Page 39 of Dirty Cops Next Door

14

Toni

“Are you alright, Toni?”Mark stood in my kitchen two days later, his face a mask of mourning. He’d had nowhere to go after his father was arrested.

His mother was in prison in Mexico, and now his father was in prison too. I knew what it was like to be left on your own, without anyone to care for you. I knew the loss and confusion even deeper than he did. I offered to let him stay with me. He only had a year of school left, I could handle a year. Especially now that…

“I’m fine. Just tired, Mark.”

“Alright. I’ll be in the living room if you need me.” He sighed heavily and then left me at the table. On my own.

I went back to staring out of the window. At Grant and David’s house. I needed comfort, I needed strength. I hadn’t seen either of them today.

“Hey, sis! Still no word from Grant?” I smiled as my brother came into the kitchen, and pulled him close as he sat down beside me.

“No, he’s still refusing to see anyone except David.” I gave him a weak smile and let him go.

“He’ll come around.”

I hadn’t told Eric everything about my relationship with the men next door but he’d caught on soon enough. I guess the Internet really did raise more knowledgeable children. He’d barely even batted an eyelash when I’d told him I was... seeing both men.

Eric pushed up from the table and limped to the fridge. His leg had been injured in the pandemonium when the police had raided Avery’s house.

“Shall I make us some lunch?”

“Sure, if you like. How’s your leg?”

“I hate this cast, but luckily, I’m alive. David did a really good job before the paramedic took over.”

“I can’t believe Avery didn’t try to use you as a shield when the raid started.” I still wondered whether it was my words that made the man I knew to be a ruthless killer change his mind.

“I can’t either. I’m lucky I’ve just got a compound fracture after he threw me behind that couch. I won’t be playing football in the near future.” He laughed and I knew he was going to be alright.

It had been rough for a while, Eric had needed surgery to put his leg back together from the injury to his tibia, but they’d released him late last night. Now, he was trying to get back to our normal routine.

“Should you be on that leg?” I reminded him pointedly.

“It’s not hurting. I’m only going to make some spaghetti sauce and put in this ravioli you bought. I can’t believe you finally found it!” It was a specialty kind, with a cured ham and cheese filling. It was his favorite and I’d had a hard time finding it for a while.

“Be sure to put olives in this time.” I went back to staring out of the window.

“Hey, Mark, let me show you how I make ravioli,” Eric called out to his friend. He knew what it was like to be left without parents too. He knew Mark was going to have a rough time and that he’d need somebody to help him get through it.

I knew Eric was determined to do for Mark what I had done for him. With both of us there for him, I knew Mark would be okay, it would just take time.

“You just spoon it out of a can, into a bowl, and into the microwave, don’t you?” Mark said as he came into the kitchen, his look of confusion making my lips twitch.

“No, man! That’s terrible stuff! Here, chop these onions.” Eric started directing Mark around the kitchen and I let their conversation fall away behind me. They were both going to be fine.

It was Grant I was worried about.

He’d been discharged from the hospital not long before Eric was and he’d hidden in the house ever since. He still couldn’t move his legs. I had a feeling it was far more than just that.

He’d started to change before he’d even left the hospital. He was withdrawing, and on that last day, he wouldn’t even let me in the room. He’d told his guards to not let anyone in. I’d scoffed at them and told them he’d let me in. They’d done as I asked and told him it was me. I’d expected them to give me an apologetic grin and to open the door but they’d come out grim-faced and said I couldn’t go in.

David had tried to reassure me that Grant just needed time, space until he could come to grips with being shot, with almost dying.

I sighed and focused on the boys once more. I’d give Grant space for now because I didn’t know how else to help him.