I grit my teeth, fists clenched as I contemplate the cost-reward of knocking Drake out while he's flying down the highway with the girl I care for most in the entire world sitting in the back. f.u.c.k!

The soft sound of Trix's laughter filters from the backseat. "You're so right, Drake. Mason's paying me for full service all weekend long." She pushes up to place her face right between Drake and me. "You should've seen the expression on the stewardess's face when I sucked your brother off under a blanket on the plane." She licks her lips and moans and Drake shifts in his seat. She leans in closer to him. "Your brother's a big boy, and I mean big in every way. I have bruises all over my a.s.s after we f.u.c.ked like monkeys in the airplane bathroom."

d.a.m.n, she's good at this seduction s.h.i.t. Drake's practically drooling, and I'm doing everything to keep my d.i.c.k from responding to her tease.

"You lucky son of a b.i.t.c.h!"

I turn and grip my fingers into Trix's hair, pulling her to me for a hard kiss while she giggles against my lips.

She flicks Drake's ear. "Sucka."

"Wait, so you're kidding . . . or . . . ?"

I punch him in the shoulder, eliciting a b.i.t.c.h-a.s.s squeal from his wanna-be gangster lips. "Why don't you mind your own business?"

"f.u.c.k, man." He rubs his arm. "Fine. s.h.i.t."

I shake my head and consider a rental car or even a few hundred dollars to get a cab to take us back to the airport at the end of the weekend.

"Trix, baby, your dad's birthday is Sunday afternoon, right?"

"Yeah. It's at one, so we can hang for a few hours, and then Isaac will take us to the airport. You're still going to come, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, but I was thinking . . . You wanna bring the kids to Cowell tomorrow? Figure we could give your mom and dad a break from the kids, hang out at the beach all day, maybe a bonfire that night?"

"Really?" The high-pitched sound of excitement from her lips makes my chest pound. "That would be awesome!"

"Great, let's do it. We'll figure out all the details tonight after you settle in."

"The kids are going to s.h.i.t, they'll be so excited," she mumbles to herself.

Drake laughs, low and s.h.i.tty sounding. What the h.e.l.l is his problem? "Look at you getting all domesticated." He shoves me. "No more back in town for hanging with your boys and f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.hes, huh?"

What the f.u.c.k? I've come back in town and hung at the bars with The Brotherhood, but f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.hes? That's never been me. Not that the occasional one-nighter didn't sneak up on me, but it was rare. "Are you high?"

He ignores me, and I make a mental note to talk to Trix about this later. I know she wouldn't care even if what Drake said was the truth-after all, she's been honest about her past conquests-but I need her to know that it's bulls.h.i.t.

The rolling hills of San Jose fade into the distance as we approach the Santa Cruz Mountains with their towering redwoods and evergreens. With a few more instructions and forty minutes later, we pull up to an older homestead-style house in a remote area of Los Gatos. The home is tucked deep into the woods on a dirt road. Even though only a few miles from multi-million dollar homes, new developments, and middle cla.s.s homes, it's so hidden in the trees I wonder if the city even knows they're still here.

"Is this it?" Drake says with a hint of disgust in his voice.

"Yep. Home sweet home."

The second the last word is out of her mouth, the front door flies open, and kids pour out of the tiny home like circus clowns. Trix squeals with excitement and barrels out of the backseat. She runs, kicking up dirt with her flip-flops, and catches the fastest of her brothers and sisters as a little boy leaps into her arms.

"Dude, what the f.u.c.k . . .?" Drake whispers and I know he's confused about the myriad of ethnicities and ages of all the children now piled around Trix.

"Big family. Stay in here." I push out of the car just as an older man steps out of the door.

He's bigger than I expected, full beard and overgrown hair, but dressed well in a long-sleeved collared shirt tucked into jeans. That must be Pastor Langley, Trix's Dad. A small, thin woman with short dark hair pushes past the man and races toward the kids' squealing, and it doesn't take a genius to realize it's Trix's Mom.

