“What’s got you all bent out of shape?” Blue asks and I look up from the table to watch my brother. He’s changed a little over the last few months. There’s something going on with him and I feel guilty that I haven’t taken the time to ask him. Still, I know there’s something. Being twins we have this sixth sense about each other. But life has been such shit that I haven’t taken the time to talk to him in months—at least not about anything substantial.

“Woman trouble,” I respond, pushing my cereal bowl away. Food is the last thing on my mind.

“That crazy chick back at it?” he asks, concern on his face as he sits down across from me.

“No… at least I don’t think so. It’s been quiet since she succeeded in getting me fired.”

“That was some shady shit there. I still say you should have fought it,” Blue says taking a drink of water from the bottle he just got out of the fridge. He’s got a water and a banana. That’s his breakfast every morning. If I did that, I’d be eating everything that wasn’t nailed down an hour later. Blue is regimented in everything he does. I’ve always been the complete opposite. I never regretted it until Linda. Maybe if I had been more like my brother I never would have gotten into the mess I did.

“There was no fighting it. She was sleeping with my Captain. Hell, even if I had gone to IAB or filed something against him, they would have still found a way to make my life miserable. You don’t turn on one of your own, it’s more than just an unspoken code,” I grumble.

“I don’t see it that way. Fuck, every single one of those assholes turned their backs on you.”

“It’s fine. It worked out fine. I just have to go back today to pick up Kong and then it will finally be done.”

“Yeah, well, I think that situation is shitty too. I mean you had that dog before she was in the picture. How she can keep it away from you for over a year—”

“She claimed Kong was hers, at least the judge ruled in my favor,” I grumble. I really don’t like discussing this stuff. The mention of Linda tends to make my skin feel as if it’s crawling.

“She’s had you in limbo for two years and you had to get a court order to settle it. That shit is whacked.”

“Whoa, this hell hasn’t been two years, let’s not go crazy,” I argue, not wanting to feel like I’ve wasted that much of my time on this woman. It has been over a year, almost a year and a half, and that sucks more than I could even express. I don’t need him adding time to it—I already feel stupid as hell for dealing with her. If not for Kong, I wouldn’t fool with her at all anymore.

“Close enough,” Blue grumbles, and the way he’s going on you would think Linda ruined his life, not mine.

“Today is it. I’ll go to Dallas, get Kong, along with what little of my stuff is still there, and it will be over. The court ordered Linda to be gone, so I won’t even have to deal with her. A neighbor will be there as a witness. I get it and go. That’s it.”

“You really think it will be that easy with Linda involved? We are talking about the same woman who took a baseball bat to a girl’s car because she thought you were cheating—and all because you changed the woman’s flat when her and her infant son were stranded beside the road,” Blue grumbles still not happy about the whole situation. He knew the girl from high school and I get the feeling he was sweet on her. Not sure what happened between them, but he won’t even discuss her now.

“It’s been long enough. I’m sure she has another pigeon in her sites by now. Whatever happened to that girl? Shoot what was her name again… Patty? No, that’s not it… hmm…”

“Meadow,” Blue responds, avoiding my eyes. It’s not like I don’t know her name. I do. I also know that Meadow is moving back to Mason and is divorced now. I’ve not told Blue that yet.

“Oh yeah, Meadow. Mom would love that name.”

“What name is that?” Mom enters right on cue. It’s like the woman has a sixth sense or something.

“Meadow,” I answer and I swear for a minute there, I can see panic in Blue’s eyes.

Interesting… Very interesting.

“I do love that name! Leddie named her daughter that, bless her soul. I hate that she’s so sick,” Mom says, having no idea what can of worms she has opened—or hell maybe she does—this is Mom I’m talking about.

“Leddie’s sick?” Blue asks, and maybe he’s trying to act like he doesn’t care, but I hear something in his voice and I’m sure my mom does too.

“Doctors say it’s only a matter of time. She had a heart attack and it done way too much damage.”

“Damn,” I mumble. I hate to hear that. “Leddie is a good person, she’d give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.”

“She is,” Mom responds. “Hard to understand why things happen the way they do. Not that I want to question the good Lord, but I sure don’t always agree with his choices,” she mutters. “Anyway are we ready to roll?”

“Ready to… What?” I ask, fear hitting me all at once when I see the intent written all over her face.

“To head to Dallas. I’m going with you!”

“Mom, that’s not necessary—”

“Nonsense. If you think I’m going to leave my son at the mercy of that she-cat.”

“She-cat?” Blue asks and I pinch the bridge of my nose and hold my head down. It was already going to be a long day; I have a feeling it’s about to get a lot longer.

“She-cat.”

“What does that even mean, Mom?” Blue asks and I covertly flip him off, because he’s just helping to get her pissed off—and he knows it.

“An alley cat always in heat, always wanting petted and always—but always—packing in fleas.”

I’d like to deny her assessment, but I can’t really. So, I wisely remain silent. Mom, however, is not done.

“I swear I know the good Lord gave my son’s brains. They were smart until they moved out on their own and now it’s like every dang one of you have mush in your head. Thank the good Lord above that CC and Kayla came along to yank Gray and White’s heads out of their asses. Who knows what would have happened to Orange if Petal hadn’t saved him. Poor boy might have ended up just like his daddy and that would have been a damn shame.”

I shake my head at the mention of Orange—the honorary name that Mom gave Luka when he and Petal remarried. My mom is one hell of a woman, but she is definitely special at times.

“Fine, let’s go. But try to contain yourself if you can,” I mumble, suddenly anxious to get on the road and get back home.

“Why do my kids always tell me that? It would serve everyone right if I just started saying exactly what’s on my mind whenever I felt like it,” she complains—but, she does it walking toward the front door so I call it a win.

“You’re right, Mom. I’m sorry,” I tell her, thinking that’s exactly what she does anyway. I’m not about to argue with her though. I try and pacify her instead, trying to make my trip easier.

“Good to hear you admit it, son. Now, while we’re traveling you can tell me all about this girl you went out with last night. Blue tells me she’s a good girl. Are you sure she’s prepared for you? You’re not known for being sweet,” Mom rattles and I hear Blue laughing in the background.

I look him dead in the eye and then I do something that I don’t regret one bit.

“Hey Mom? Did I ever tell you about the time Blue and I stopped to help Meadow when her car broke down?”

“Motherfucker,” I hear Blue mutter behind me and as I close the door it’s me who is laughing this time.

Paybacks are a bitch brother. Paybacks are a bitch.