by Evie Harper
Slater wouldn’t take my money at first, but I told him if he didn’t I’d shove it in Chevy’s exhaust pipe every damn week I was living here. He looked to Mack, probably weighing up how long that might be and then he took my money. Yeah, I’ve heard them all talk about how much he loves that car. I’m not a leech. I pay my own way. I think they all understand that now.
But now Della’s ready to come back to work and that means I need to make some hard choices.
I still manage the liquor store in Parkland. I called Craig, the other manager when all the shit hit the fan and he’s been covering for me with Head Office, saying I had a family emergency, but now it’s time to go back. I do love my job there. My usual hours are six p.m. to two a.m., Monday to Friday. I’m a night owl, so it’s perfect. I go to work and I’m home by the usual time I go to sleep anyway, then up around nine a.m. and I still have the whole day to enjoy.
“Are you sure, Lana? I still have a ton of study to catch up on, so if you want the job for a few more weeks, that’s totally cool with me.”
“Positive, I’ve already talked to Craig and I start back at my old job on Monday, but thanks anyway.”
Della relaxes back in her chair. “Well, thank God it’s Saturday then because there’s no way I could function at work today.”
I laugh and Slater cuts through it and all the chatter in the room with a deep, authoritative voice.
“Mack races Poison Boys this afternoon, so whoever doesn’t have anywhere to be, somewhere safe, you’ll be coming too. I want all of you where I know you’ll be safe or with me here today and at the track this afternoon. Piper’s going to the Fallon’s to check in on Jimmy and his new family.”
Piper nods and quickly finishes what’s in her mouth. “I’m leaving straight after breakfast and I’ll be staying late. I want to wait until the boys fall asleep so I can talk to Laura and Kevin in private about how Jimmy’s coping. I won’t be back until close to midnight.”
“Midnight?” Slater snaps. “You aren’t driving all the way from Jefferson Town that late at night, Piper.”
“Yes, I will be Slater,” Piper snaps back. “It’s important for me to see their night-time routine, and talk to the parents alone. I can stay over instead if you’d like? Kevin and Laura would be happy to have me.”
Slater tenses, closes his eyes and then breathes out slowly. “I’ll come by at ten p.m. Wait in the car until I see you leave and follow you home.”
Piper shrugs but smiles brightly at the same time.
Slater grasps the back of her neck with his right hand and pulls her toward him until they’re kissing.
Pacer makes choking sounds while Kelso wolf whistles.
Slater may hate that Piper works odd and late hours, but deep down we all know he adores her more for working her ass off to look after those kids. It’s something the Kings never had as children, someone looking out for them.
Slater and Piper pull back at the same time, but they don’t part straight away, they lean their foreheads together and just breathe together for a moment. It’s beautiful. They’re so in-tune, in love.
Piper straightens her head and speaks to Slater, “I want Quint, Connor, and Bridge to come with me today. They’ve been asking to see Jimmy, and I want them to see that there are good foster homes out there.”
Slater nods. “Done. Send them out to the car when you want to talk to the parents alone and they can sleep here tonight.”
Suddenly, Della jumps up quickly and says, “I saw Quint walk down to the garage earlier. I’ll go let him know he’s seeing Jimmy today and tell him to fetch Connor and Bridge.” Della’s hand is on the back screen door when Slater calls out to her. “Della, what are your plans today?”
She looks anywhere but at Slater when she says, “I’m going to the library this morning, get some study done and then I’ll come home and catch a ride with you guys to the race.”
Mack’s laughter comes from behind me. “Since when do you go to the library to study? Have you ever even been? Would you know where to find it?”
Della hardens her stare at her brother and places a hand on her hip. “Since when is it a big deal if I go somewhere else to study?”
Mack throws up his hands. “Hey, no problem here with you going to the library, but how defensive you’re being has my alarm bells going off.”
Slater narrows his eyes on Della. “Spit it out. What aren’t you telling us?”
