Mr. Baste and Mrs. Danski quietly left. Curley went outside to wait with Paco for the others. Alone with Jess, Joey let her head fall back on the couch. The day, which had started out quietly, ended in total chaos.
Surprisingly, calling Roddy to get ahold of Wyatt had started a chain reaction. The next thing she knew, Tarkio members had found her and started a search party. Thank God, there were people willing to look.
"I hear motorcycles." Jess jumped up from the couch.
Anxious to see Travis and hoping Wyatt was with them, she went with Jess to the door and peered out. At first, all the bikers arriving overwhelmed her. She couldn't spot Wyatt, and Travis never materialized until he slid off from behind one of the bikers she hadn't been introduced to yet.
Jess took off, running to her brother. At a slower pace, simply because she had the chills and knew she'd overexerted herself, Joey reached Travis second and gathered both of the kids in her arms.
"I'm going to punch you next time you run away, twerp." Jess pushed Travis away as only an older sister could do and still show the protective love flowing through her.
"Stop," he mumbled, glancing at Joey. "Sorry."
Joey shook her head, unable to find it in herself to lecture him. "I'm just glad you're home. You scared me to death."
Travis lowered his chin and looked at the ground. Joey blew out her breath. Today had taken everything out of all of them. She was exhausted.
Looking around for Wyatt, she couldn't relax until he was back. She never should've relied on the kids to check in with her every hour. There was a lot that could happen in sixty minutes.
Her wish granted, a loud rumble, coming at a high speed in the parking lot, parted the crowd standing in the grass in front of the apartment. She spotted Wyatt rolling in, stopping on a skid, and enlarging to his full size as he threw his leg off the motorcycle and stormed in her direction.
Wyatt's gaze flashed over Travis, Jess, her. She held her breath, recognizing the emotions, the fire, the fear all coming out at once. He never stopped and went directly to his son, engulfing Travis in his arms.
Travis's feet came off the ground. She covered her mouth with her hand, oversensitive at that point in the day. This was her fault. She should've watched over Travis and Jess better. During the day, she missed the warning that Travis was going to run. If she would've talked to him more, took more of an interest in his plans, looked for some kind of hint about how he was feeling, she could've kept him from making a wrong decision and saved everyone from what was happening right now.
Wyatt's eyes closed as he cupped the back of his son's head, holding him tightly. The blatant emotions displayed in front of her squeezed her throat. She repeatedly swallowed, trying to keep the tears at bay.
He opened his eyes and over Travis's shoulder, looked at Jess, Joey, and then he set his son on his feet. Wyatt's arm came out, and he backhanded his son across the chest. Joey gasped in shock. The sudden change in Wyatt more dreadful than tears.
Travis stumbled back, lost his balance, and fell to his butt on the grass.
Wyatt pointed. "The next time you run off, I won't be asking for help in finding you. I'll call the police and have them plant your ass in juvie until you get your head screwed on straight. There's no excuse for scaring me half to death, son."
Jess inched her way over to her brother. Wyatt nailed his daughter with his gaze. "Don't baby him. It's time for him to grow the fuck up."
Wyatt directed his attention back to Travis. "You're grounded for the rest of the summer. You'll stay at the apartments. You'll have extra chores. No parties, no riding, and on Sundays, you're going to go to work at the Tarkio clubhouse and do whatever they believe your punishment should be to pay them back for the gas they used and wasting their time searching for you.
Travis's eyes widened, and he looked behind his dad to the parking lot of bikers watching the punishment.
"Do you hear me?"
Travis nodded.
Wyatt growled. "Go to the apartment."
Travis scrambled to his feet. Jess rushed to him, running inside with him.
Joey shook, wanting to go to the children and knowing Wyatt was right. To go easy on Travis because he still grieved for his mother and the only life he'd known would only make him run away again.
Yet, she hated today for both of them.
Wyatt's chin fell to his chest. He planted his hands on his hips. His chest expanded, and his shoulders broadened. Glued to the ground, Joey lowered her hand from her mouth. She supported him but to go to him now while he was in the middle of imploding wouldn't be the wisest choice.
Several seconds later, Wyatt walked to her. His hard, formidable body turned, so the bikers were at his back.
"Tiger?" he said hoarsely.
She reached out and drew her hand back before touching him. "Yes?"
"Go to my son and be there for him," he whispered.
"Okay," she mouthed.
Walking to the apartment, she looked over her shoulder. Wyatt had joined the bikers in the parking lot. He was taking care of his responsibilities, taking care of his family, and doing what a good father would do.
She hoped he knew that.
Chapter 28Wyatt
JESS AND TRAVIS SAT on the couch with Joey in between them. Wyatt stood in the middle of the living room. After struggling with how to raise his son and have him understand the importance of the rules he'd set when he came to him as a teenager, he'd come to the decision to discuss the reasons why he asked them to be careful and watch out for each other.
They were old enough to understand