I'm transfixed on this family reunion. h.e.l.l, I don't even remember the last time I hugged my mom. Trix closes her eyes as her mom kisses every inch of her face. It isn't until I feel the p.r.i.c.kle of being watched that I peek up to find a set of dark brown eyes on me.

Trix's dad looks curious as he moves off the front porch towards his family. His daughter breaks away from her siblings and meets her dad with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. They say a few words to each other then look in my direction. I take my cue and head over to introduce myself.

My muscles are tense as I approach, uneasy about being the odd man out to this welcoming home.

Trix grabs my hand, her sungla.s.ses up on her head, wide grin across her face, and if I weren't so concerned about honoring her father's wishes, I'd plant a mind-scrambling kiss against those lips.

"Dad, this is Mason, the guy I told you about."

I reach out my hand to the older man. "Mr. Langley, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Please, call me Jerome." He reaches forward, exposing a heavily tattooed forearm, and grips my hand in a firm shake. "It's nice to meet you. I wish I could say I've heard so much about you, but I've only heard of you over the last couple days."

"Sir, your daughter talks plenty of you, so I feel I've known you for a while now."

His gaze moves between Trix and me. "Thank you for making sure she got home safely. I would've been happy to pick her up."

"No need. We're pa.s.sing through to Santa Cruz anyway. I'm happy to do it."

"Oh, this must be Mason." The woman I a.s.sumed was Trix's mother approaches, a warm and welcoming grin on her face. She wraps me in a hug. "I'm Aggie. It's so nice to meet you. Will you be coming to the party on Sunday?"

"Yes, I'd planned on it. Thank you for the invite."

"Whoa, Bee-ee-ah. He's hu-u-mong-u-us!" A tiny little girl whose hair, eyes, and skin all seem to be the exact same shade of bronze, tugs Trix's hand.

"Leah, honey," Aggie whispers.

"You play football?" The tallest of the kids with thick black hair, light skin, and almond-shaped eyes joins the conversation.

"I did in high school, but not anymore."

"Mason fights for the UFL." Pride shines in her eyes as she looks up at her little brother. "Mason, this is my brother Isaac." Trix looks around and continues. "My other brothers, Josiah, Zane, and Aaron." She scoops up the squealing little girl and props her on a hip. "This little rug rat is Leah." She rubs the head of a tiny Asian girl who is clinging to Trix's leg, looking up at her big sister. "And finally, this is Zoe." Her bright eyes flash back to me. "And, everyone, this is Mason."

The little ones wave shyly, and the older ones stand back, studying me with speculative glances.

"It's nice to meet you all." The kids explode in a flurry of chatter, and Trix's face lights with love for her siblings. I run my knuckles down her upper arm to get her attention. "I better take off."

"Oh, yeah." Her smile falls and she nods. "Guess so."

I say good-bye to her family and move back to the car with Trix. With the trunk of the car open, no one can see us, and I lean in to place a small kiss to her forehead. "I'll call you tonight."

"I hate this." Her eyebrows are pinched together. "We've spend the last three days together, and saying good-bye to you just feels wrong."

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. "We have all day tomorrow at the beach. I can't wait to see you in your bikini-"

"Dad wants me to help you with your bags." Isaac's there with his arms crossed at his chest.

Trix rolls her eyes and takes a step back to create distance between us.

"Sounds good, man." I pull her bright pink suitcase from the trunk and set it down for Isaac. "See you guys tomorrow."

"Bye." She gives me a small, sad wave and heads toward the house with her brother, who I hear say, "What's going on tomorrow?" a few seconds before he shouts, "Awesome!"

My chest is heavy when I watch the door close behind Trix and fold back into Drake's car.

"Holy s.h.i.t, bro. You're buyin' the cow too?"

This time I unleash all my frustration and knock the a.s.shole in the chest. He doubles over the steering wheel, gasping.

"That's your final warning."

"Jeez, you didn't have to knock the wind outta me, d.i.c.k."

"Talk about my woman again, and I'll knock the f.u.c.kin' life out of you."

Not that I blame him for being surprised. As soon as the words come from my lips, I realize I'm telling the G.o.d's honest truth.

Nineteen.

