can’t even help that one kid?” Shane
sighed. “How’d you get him to tell you so much about himself? I thought they
were supposed to leave their pasts behind when they found their new family?”
“He was the one who had to follow me around to see what I
was doing. It took three days for me to convince him that he’d have an easier
job of it if he actually stayed with me instead of sneaking around, spying on
me. He gave in when I ordered an extra cheeseburger and fries. The one thing he
wouldn’t tell me was his real name. The others called him ‘the Kid’ so that’s
what he told me to call him too. He said he’ll get a real name after he gets
initiated.”
“You mean after his first kill.”
“Is that what initiation is? He wouldn’t tell me anything
about it. Man, I’d like to go drag him out of there.”
“That would get you both killed, you know that.”
“Yes, I do and no, I really won’t, but damn, I wish I could.
He’s a smart kid. When I told him my dad was a Marine we had quite a
conversation about the similarities between the military and gangs. I know he
hasn’t gone to school much but it’s obvious he reads a lot. He pays attention
and says things that make it clear that he puts thought into what he sees. Why
do kids think gangs are the answer?”
“Because they’re accepted. If they don’t have any sort of
bond at home they take whatever they can find, even if it does lower their life
expectancy to their early twenties at best. I hate to see it but I know I can’t
help them unless they want to be helped. That’s part of why I’m thinking of
getting out. Or maybe going back to a small town where I might be able to make
a difference.”
“The small town where your brother and Brett are going to
be?”
“Maybe. They followed me to the city. Maybe it’s my turn to
follow them and get out of here.”
“You better not say anything until you make up your mind.
Kiley would jump all over something like that. She’s finally found the kind of
life she always wanted. Her dream always included having family around so she’d
be thrilled. She hated being an only child. I think you’re going to find
yourself becoming her big brother too.”
“I’d like that. I’m looking forward to them having kids. I
think they’ll make great parents. We won’t have to worry about their kids.”
“Especially if Uncle Shane is the town cop. You like kids,
don’t you, McKade?”
“I told you. I love them. Maybe, instead of being the town
cop I’ll find myself a high-powered career woman and do the Mr. Mom thing. I
wouldn’t mind staying home, taking care of my family.”
“Like some career woman would want to set you up as her
househusband!” Alyssa snorted at the thought of it.
“I don’t know. Think about it. I could take care of the kids
and the house. I’d have dinner ready when she got home and, after the kids are
in bed, I could run her a bath and soothe away any tension from her day. Then,
after she’s nice and mellow, I could see what I could do to build a different
sort of tension and we could spend every night having wild sex to release it.”
“Gee, maybe you should take out an ad and schedule some
interviews. Or Jordan could ask women to call in one night when he runs out of
things to talk about. He could set up appointments for you.”
“You’re so romantic, Campini. Don’t you believe in falling
in love like Kiley and Jordan did? Don’t you think that somewhere in the world,
there is one person who is just perfect for you? Don’t you think that one of
these days fate will throw you together? Who knows, you could get sucked up in
a tornado next month and land in your dream guy’s lap.”
“Oh sure, that’ll happen.” She rolled her eyes as she
started fiddling with her cameras. “First of all, I don’t have a specific dream
guy image in my mind. Second, I don’t intend to get sucked up in any tornadoes.
I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve been telling
sighed. “How’d you get him to tell you so much about himself? I thought they
were supposed to leave their pasts behind when they found their new family?”
“He was the one who had to follow me around to see what I
was doing. It took three days for me to convince him that he’d have an easier
job of it if he actually stayed with me instead of sneaking around, spying on
me. He gave in when I ordered an extra cheeseburger and fries. The one thing he
wouldn’t tell me was his real name. The others called him ‘the Kid’ so that’s
what he told me to call him too. He said he’ll get a real name after he gets
initiated.”
“You mean after his first kill.”
“Is that what initiation is? He wouldn’t tell me anything
about it. Man, I’d like to go drag him out of there.”
“That would get you both killed, you know that.”
“Yes, I do and no, I really won’t, but damn, I wish I could.
He’s a smart kid. When I told him my dad was a Marine we had quite a
conversation about the similarities between the military and gangs. I know he
hasn’t gone to school much but it’s obvious he reads a lot. He pays attention
and says things that make it clear that he puts thought into what he sees. Why
do kids think gangs are the answer?”
“Because they’re accepted. If they don’t have any sort of
bond at home they take whatever they can find, even if it does lower their life
expectancy to their early twenties at best. I hate to see it but I know I can’t
help them unless they want to be helped. That’s part of why I’m thinking of
getting out. Or maybe going back to a small town where I might be able to make
a difference.”
“The small town where your brother and Brett are going to
be?”
“Maybe. They followed me to the city. Maybe it’s my turn to
follow them and get out of here.”
“You better not say anything until you make up your mind.
Kiley would jump all over something like that. She’s finally found the kind of
life she always wanted. Her dream always included having family around so she’d
be thrilled. She hated being an only child. I think you’re going to find
yourself becoming her big brother too.”
“I’d like that. I’m looking forward to them having kids. I
think they’ll make great parents. We won’t have to worry about their kids.”
“Especially if Uncle Shane is the town cop. You like kids,
don’t you, McKade?”
“I told you. I love them. Maybe, instead of being the town
cop I’ll find myself a high-powered career woman and do the Mr. Mom thing. I
wouldn’t mind staying home, taking care of my family.”
“Like some career woman would want to set you up as her
househusband!” Alyssa snorted at the thought of it.
“I don’t know. Think about it. I could take care of the kids
and the house. I’d have dinner ready when she got home and, after the kids are
in bed, I could run her a bath and soothe away any tension from her day. Then,
after she’s nice and mellow, I could see what I could do to build a different
sort of tension and we could spend every night having wild sex to release it.”
“Gee, maybe you should take out an ad and schedule some
interviews. Or Jordan could ask women to call in one night when he runs out of
things to talk about. He could set up appointments for you.”
“You’re so romantic, Campini. Don’t you believe in falling
in love like Kiley and Jordan did? Don’t you think that somewhere in the world,
there is one person who is just perfect for you? Don’t you think that one of
these days fate will throw you together? Who knows, you could get sucked up in
a tornado next month and land in your dream guy’s lap.”
“Oh sure, that’ll happen.” She rolled her eyes as she
started fiddling with her cameras. “First of all, I don’t have a specific dream
guy image in my mind. Second, I don’t intend to get sucked up in any tornadoes.
I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve been telling
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