Kelso stands from the table with his dishes and pushes the chair out with a loud squeak. “Told you not to say library.”
“Shut up, Kel,” Della hisses at her brother.
Slater slams his hands down on the dining table and the entire room goes silent and still. “Someone better tell me something in the next three seconds or I’m going to lose my shit.”
“I’m looking for my real family.” Della’s voice is timid and shaky.
Slater’s eyes widen for a brief second before they relax and soften. “Why didn’t you just say that then? Why the lie?”
“She thinks because none of us want to find our families that we wouldn’t want her to either,” Kel informs us all. “I told her that’s bullshit, but you guys know how stubborn she is.”
Della drops her shoulders and purses her lips at Kel. “I don’t want to find them to meet them. I just want to know where they are. See a picture maybe.” She shrugs trying to feign indifference.
“I think that’s perfectly normal, Della,” I say, interjecting myself in their family discussion.
“Lana’s right,” Piper agrees. “And if you find them and want to meet them, then we’ll be behind you one hundred percent. Won’t we, Slater?”
“Of course,” Slater replies instantly. “Always together, in everything. I only ask Dell, that you think carefully about it. We’re not the average family. We’re not a safe place for people to be, association with us can be deadly. I’ll always do whatever I can to make you happy, Della, you know we all will, and we’ll protect anyone who means something to you, but if something happens to them, you need to ask yourself if you can live with that?”
Della nods and smiles. “I know. I’ve thought about it. I only want to know where they are… who they are. That’s it.”
“That might not be as easy as you think it will be, Dell,” Pacer interjects. “Just knowing and letting them go.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it,” Slater states standing and taking his dishes to the sink.
Everyone seems to take that as an end to the discussion because Della turns and walks out through the screen door. Piper and Pacer go back to finishing their breakfast and Kelso begins filling the sink with water to wash the dirty dishes. Mack starts taking the sauces and salt off the table and placing them away in the cupboard.
“Pace, Kel, what’re your plans before the race today?”
“Mickey brought in a priority last night. Chrysler Charger, he needs the paint and VIN numbers changed as soon as possible,” Pacer replies.
Slater nods. “Mack, Kel, I need you in the garage today then. We got work to do.”
All the guys grunt in agreement. That’s that, they’ll be in the garage all day long then.
Piper stands from the table and Slater pushes off from the bench at the same time. He takes the plate and glass from her hands and places them on the bench beside Kelso.
Mack grabs a hand towel and begins drying the dishes as I take the last bite of my food. I stand and right before Slater steps out of the room, he pulls on Piper’s hand to stop and turns to me. “Lana. You’re staying here today?”
If I had a life that might offend me, but since I don’t and my life now revolves around the sexy man hand drying dishes I don’t care to look insulted.
“Yeah, she’ll be hanging around here,” Mack answers for me and I cringe on the inside because I can only imagine the fight we’re about to have.
Della walks through the back door just as I’m about to speak. “Quint’s gone to grab Connor and Bridge. He�
�s super pumped to see Jimmy.”
Slater nods firmly and Piper smiles brightly.
Della’s picking up her plate from the table as I clear my throat. “Actually, I’m going home today.”
The clinking of dishes in the sink cease and Della freezes on the spot on her way to the counter. Nobody moves or says anything. I look up from the table to Mack, who's staring at me dumbfounded with wide eyes and a gaping open mouth.
“I want to see Rex,” I state nervously. “Talk to him.”
“Like fuck,” Mack growls.
“Look at the time, better get a start on that car,” Pacer states, standing from the table, leaving his plate behind and walking to the back door.
Kelso shakes off his wet hands and dries them along his jeans. “Right behind you, Pace.”
“Piper, don’t you need to be going?” Slater mutters and Piper nods quickly. However, in their rush to leave the room they both smack into each other. Slater hastily turns Piper in the right direction and then they’re gone out of sight quick smart.
Poor Della is still standing between the table and the counter, fidgeting left and right with her plate, unsure what to do and what will be the fastest exit. She decides to drop her plate haphazardly on the counter and murmurs, “Off to the library I go.”
