“I mean it, Nic. When you decided to bail out of that school and tell your parents to suck it, I was so in awe of you. I wanted that kind of courage. You’ve always seen me as the strong one, but it’s you…it’s always been you.”
I swallow, but the words I want to use to respond are frozen in my throat. Clogged up with emotion so deep, I’m afraid to let it out. I forget, years of living our lie has made it an alternate reality and I just go with it. It’s completely untrue, this history I allow Dragon and everyone to believe. My history with Dani is much more twisted and confusing. I didn’t meet Dani in Kentucky, we didn’t grow up together. We didn’t go to school together, unless you count the month in hell my parents made me try out TOA (Three Oaks Academy), husband shopping. None of my carefully laid past is true, save one. Dani has and always will be my best friend, and a person who owns a large part of my heart.
“Dani, you’re strong, most women would have never survived what you did.”
“It was weak to ask you for help. It was weak to drag Roy into it.”
“No it wasn’t. Family means being there for each other. If you don’t tell Roy that you’re leaving, you will hurt him.”
“Roy broke me out of the prison I was in. He put his life on the line to get me out of New York. He helped me set up a new identity and kept me safe. I think Roy has done enough.”
“He won’t see it like that.”
Dani shrugs, “He won’t know.”
“Damn it, Dani.”
“Just let it go Nic, it’s time I stand on my own. There’s no choice really. You have Dragon and little Dragon to think of. Roy has his new boyfriend and a settled life in Kentucky. I can’t stay here. You know what will happen if I do.”
“I…Will I hear from you again?”
“I’ll get a message to you somehow—when I know it’s safe.”
I nod. I’m not happy, but I know it’s all I will get.
“What about money?”
“I still have all that money Roy and I took out of Michael’s wall-safe, so I’m pretty much set for life. I just don’t like touching it. I’ll use it to get relocated and buy some new documents. I’ll be fine.”
“I want to be able to send you pictures of the baby…”
“We’ll figure it out. I want to see little Dragon, too.
“I know your mind is made up, but I wish you’d let me get Dragon involved.”
“You’re starting to sound like a broken record,” Dani says and I want to argue further but I hear the door open behind me. I look up and see Crusher coming out of the main entrance. I can’t help but notice the way he’s looking at Dani; his eyes never leave her. I doubt he even notices I’m sitting here.
“Please tell me you didn’t go there, Dani.”
“Go where?” She asks, acting like she’s clueless. She’s sitting sideways on the bench facing me, but she keeps looking to her side at Crusher.
“Crusher?” I prompt.
“I had an itch.”
“They make shit for that, it’s called flea spray.”
She looks up at me and for a second, a small space in time, I see my old friend, the one I met years ago when I tried to do as my parents insisted. Then with a flash, she is gone. It happens sometimes, I see her the girl I loved and who loved me—freely. The girl who had yet to be chewed up and spit out by the world. God, I miss her.
“This was more fun.”
“He’s not one of your boy toys, Dani. Crusher might seem laid back and easy going, but…”
“Spare me Nic, at this point, I think it’s safe to say I’m more familiar with Crusher than you are.”
“And you’re still going to do this?”
“Tonight, anyway.”
“Dani…”
“My vibrator batteries are dead, sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.” With that she walks off towards Crusher.
I do not see good things coming from this, but I’m too damn worried about everything else to think about it for now.
Chapter 9
Dragon
This has to be one of the best ideas I’ve had. I watch as my woman and Red are lying on lounge chairs looking over the lake. I decided it was time to get the family together. We’re having a big picnic and bonfire at the Twin Rocks picnic shelter and camping area, overlooking Laurel Lake. Red and Nicole are resting, the men are scattered around talking to a couple of the Twinkies that came, or shooting the breeze with each other. Dance and I are manning the grill. Heck, even Bull came. He’s kind of quiet and off to himself still, but I saw Frog and Hawk go over to join him. It’s a perfect, relaxing day. The only thing I’m finding troubling is the way Crusher and Dani are sitting in the sand talking to each other. You’d be stupid not to see what’s going on.
I know it’s because of everything that went down with Nicole and her getting shot. I should let it go like my woman asked, but I can’t. I almost lost Nicole. Maybe it is unfair, but there-the-fuck-it-is. I look at Dani and I feel anger. So, I’m not exactly filled with good vibes watching my brother fall for her.
“That looks like trouble,” Dance says, echoing my thoughts.
“Pretty much,” I agree, taking a sip of my beer.
“Carrie says Dani’s leaving?”