Page 39 of No Strings

“Molly!”

“She’s right, that fuc— person got me good. Now pass me a biscuit, and put on some movie where a princess sings to me.” I pass him one but instead of saying thank you, he looks me over and grunts. “I’m still calling you Barbie.”

I roll my eyes half expecting that, flick through the movies until Molly says she wants to watch Frozen. Eliciting a groan from Davis and myself. But I still press play and the opening song is soon filling the living room.

Anna has just reached Elsa ice castle when I look over to see a fast asleep Molly.

I take the opportunity to get some information from Davis. I know I thought I didn’t want to know but there’s a nagging feeling. I signal for Davis to follow me outside, not wanting to wake Molly.

Not giving him a chance to sit down, I start away, “What in the fuck happened?”

“What did Rhys tell you?”

“Just that he took the trash out?”

He snorts then groans from the sudden movement. “Well, he isn’t wrong.”

“Davis, I swear to the Gods I will—” I don’t know. I’m not a violent person.

“No way, I’m not having my head chewed off by Rhys. I’ve already been stabbed, that’s enough. Just know Trent is no longer with us.”

“Davis, please.”

“Fuck, ok.” He sighs then proceeds to tell me everything. From the original plan to taking advantage of Trent falling in. It all sounds messy and chaotic.

“So, happy with yourself then? Getting stabbed was worth it?”

“What? You think this is the first time I’ve been stabbed?” he laughs. Whatever pain meds he’s on, he should stay on them. This is the first time I’ve heard him laugh or talkthis much.

I shake my head “You guys are nuts. That could have gone so very sideways.”

“Yeah, but he hurt you and—” he’s cut off by the revs of cars. “Looks like they’re back.”

One by one I watch them park and walk to us. Sombre looks on their faces. Brent is on the satellite phone, and if you look closely, Rhys is fighting the corner of his lips.

“See you in a couple hours.” He hangs up the phone just as Molly walks out, still holding the bunny.

“Daddy?”

“Hey pumpkin, have fun with Morgan and Davis?” He picks her up and she wraps herself around his form. She whispers something to him that has him smiling.

My heart aches. A longing to be loved by a parent like that. Mine aren’t bad per se. They never physically abused me. But the alcoholism and emotional neglect and abuse definitely left a scar. Shane, being the eldest, knew it all too well. So, he tried to protect me from the harsh words. But even he could only do so much.

“Morgan?” I look up at Rhys. “I’m teaching you to fight.”

Chapter Eleven

RHYS

Iwalk off, hoping she’ll follow.

We spent most of the day out there. Not to find the body—we found that easily enough. But we had to fill Brent in on the truth.

Beau is still a little worried, which is uncharacteristic. Especially because I was the one who stabbed the fucker. He’s an accessory, at best.

When I turn around, Morgan is not following like I hoped she would. Instead, she’s standing there, hip popped out to the side, arms folded, and her eyebrow arched up in question.

“Let’s go.”