I sigh and cross my arms over my chest. “Way to clear a room, Mack.”
Mack collects himself and goes back to drying the cutlery. “No way you’re going to see Rex. No way you’re stepping foot in Parkland, Lana. Conversation over. Am I understood?”
My eyebrows rise and I freeze momentarily from Mack’s domineering stance. I inhale deeply and release as calmly as I can. “Quickest way to end us, Mackson King, is if you ever talk to me that way again. Am I understood?”
He shakes his head and leans on the counter, appearing exasperated with me, which only fuels my anger.
“I’m confused, Mack. You know me, you didn’t think at some point I’d want to reach out to my brother?”
Mack rubs the back of his neck roughly and raises his head to look at me with dark and serious eyes. “He hit you. Lied to you. Walked away from you.”
Breathing becomes difficult. His words are as good as a punch to my chest.
“I know what my brother did to me, Mack. He’s fucked-up on drugs and needs help. I’ve sat back and waited for him to come to me and it’s not happening. I refuse to continue to do the same. One of us has to make the first move. We’re family, I should be there for him, helping him get clean. Especially now that I know what I’m fighting.”
Mack walks around the counter and steps toward me. He stops with his body well within touching distance, but he doesn’t reach out for me.
I straighten my back, steel my emotions and return the same unyielding stare Mack’s bestowing upon me.
He will not change my mind.
“I don’t ever want to be the reason you’re sad, but I will take your safety over your mood, every damn time.”
A nervous laugh bubbles up. “So you’re happy for me to hate you?”
Mack doesn’t speak or move. He shows no emotion at my last words.
“If you try to keep me away from my brother, I’ll leave you, Mackson.”
That does it. A flicker of fear flashes quickly over his features before he schools them back to possessive and serious. “You could try. Even if you wanted to, which I know you don’t, you forget you’re mine, Lana. You love me. Have for a long time. I know, me protecting you will piss you off, but you won’t hate me and I won’t ever let you leave me.”
“Well, shit, I think the petrol fumes have finally gone to your head. ‘Cause baby, I’m walking out that door and you can watch my ass sway side to side as I say goodbye.”
Mack’s lips tip up into a smirk as if the idea of physically restraining me is something he’s going to enjoy.
“Baby, that attitude is cute, but you’re still not going.”
Instead of continuing this silly war of words I spin around and head straight for the front door.
I sense Mack behind me, but he’s not telling me to stop nor is he rushing to beat me to the door.
I swear. Shit’s about to go down if he tries to restrain me.
As I’m approaching the front door I spot Slater on the porch, his back to me, hand up waving. Slater glances over his shoulder, probably from hearing the quick clicks of my ankle boots on the wooden floors. He spots Mack and me, breathes in deeply and then looks to the sky with closed eyes.
“Lana,” Mack growls just as Slater slips into the house and shuts the front screen door behind him.
I come to a halt, almost crashing into Slater who widens his stance and folds his arms over his chest. “Move Slater,” I state firmly.
“Last thing I want to do is get in the middle of this shit storm, but I agree with Mack. Right now Rex isn’t the brother you grew up with. He’s living off the highs and lows of drugs and that shit is unforgiving when you try to come between them and it. You can’t help your brother until he’s ready to fight for himself, then and maybe only then, might you be able to save him.”
With a heavy heart I try to explain, “I know what you’re going to say, but I feel as if he’s over a cliff’s edge, and I’m the only one who can pull him back safely because I’m part of the reason he got there.”
Slater’s features soften and his body relaxes.
Mack steps around me and into my view. “Lana…” his voice is gentle and his tone sounds as if what I said hurt him badly “…you have to know, you did nothing wrong. Rex let the pressure get to him.” Mack shakes his head. “No, that’s not right. He stumbled and couldn’t find his footing again. It could happen to any of us. Your father died. He lost his best friends. He learned his father raped the girl he was in love with. As much as Rex has always refused to believe that, doubt must have been there, eating away at him. Denial can live on the surface of anything, but truth, it festers and keeps eating away until it’s set free. Living becomes the hard part.”
