Guns & Tulips

Chapter 18: Welcome Home

***Penni***

I find myself in walking home home. My feet moving on their own. Two minds at war.

Luke is home, and he has been lying to me. I cried on his shoulder. He let me suffer while he protected himself.

He's alive, and here. He seems to be happy....and seems to remember me. He hasn't said anything about a girlfriend. 

I put my hands to my head and go into a crouch. "All this is giving me a headach." I breath deep for a few moments, then get up again and make my way home. All I need is a good nights sleep and a cup of coffee. But what if he's there? What will he say? Do I want him there? I pick up my cell. I can't think straight, and I can feel my eyes start to burn with tears. It rings three times.

"Hey baby doll!!! What up?" Benny's bubbly voice rings in my ears. "Ben, c-can I come over?" There was a pause. "Yeah, of course sweetie, you at the shop?" I breath, "No, um, I'm near town, along the highway." The phone went silent, "I'll be right there."

I wait for what doesn't seem like a long time, and I see the familiar car pull up beside me. The passenger window rolls down, and Benny says, "Get in looser, we're going shopping." I laugh. "Okay, Regina George." I notice Kiven in the drivers seat, and try not to look in the mirror. We were almost home when Ben finally said, "So am I going to know why you were out on the side of the road, in the middle of the night, defenseless?" Kiven clears his throat and says, "Also who's ass to kick." I shake my head. "No ass kicking." They wait for me to continue, but what do I say? I think of his face, twisted into sadness, as he looked at my retreating figure. "Luke." I say, and my voice is thick with tears. "Luke? What about him sweetheart?" Benny says gently, and reaches back to grab my hand. 

"He's alive." 

***Westly***

We come out of the kitchen, and Marcus is leaning against the table with his arms crossed. "Well, thanks for letting us know your not dead." I roll my eyes. "Get over yourself. I almost died because of you, remember? Or do you go around stabbing Ryan and James?" Marcus' face freezes in shock. I hear a gasp, and I look over at James' wife. "They were the ones who did that?"She looks over at James, who's eyes have been filled with tears since Penni left, and then at Marcus, and Ryan. "How could you boys do that. Even if he wasn't your brother, that is an evil thing to do." She turns to James, "Do you want Trenton to go around and stab people he has a problem with??" James' head just gets lower and lower. "We didn't actually know who he was until we did some digging," Ryan says in defense. "This is a gang, Ruby. What did you think we did? Hold hands and talk our feelings? At the time, Luke was just known as Westly Wood. From the Irish mob, trying to encroach upon our territory. We had to take care of him, and send a message. I mean-" Before he could finish, Ruby slaps him. Right across the face. 

"Ruby!" James says, and grabs her hand, as she was rearing back to hit him again. "Let me go, J. How dare you." She uses her other hand to slap the, still stunned Ryan's, left cheek. "I know exactly what you do. Hell I married James. What I naively thought was that you had morals and standards that made you good men." She holds all three of their gazes for a full second before continuing, "now, I'm not so sure. If you don't have standards, then that makes you common street thugs." She walks over to me. I stand tall, as I receive my slap. "You, Luke Eugene Hillis. You have a lot of things to apologize for as well. You left without a single word. They mourned you." I blink, and look over at them. They all are still in shock for being punished for probably the first time. "You were alive and well for eight years and you never bothered a phone call. Your brother got married and had a child that has never known you, and that doesn't bother you?" By this point Ruby is in tears, Her hands covering her eyes. I really look at her now. She has fiery red hair, and she's short and stocky. Not at all what I remember James' type being. But I see how much she cares for James and their son. 

I hug her, and rub her back. "I do care. I've always thought about my brothers. Always. But when I left, I made a vow to never look back or regret my choice." She stopped crying and is sniffling. "I mean, what is a Hillis man, if he goes back on his word?" I say and pat her head. "I know one thing though. You are just what this family needs." She laughs and hugs me back. "I always wanted to meet you, you know?" I laugh and it makes her laugh. "I'm not that impressive." I say, and rub the back of my head. "I beg to differ, if I wasn't a taken woman..." Before she could finish, James comes up behind her and swoops her in a hug. "If you weren't a taken woman you'd be dating me." he says and kisses her. She giggles, and pusses him away. "James Edward Hillis I am still mad at you!" She says sternly, but she's smiling. I watch them banter, and smile myself. They're good together. Nothing like our parents. "I am sorry for hurting her." Marcus says, and comes to stand by me. I look at him, and sigh. "I know, but try not to be an asshole because of me, okay?" Marcus laughs. "You really have changed, Luke." I roll my eyes. "Stop calling me 'Luke'. My name is Westly, okay?" Marcus shrugs his shoulders. "Sure, little brother." I sigh again, and I can feel the old ich to leave come back. "So how long you staying?" He says, as if reading my mind. "I don't know. Though when I leave, it won't be like last time. " I look over at Marcus, and for the first time in my life I saw emotion on his face. 

He wraps me in a hug, and roughly pats my shoulder. "That's good, Westly." He says, and his voice is husky. I clear my throat. "You guys are my family," I say, as Tulip, James, and Ruby come over to us. "Well it's about damn time." Ryan says, and hugs me as well. He's then joined by Tulip, James, Ruby, and somehow little Trenton comes in and joins. "Guys, can't breath!" I say and they let me go. 

James looks at the clock on the wall and whistles. "Little man, time for us to get home," He says and scoops Trenton up. Tulip stretches, and looks over at Marcus and Ryan. "Don't you think you two should be getting home too?" They shrug, but follow James to the door. I go to follow, but Tulip grabs my arm. Maybe you should stay here tonight," she says, and looks to make sure the others can't here her, "I'm not so sure that going back now is such a great plan." 

"You have a point." I say, but shake my head, "I can't. Putting it off will not help. I don't want to make her wait any longer." I say, and Tulip smiles a bit. "Good." is all she says and walks me out. "Need a ride home, little brother." Marcus says, and I nod begrudgingly. "Man, why do you have to drive a motorcycle?" I say with a groan as I saddle behind him. He laughs and the engine roars to life. As we leave, I wave goodbye to the lady who once locked me in a cellar, but now I call a frien