It’s Been A While

Forty-eight days. That’s how long I’ve been back home. Forty-eight days that I’ve picked up my phone to call or text Tripp and haven’t done it. No one will tell Sass and I everything, but what we gather is the Hellions went to Delatorre’s warehouse. A fight ensued. Delatorre and his crew were eliminated. We lost four guys and Tank’s in the hospital fighting for his life, while machines take each calculated breath for him. I’ve paid my respects to the families of our lost brothers.

I’m in my office staring at the computer screen. I could email him, or should I text him? Leaving so many things unsaid between us, over time, is pulling at me. The more I think on it, the more I decide not to contact him. He knows my number, and he hasn’t called me. The pain cuts deep, the hole in my heart growing with every passing day that Tripp’s not in my life. Is he okay? Is he on a transport?

Brought out of my musing by my office door opening, I look up to see the bitch I’ve been waiting for. Standing, I walk straight up to her. Balling my hand into a fist, I rear back and punch her in the face. She stumbles back at the unexpected force. Immediately, her hand goes up to clutch her rapidly swelling eye. I missed her nose. Damn, I’d love to break that. Give her a bump that will make her think of me every damn time she looks in the mirror.

Frisco runs in from where he was outside. “Doll, what the fuck, babe?” He asks staring me down.

“She had it coming.” I say shaking my, now sore, hand out. “Been waitin’ to get a hold of her.”

She looks at me, tears streaming down her face. “I deserve that and more. Doll, I’m-”

“Name’s Delilah.” I interject with my hand on my hip now. “My friends and family call me Doll. You aren’t my family and you sure as shit ain’t my friend.”

“Delilah, I’m sorry. Felix, he threatened Alyssa, she’s Rachael’s daughter. He wanted me to be friends with you, using Rachael as a connection. I couldn’t do it, though. I pretended I was talking to you on the phone. When he told me he was bringing me to meet you at your office, I knew I was busted because you didn’t know me. He beat the shit out of me and still made me come. I was supposed to talk to you while they were in the office, but I didn’t want to put you in danger. I’m sorry, Delilah. I can’t say that enough, but I was protecting my cousins and the people that mean the most to them. I did just enough that he would leave them alone and took the beatings for not drawing you in. I worked at the shipping yard with Ray and Zack. Delatorre offered me money to handle getting some shipments through. That was just the beginning. When he did a background check on me, he found my only remaining family. He tied Rachael to you. He wanted me to be a pawn in his game to push the Hellions to do more than transport. He wanted them to sell the drugs he’s been shipping too. I got in too deep and I brought you down with me. I’m glad you’re okay and I wish I could go back and change so many things.”