“Rex chose a path many have before, thinking they can conquer it,” Slater states. “So far he’s losing, and I know the man he used to be. He wouldn’t want you to see him like that, he’d hate himself if he took you down with him.”
I lower my hands beside my body and calm my breathing. I understand everything they’re saying. They’re talking complete sense. If Rex were a friend or an acquaintance, I’d warn people against putting themselves on the line as well.
But they didn’t watch Rex pull a chair to the sink when he was five to fill up ice-block molds with my favorite red cordial, when all my father would make was lemonade ones—Rex’s favorite. They weren’t there when my mother left and my father refused to leave the hall light on for me. I was scared of the dark, always had been and then scared of my father’s angry shouts at me for no reason. Rex snuck into my room where he’d lie on the floor, on the side hidden from my door and hold my hand. After a few times my father caught him and then Rex gave me his flashlight, so if I needed to I could find my way to his room.
“You don’t get it. Neither of you do. You didn’t even see the best of him,” I choke out.
I lost my brother in small increments through the years because of our father and the asshole he was. He shaped Rex to be this weak, angry person. I’ll be damned if I let Jae Scavello win.
“We do,” Mack replies. “I have brothers, a sister.”
I nod. “Yeah, and I know you’d never sit back and let this just play out. You’d tie them to a chair, a bed, and lock them in a room before you’d ever considered giving up.”
Mack opens and closes his mouth as if he’s lost for words. Slater lowers his chin and doesn’t look me in the eyes. They both know what I’m saying is true.
“You’re right,” Slater confirms and steps aside from the door.
Mack quickly takes his place.
Slater mutters, “Good luck, Mack, you got your hands full with this one,” and he walks away.
I place my hands on
my hips, glance up at Mack and tilt my head, waiting for him to either move or to come up with more excuses that I will also ignore.
Mack breathes in deep, relaxes his body and loosely folds his arms against his chest. “It’s gonna go down like this. I’m not going to restrain you to keep you here. However, I will follow you and carry you back here, if by some miracle you actually walk all the way to Parkland.” A small smile appears on his lips.
He thinks he’s so smart. I’m going to outwit him today, but holy hell he looks hot right now. Smugness actually suits Mackson. Legs apart, grin and arms folded.
His biceps are huge, smooth, so strong… Focus, Lana.
I straighten my arms and fist my hands and stomp my foot. “Fine. Now move so I can get a move on.” I feign annoyance, but deep down I’m smiling. I can’t wait to watch Mack’s face as I’m driving away.
I had a feeling Mack wouldn’t want me to see Rex, but I also wasn’t going to lie or go behind his back. But just in case, I grabbed Mack’s keys to his red Nissan Skyline from his dresser earlier. I pat my back pocket quickly to assure myself they’re still there, and when I feel the bumps of metal I have that assurance.
Mack steps away from the door. “Sure you don’t want a water bottle for that long walk?”
I narrow my eyes. “You know that’s the one helpful thing you’ve said all morning. That would be wonderful,” I reply with a sweet smile.
Mack laughs out loud. “That sassy tone is fucking hot, Lana. We need to do some role-playing tonight.” He gives me a wink.
“We should add some ropes and whips as well. I think you need to be taught a lesson.” I mimic his wink.
“Fuck,” Mack breathes out. His eyes darken and he steps toward me. “I got ropes and whips, baby. We can go upstairs right now and you can teach me a lesson or two.”
My body warms all over and I swallow roughly. I stumble back a step and in an embarrassingly husky voice, I say, “Got somewhere to be.” I almost added but definitely tonight, to make sure we book that in. However, after I steal Mack’s car and actually see my brother, I’m not sure he is going to be in the mood. Or maybe it will be me getting taught the lesson? I shrug. Win-win for me.
