. His uncle toppled backward, and Clay landed on top of him, the gun skittering along the floor. Clay rolled his uncle onto his chest, pulling his arms back.
“You’re hurting me.”
Clay ignored him. “Andrew!” he cried. There was no way he was letting his uncle have a chance to get the better of him again.
“Clay?” Andrew asked tentatively.
“Call the police.” Clay turned to look at Petey, who sat a few feet away, watching him, panting and looking dang pleased with himself.
“I did. Red said he’s on his way and that he’d call the sheriff,” Andrew answered.
Clay tugged at his uncle’s arms to get his attention. “Looks like the big boss is out of commission.”
“What about your aunt?” Uncle Frederick
asked. “What is she going to do?” He shook, and Clay ignored the question. Uncle Frederick should have thought of that before going down this road.
“What can I do?” Andrew asked as he came in, peering down the hall.
“Kick the gun away, but don’t touch it. Then get out and take the kids away. They don’t need to see all this.” Andrew probably knew that, but Clay’s training kicked in.
“Uncle Andrew,” Duane said, and Clay groaned. The best-laid plans…. If Duane was inside, then Auburn wasn’t far behind. “That a bad guy? You karate chop him?” Duane asked.
“No.” Clay met Andrew’s gaze, and Andrew took the kids away and called Petey, who waddled out behind them.
Red and Carter arrived a few minutes later and took charge of Uncle Frederick. They got him cuffed and out of the room, placed the gun into evidence, and took Clay’s statement.
“He confessed to everything. He’s the one who was telling Harper what to do.”
“You know he’ll deny everything,” Red told him.
“Maybe. But I bet if we start following the money and search the house, we’re going to find plenty. He did assault me with the gun, and I bet we can tie him to the breakout.”
“We’ll get on it as soon as he makes the jail a family affair.” Red smirked.
“You should write for television,” Clay quipped as he shook his head.
Sheriff Hunter arrived, and he, Red, and Clay sat down. Clay reviewed everything his uncle had told him in detail. Red and the sheriff went to get the warrants they needed, and since Clay was now a key witness, he was to stay away.
“I’ll call you with updates.” Red said good night, and the house was quiet again.
Andrew and the kids raced in, with Petey right behind them. Andrew engulfed him in a hug. “Are you really okay?” Andrew asked, holding him tightly.
“Yes, I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” Clay held Andrew and closed his eyes. “It’s all over now. We got the leader.” He sighed and let go of all the tension now that Andrew and the kids were safe. “You did so good.”
“It was an accident. I heard you and tried to get out quietly. Petey raced through my legs and bounded in here to save you.”
“Well, it worked. He caused a distraction, and that was enough.” Clay was just glad it was over… finally. “We need to get the kids some dinner,” Clay whispered, even as Duane and Auburn made themselves at home, with Duane getting out his Legos, dumping them all over the floor, and then setting to work. “You know… I love this….”
“What?” Andrew asked.
“You… the kids… I can almost see us as a family.” Clay didn’t dare pull away. “I know they’re your sister’s children, and I’d never do anything to take them away from her, but….” He let his voice trail off before he dug a hole deeper.
“I know. Me too.” Andrew stroked his cheek. “What are we going to do, Clay? It’s all over. There’s no need for me to stay here. I need to go home.”
“Then we’ll go to the original plan. Harper is behind bars, permanently, and so is his father, in all likelihood. The gang is in custody as well, so that’s all wrapped up. You’re free to come and go as you like.” Clay rubbed Andrew’s back. “What do you want?”
Andrew groaned, and Clay felt his erection against his hip. This was so not the time, but it felt good to know that he could do that to Andrew just from a hug. “You said once that you wanted to date… so why don’t we do that? I have a house, you have a house, and we can make the dates extralong.”
“Like overnight dates behind a locked door?” Clay asked with a smirk.
“Those are the best kind. But they should start with dinner. You have to feed me if you want me to put out,” Andrew whispered into Clay’s ear, making him tremble. “Maybe we can have our first date tonight. The kids are here and happy. You can make dinner, and once they’re in bed, you and I can… get on with it.”
Clay stifled a groan. “Or get on getting it on.” That was cheesy, but Andrew seemed to like it. They stood together, holding each other close until Duane declared he was hungry.
“THAT’S ENOUGH stories,” Andrew told Duane as Clay closed his door. “That kid will listen to stories all night if I let him.” They checked on Auburn and told her good night before going to Clay’s room.
Clay had already turned down the bed, and he sat on the edge, drawing Andrew carefully into his arms. “It took things a long time to sink into my head, but….”