Trix The sun is dipping behind the Santa Cruz Mountains by the time we get the kitchen cleaned up after supper. Mom went all out for my homecoming, making a slow-cooked roast with all the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. I can't imagine how much the meal cost them, and they dished it out, helping after helping to all of us kids with leftovers to spare.

I shove a few more plastic containers of our dinner into the fridge and move to the back porch where my mom and dad are lounging on a swing. My mom's eyes find mine and she grins. Even through her smile, I can tell she's worn out. "You didn't have to do that, Bea." She scoots to put a spot between her and my dad.

I plop down between them, the three of us now crammed into the loveseat-sized swing. "I know, but you work too hard, Mama."

"Taking care of my babies is never work." A yawn falls from her lips. "Sheesh, maybe I'm more tired than I thought."

"Honey, why don't you go to bed? Bea and I will put the little ones down." My dad nods toward the outdated metal swing set and slide out in the yard. It's more like a stretch of dirt fenced in by towering redwoods. Leah, Aaron, and Zoe are laughing and arguing as they play Marco Polo.

"Yeah, Mom"-I grab her hand and squeeze it-"go take a hot bath before they all start fighting over the bathroom before bedtime."

"Oh, a hot bath does sound nice." She flashes a tired smile. "We can catch up some more in the morning?"

I already updated the family at dinner, sharing with them about some of the kids at the Youth Club, my new roommate, and an update on Gia. I left out talking about my job, but I always do, and they don't seem to mind.

"Sure, but there's really nothing more to talk about."

She hoists herself off the swing and drops a kiss to my forehead. "So you're saying that handsome boy who dropped you off is nothing?"

"Aggie, don't go snooping." The low rumble of my dad's chuckle makes my mom gape.

"I'm not snooping. I just want to learn more about a man who would travel all the way from Las Vegas to San Jose just to escort our daughter home." She unties her ap.r.o.n that I'm sure she forgot she was wearing until now, and folds it up.

"He came home to see his family too, Mama. It's no biggie." The words sour in my mouth. It's a huge biggie. I like Mason more than I should, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same. The thought makes my tummy tumble and my chest flutter.

"Bea, sweetheart"-my dad turns his dark brown eyes to me-"that boy is crazy about you."

I blink up at my dad. "How do you know?"

He shrugs and turns out to watch the kids as they launch off the swings in a contest to see who can jump farthest. "Because he'd be stupid not to be. He doesn't look stupid to me."

My mom rolls her eyes. "I better grab that bath while I can. And Bea, I'm sorry you're stuck on the bunk beds with Leah and Zoe. We moved Isaac into your and Lana's old room."

Sadness pierces my chest, but I push it back and focus on the kids, pretending that speaking her name in this place doesn't bring me to my emotional knees. "No problem. I'm happy to stay with the girls."

She leans down and kisses my head. "I'm so happy you're home."

"Good night-oh! I forgot, I thought I'd take everyone to the beach tomorrow, if that's alright with you guys."

My parents share a lingering glance.

"I thought you could use a quiet day at home."

"Sure, honey. That would be great." My mom heads back inside. "And tell Mason he's welcome to come over for dinner after the beach."

I whip around just in time to see her disappear behind the closed door. How did she know?

My dad chuckles, apparently reading my shock. "She's an observant woman, Bea." He scratches his bearded cheek. "The Good Lord has blessed her with discernment like I've never seen."

"It's freaky."

He chuckles and throws an arm over my shoulder. "It can be."

We swing in silence for a few minutes, and the sun dips further behind the mountains. The air cools slightly, and the scent of pine soothes me along with the gentle sway of the swing and the safety of my dad's arm.

"So . . ."

I know that tone and exactly where it's going. Steeling my resolve, I blow out a long breath, and the sense of what's coming weighs heavy in the air.

"Vegas is treating you well?"

Not again. "It's alright, Daddy."

"You find a church over there yet?"

"You know I haven't stepped inside a church since the funeral."

"Hmm . . ." The squeak of the swing fills the silence and mimics a countdown.

In five . . . four . . . three . . .