Someone was playing a sick fucking game with us.
While I fixed us some vegetable soup for supper using my momma’s family recipe, I called Chris Bailey to update him on the weird kid. He had just been about to get off his shift but said he’d come drive around the neighborhood to try to find the little shit. The damn kid knew something about the person who shot my girlfriend. Maybe he could even identity him.
Whatever insane little fucker was behind the shooting would pay. Nobody hurt or frightened my girl and got away with it. Not on my watch. I couldn’t protect her last time, but I’d be damn sure not to make that mistake again.
The soup’s smell floated in the air, making my stomach rumble. It reminded me of the times I spent warming up by the fireplace, eating Momma’s home-cooked soup after playing out in the freezing snow all day. Someday, my own little rugrats would come racing through the front door like we did, eager to warm up and eat. Hopefully, none of them were as picky as me and did something like pick out all the nasty green beans. In my soup, I never added them.
“Whatcha making?” Everly walked in the kitchen wearing her soft pink bathrobe. Her damp, long blonde hair fell over her shoulders, clinging to her pale, rosy cheeks.
“Vegetable soup,” I said. “I didn’t make a big pot since you said you have little of an appetite.”
“It smells good.” She took a seat on one of the cushioned dining room chairs.
I grabbed two bowls from the cabinet above the stove and poured some soup in each one. I served Everly’s first.
She sighed. “I wish I could heal as fast as Emmett does. He’s always back on his feet in no time after being shot or overdosing. If he were in my shoes, he’d be out driving around looking for the culprit while stuffing his face with peanut butter bars. I hate being so... weak.” She swirled her spoon around the bowl. “I’ve only taken like four bites and I’m already full. I’m so tired too. I could crawl back into bed and lay there forever.”
“Don’t compare yourself to your brother. He isn’t strong at all. Being on cocaine makes him feel powerful, but he really isn’t. Emmett stopped taking care of himself when he started injecting that shit in his bloodstream. That’s why he bounces back so easily. He doesn’t recover because he’s already fucked his body up,” I replied. “You went through something so traumatic but you’re not giving up or drowning your pain in drugs and booze. You’re stronger than he’ll ever be.”
“You really think so?” She sipped her tea.
“Everly, I thought I would lose you that night. You lost so much blood,” I told her. “We will find the guy who took our baby away from us. I know how hard it is right now, but healing has to be your first priority.”
Once I finished my bowl, I went to clean the dishes and put them away. I didn’t cook often because I rarely had the time. I wished I could prepare home-cooked meals more often for us. We ought to choose a day out of the week to stay at home and cook. We could take turns.
Everly suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I hope you never have to find out.”
After supper, I led her back to her bed and laid down beside her on the fresh sheets I changed earlier. I held her close and rubbed her back until she dozed off again. I couldn’t believe I almost lost her. Had the bullet hit her elsewhere, I would’ve been crying alone in bed, mourning two losses instead of one.
💀
I woke up to the sound of loud heavy metal as the sun peeked in from behind the closed curtains. Everly snored soundly beside me, unbothered by the racket outside. Rubbing at my tired eyes, I moved over to the window to see what dumbass would blare that crap so early in the morning.
One of Emmett’s cars parked in the driveway, but it wasn’t the blond bastard who climbed out. It was someone in a hoodie with grocery bags. I squinted my eyes against the foggy glass before recognition clicked. Kazimir. Of course he’d listen to something satanic like that. He probably just got done with his morning devil worshiping.
A red-headed woman climbed out of the passenger seat next. Had to be Everly’s friend, Sydney. Jeez, why the hell were they there so early? Everly asked them to come over and keep her company while I went out investigating with Chris today, but I didn’t plan on doing that until later.
I forced myself to go unlock the front door and let them in. Covering a yawn, I greeted Everly’s friends and shivered when a blast of cold air rushed in with them.
“How’s it going, Adam?” Sydney asked. “You just get outta bed?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Sydney pulled her hood down, letting her short red curls bounce free. She tossed her black jacket on the couch and kicked her boots off. Freckles covered her cheeks and nose while her arms were covered in sleeves of tattoos. She worked downtown at the tattoo parlor, Ink About It. Everly got most of her tattoos from her too.
Kaz rubbed his nose with his sleeve, clutching a plastic bag at his side. He wore a black hoodie with Bring Me the Horizon printed on it. Whatever the hell that meant.
“What’s in the bag?” I asked him.
“Just some snacks, movies, and card games to keep busy,” Kaz replied.
“Is Emmett gonna drop by?” I peeked out the window, expecting the blond bastard to come walking up the driveway.
“No, he’s busy with Everly’s drug clients,” Kaz explained. “Mine too since I’m here. He’s not thrilled about it, but I wanted to come make sure she’s okay.”
“Fuck, it’s like he doesn’t even care about his own sister,” I said. “His precious drug business is all he cares about.”
“That’s not true.” Kaz jumped to his partner’s defense. “He’s been calling and texting her constantly after what happened. He was upset about her kicking him out of her hospital room, so he gave her some distance.”
I fought back a yawn. “I don’t care what he does. Anyway, I’m gonna hop in the shower real quick then call Detective Bailey so we can try to find the brat who keeps coming around.”
“What brat?” Sydney asked, furrowing her brows.
“There’s this kid who keeps coming around the house. First, he took pictures of the place while Everly was in the hospital, then he came by last night but some stray cats scared him off.”
“Jesus, y’all can’t catch a break,” Sydney said. “You think he’s got something to do with what happened?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” I shrugged.
“You think the person who tried to kill Everly sent him?” Kaz asked. “To throw you off guard?”
I scratched my chin. “Possibly. We’re hoping he might know something about the person, if that’s who sent him.”
“Yeah, he could just be a little pervert and have nothing to do with anything,” Sydney suggested.
Somehow, I didn’t believe that was the case. I’d learn soon enough.
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