Andrew put his finger over Clay’s lips. “I know. I love you too. I knew it as soon as I figured out I’d rather take a knife than see you get hurt.” He held Clay in return.
“I figured some stuff out then too. I don’t want to lose you from my life, or from my bed.” Clay slipped his hands upward, dragging Andrew’s shirt along with them. He buried his face in his belly, inhaling his intense scent, which only added to the heat already building. “I want to do this every night and hear you groan when I slip inside you.” He pulled off Andrew’s shirt, letting it drop to the floor, and splayed his fingers on Andrew’s smooth back. Everywhere he touched, sheer perfection.
“And the way your eyes widen and you hold still just before you tumble into bliss is enough to make my heart stop.” Andrew ran his fingers through Clay’s hair, tugging lightly. “I know we didn’t start out perfectly, but we work damn well together, and I’m not letting you go. Not without a fight.”
“No need. You always win anyway.” Clay smiled as Andrew kissed Clay so hard and with such intensity, everything around him stopped.
“That’s that way it should be. I’m the judge—how do you plead?” He pushed Clay back onto the bed, their clothing ending up on the floor, the foot of the bed, and even on top of the nightstand. Neither cared, continuing until they were skin to skin, eye to eye.
Clay held Andrew’s gaze. “I plead guilty and ask for a life sentence.”
“Done.” Andrew kissed him again.
Epilogue
ANDREW HURRIED through the house to make sure everything was ready. It was Duane’s fifth birthday, and he was determined to make it the best ever.
“You got the big bouncy castle!” Duane stood at the back door, jumping up and down as the men delivered it and set it up in the backyard. He had begged for one for his party since the summer. The weather was a little borderline for it, but Andrew wasn’t going to say no. The kids could wear coats when they came out to bounce. It was sunny, and even in mid-November, that meant it would be warm enough.
“Is Mama coming?” Auburn asked quietly, taking his hand. She was his little worrier.
Andrew sighed. “She can’t, sweetheart.” Damn it all. These kids asked for so little, but Mary’s mental state had been up and down for months. She had tried to kill herself at least three times, and though the medication helped for a little while, its effectiveness eventually vanished. “But she sent some things for both of you.” Which was a lie. Andrew had gotten something for each of them and put his sister’s name on the gifts. He’d told Mary what he was doing, and she’d seemed pleased.
“Where is Uncle Clay?” Auburn asked, her big eyes filling with tears that refused to fall.
“He had to go to the sheriff’s goodbye party.”
Sheriff Hunter had decided that he wanted to pursue other opportunities and was retiring. All deputies and staff were expected to be at his farewell. Unfortunately, they had already planned Duane’s party before the announcement was made.
“Do you want to help me finish getting everything out?”
Auburn nodded and looked up at him, worrying her lower lip.
“What is it, sweetie?”
“Is Mama ever gonna get better?”
Andrew sighed. He’d been putting this off as long as he could. “I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. You’ll still see her and she still loves you, but she can’t take care of you anymore.” She couldn’t provide for herself.
“Will we be adopted?” Auburn asked.
That was a conver
sation Andrew intended to have with both kids and Mary, but not today. He wasn’t going to take her kids away permanently if there was any chance of her recovery. It was Duane’s birthday, and he deserved a good, happy day without those kinds of decisions looming over them.
“You’re going to stay right here with me. If it turns out that your mom can never take care of you again, then Uncle Clay and I will adopt you.” Andrew knelt down and hugged her. “We love both of you and will never let you go anywhere else. This is your home.”
She hugged him back, and Andrew had to ask himself how long she’d been wondering. All of Auburn’s teachers said she was an amazingly intelligent and gifted little girl, but she wondered so many things and only gave up what was bothering her in her own time.
“You promise?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Billy at school said we’d be sent to live with strangers,” Auburn said, her lip quivering for a second.
Andrew should have known. That little boy was a know-it-all menace who didn’t know anything but talked like he did. “You just listen to me, and Uncle Clay, and you can ask us anything. Don’t listen to Billy. Now, let’s finish getting ready for Duane’s party.”
“But….”
Andrew smiled. “I invited some of your friends too.” He took her hand and got Duane away from the back door, where he was itching to run out and be the first one in the still-only-half-inflated bouncy castle. He got the kids to help him bring out the snacks and set the table in the dining room. He normally would have had the party outside, but it wasn’t warm enough, so he was making do in the house.
The doorbell rang for the first time as they were done. Duane raced down the hall and pulled open the door. He bounced as one of his friends, Rich, came inside, handing him a wrapped present.
“Did you get it?”
Duane nodded. “Big bouncy castle.” Duane put the present on the coffee table the way Andrew had told him, and then the two of them raced through the house.
