Page 62 of Storm's Deliverance

CHAPTER TWENTY

HENDRIX

“You know,your babies will be so beautiful, won’t they, Star?” Mom says while sipping from her wine glass.

I sigh. “Jesus, Mom. We’ve only just got together. Can you play it cool for five minutes?”

“She’s right, you know, and we knew this was going to happen years ago. We are just glad you kids finally pulled your heads from your asses and realised,” Star states.

I look across the room, my eyes landing on Enzo. I give him the ‘come fucking save me’ look.

He smirks and walks over. “Smoke?” he offers.

I jump to my feet. “Absolutely,” I state quickly.

“Oh, wait, I wouldn’t mind,” Star says.

“Mom, I need to talk to Drix. Plus, you don’t smoke,” Enzo points out.

“I do when I’m drinking,” she counters.

Realising they aren’t going to back down, because at this point, I think they will sit beside the bed instructing me and Storm on how to make them a grand baby, Enzo interferes.

“Club bunny is talking to Dad.” Enzo nods towards the bar.

Star’s head whips in the direction to Ghost, squinting. “How many times do I have to slaughter these sluts?” she huffs, walking off.

“Nice one.” I grin at Enzo.

“Works every time.” He shrugs.

We walk outside, the warm night air coating our skin. Enzo hands me a cigarette and I take it, lighting and taking a long pull. I lean my head back, exhaling the smoke into the dark night sky. I look over at Enzo, who has gone and sat on one of the swings. Why our parents kept them I don’t know.

“So, am I going to have the big brother talk about not hurting your sister or you will kill me talk?” I tease.

He huffs a laugh. “I don’t need to tell you that, you already know. You hurt her, you’ll be ten foot in the ground.”

“Then what’s got you so tense?” I press.

“I just don’t feel like I can relax until we have him. I’ve got a feeling coiling deep in my gut that something is brewing. Something is going to happen. I know it. I can sense it, and I just don’t know what the fuck it is,” he admits.

I nod, knowing what he means. Knowing that Zeke is out there, that he is still walking and fucking breathing, is like a thunderous dark cloud hanging over all of us. “Dad has his ID flagged. Jared has him on the system. He even fucking sneezes and it will flag up,” I state with determination in my voice, because I have to. I have to believe we will get him, or the darkness will swallow me up, too. Just like it has for Enzo.

“Hey! You both coming back inside or what? We are ordering food!” Oliver yells across the parking lot.

“I could eat,” I say, patting my stomach.

Enzo stands, stubbing out his cigarette. “Good job Dad didn’t knock your fucking teeth out then, ain’t it?” he goads.

I thump his arm, making him laugh as we make our way back inside.

As we step inside, it’s chaos. Star is standing with a pen and paper, taking everyone’s order. “Wait, wait. One at a fucking time,” she chastises.

“Nan would have had them organised in a line if she was here.” I snort. My heart feels heavy with the loss of her. It’s been four years since she passed, surrounded by us at her bedside. She was my nan by blood, but she was everyone else’s nan as well. She lived and breathed for every single one of us.

Enzo squeezes my shoulder. “She always said the place would turn into chaos without her, and she ain’t fucking wrong,” he scoffs.

I smile, nodding. “Come on, I feel like I’m going to need more alcohol if we are going to survive this night with the family.” I sigh.