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“I know,” he dropped his arms, “but it was easier to hide and lie. I feel bad. I didn’t help him, and it just made it worse. Maybe if I’d just reached out to Jimmy, he’d be here right now.”
“If it helps,” I rubbed my head, “we all feel that way.”
We sat in silence, both taking another moment to heal.
“Your place looks like shit.” I looked around and spotted more crap.
“It looks how I feel.” He let out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t think we’d come home to this, after what we did. What they asked us to do.”
“None of us saw that coming.” I nodded and knew now was the time to make things right with him. “Ray, you don’t belong here.”
“If I don’t belong here,” he let out a long shaky breath, “where do I belong?”
“With us. You belong with us. Me and Zack and Frank at Shadows.”
“Where? To do what?”
“To do what we’re meant to do.” I got to my feet and tugged him up. “Get your crap. You’re goin’ with us. Zack’s outside with the truck.”
I kept a close eye on him while he grabbed his duffle bag and started to blindly stuff some belongings inside. When he wasn’t looking, I unloaded his handgun that was on the counter and tossed the bullets in a cereal box. The idea the friggin’ thing was loaded and close by the entire time made me shudder. I knew we’d probably been days away from losing another brother. I shook my head as I tried to get my head around it all.
“Grab your gear.” I pointed to his fatigues and boots. “You’re gonna need all of it.” I scribbled my number on a note to his sister and explained that Ray was going to stay with me for a while. If she needed him, she could reach out at any time. I used the magnet that was shaped like the state of Montana to stick it to the fridge.
When we stepped outside, I found Zack by the door. He’d come to check on us and seemed to have a good handle on everything that had gone down. I nodded at him, and he stepped forward and gave Ray a slap on the shoulder then hauled him in for a hug.
“Lean on us.” His voice was muffled by Ray’s shoulder. “You’re not alone.”
They had a few more words, and I stepped back to give them some privacy. When they were finished, Ray’s worn-out gaze found mine, then we all walked to the truck together. Sue stood next to Tracy by the open door. She looked worried but relieved.
“You must be Ray.” She smiled at my buddy and offered a hand. “I’m Sue, and this is my friend, Tracy.” Tracy nodded at him with an uncertain smile. “Why don’t we get you something to eat?”
“Anything but beans.” He managed a chuckle.
“Zack filled me in, and he’s kept an eye on you both,” Sue whispered as she pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed me. “You’re a good man, Daniel Logan.”
“I’m trying.” I leaned in and kissed her again, happy she’d embraced Ray. She was a damn good woman, and I appreciated every inch of her.
Once Ray was settled in front, his things stowed in the back, Tracy jumped in beside us and we left for my parents’ house.
Zack let me know he’d called ahead from the neighbor’s phone and told my parents what was going on.
When we arrived, a police cruiser was parked in the driveway, and I glanced at Sue, who elbowed Tracy.
“Oh, great, my big brother’s here.” Tracy rolled her eyes as she grabbed her purse and hopped out of the truck.
“They’re not here for me, right?” Ray tried to make a joke, but I could see him second guessing coming with us.
“No, that’s for me.” I was careful to avoid a patch of ice as I helped Sue down from the truck.
“You in some trouble, Logan?”
“I hope not, Ray, but at this point I don’t overly trust what might’ve been said about me.”
“There were witnesses, Daniel,” Sue urged me toward the door, “plus Travis is good people even if he’s a mess of stress all the time.”
“I’d be too if I had to watch over this whole town with just four guys to help me.” Zack carried an armful of groceries into the house. We’d keep everything here until we were cleared to take it all to Shadows.
“Hey, Daniel.” Officer Travis leaned against the counter with his notebook open. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he flicked his pen between his fingers. “Can I ask you a few questions?”