LUKE

Soph runs down the driveway as we return home, and it’s a sight to see. I secretly used to love watching her run. Now it just makes me grind my teeth.

Can’t admire my brother’s girl, not the way I admire Sofia Sol.

We dismount our motorcycles far away from the house, choosing to walk up and meet her halfway so we can get the police station’s tension out of our systems.

I keep my eyes on Jett.

Celia rode on the back of his hog, rather than taking her own. He asked her to, to make her feel safe. I saw how much that meant to her. We all look up to our President. He’s our leader and we give him the respect he’s earned.

And now I’m wondering how he’s going to treat his daughter.

“What happened?” Sofia demands.

Jett stashes keys in his pocket, eyes on her as he answers, “The police aren’t on a witch hunt for the Ciphers, that’s what happened.”

Atlas smirks, “They just did what they had to do, get our statements. They were jealous we discovered him first.”

I offer, “They were pissed and impressed, could see it in their faces. Hated that we wouldn’t say where we got the tip.”

“Celia,” Sofia asks, concern all over her. “how’d it go?”

“I did what you said, kept to the story. We all did. It was self-defense. I thought he had a gun. I pulled the trigger and didn’t mean to kill him.”

Jett nods, “She’s just one hell of a shot, I told ‘em. They didn’t laugh outright but one of them muttered his approval. This is why I love livin’ in a small town. Don’t have to deal with big city hoops and paperwork.”

“When they’re on our side.”

We all nod, knowing too well how small-town cops can ride your ass if they feel like it, when they have nothing better to do.

Jett reassures her, “Well, they’re on our side today, Soph.”

The front door of our plantation opens, Carmen and Luna stepping out, with tall-as-hell Tonk right behind them, calling over their heads, “Do I see smiles or am I dreamin’?”

Jett shouts, “You’re as awake as ten cups of coffee, Tonk! She did great.”

Carmen’s shoulders collapse with relief and she comes running. Soon the rest of the house is on the porch in the waning light.

Night’s coming.

Soon I’ll be in bed, alone, listening to my brother snore. There will be no sleep, not after what he told me his intentions are toward Soph. Last night I stared at the ceiling listening to the bastard sleeping like a baby on bourbon.

Carmen suffocates Celia, who laughs and reassures her, “I’m okay, Mom. You worry too much.”

Sofia Sol is all smiles as she rakes her hair back. “It’s a wonder you’re related!”

“Shut it,” Ceels grins, letting go of her mom to remind Soph, “After how cool I was at the station, don’t forget that I’m going out with you guys from here on out!”

Carmen’s joy vanishes. “What? No!”

“Mom, I want to.”

“Tonk, tell her!”

He licks his lips and shuffles his weight from one side to the overly tall other. “Carmen, we always said if the kids wanted to work, they could.”

“I meant jobs!”

He puffs up, especially because he’s got an audience. “Baby, these are our jobs. You think Celia’s gonna work in some office? Over my dead body!”

Carmen covers her face, gentle voice quivering. “She’s my only daughter.”

Tonk holds his ground. “And since our son won’t ride, fight or do much of anything, we have a daughter we can be proud of.”

The Ciphers go silent, most staring at the ground in a hurry. Soph and I look over to Tonk Jr.

He’s deflated.

Poor guy was out here concerned for his sister, happy she was okay, then his dad had to go and say he was worthless. Ashamed, he vanishes inside as people make way for him.

Nobody says a word. Ciphers never humiliate each other. Tease, yell and throw things at, sure, but what just happened just ain’t done here. We’re family. And you don’t make a member of your family feel like they’ve got nothing to give.

Staring at the house, Carmen blinks and then does something I’ve never seen her do in my whole life—she yells at her husband. “Don’t you make our boy feel more like an outsider than he already does, Tonk! You just crushed my son’s heart!”

His face contorts more, stunned and horrified for all the reasons he should be. Carmen starts for the house, but Jett stops her. “It should be Tonk, not you.”

“He needs his…” She trails off as she sees our faces. Nobody besides her thinks that Tonk Jr. needs his mother right now. A boy needs his father, and this boy more than anybody after what he just heard. Her expression shifts to acceptance. She wrings her hands as Tonk Sr. heads in, determined and disgusted with himself, a path made for him, too.

As the Ciphers come down the steps, and start conversations with Jett, wanting to know about the questioning, Sofia glances to me, like she’s done a million times after we’ve witnessed something we’ll both agree was intense. This time, though, my eyes steel instead of welcome her, and she flicks an subconscious look to my brother.

“Soph, wanna go for that ride now?” he asks. “Bikes aren’t in the garage yet.”

Her grey eyes flash and only I know why. She’s trying to tell him not to single her out like that. “No, I want to eat a huge dinner and hang out with my girl here.” Throwing her arm around Celia’s shoulder she says to Atlas, “No need to escape now that everything’s gonna be okay.” To Celia she adds with a smile. “So you convinced ‘em, huh? Tell me all the little details.” Under her breath she assures her, “Your dad’ll fix things with your brother, don’t worry.”

“I hope so, that was…so sad.”

“He will.”

I feel someone staring at me, and flick a glance to my father. He makes his way through the group, jogging his chin for me to step aside from the others. In his lowest volume he says, “Watch yourself, Luke. Don’t go there.”

“What are you talkin’ about?” I shrug.

“I see you lookin’ at her. Kill that itch, ya hear me? Not a good path for any of us.”

“Antonio, Mel says we need more beer. Can you make a run?”

“Yeah, baby!” he smiles, losing the teeth to lock eyes with me, muttering, “Keep it in your pants.” He claps my back on his way to the bikes. “Gonna take your Harley into town since it’s here.”

I throw him the keys and he catches them, spins around and keeps walking without a pause.

Looping around the Ciphers I head for the garage, head down, swearing at myself for being so fuckin’ obvious. Last thing I need is for Atlas to propose and Dad to know I wanted her, too. My life is shit, least I can do is make it better for someone else.

Soph calls after me as she and Celia walk toward the house. “Luke, where you goin’? Dinner’s soon.”

“I’ll skip it. I’m gonna work on Tonk Jr.’s hog, get it workin’ again.”

Celia asks, “Why?”

“Have a feeling he’s gonna need it.”