Chapter 16: Renee

*Evylynn’s POV*

*Two Weeks Later*

It’s been easy to get accustomed to the warmth next to me in bed. To the heavy arm slung over my waist, and the hot breath on my back. I’d been staying at Augustus's house in my new lodgings for going on two weeks now and Theo had been staying with me, much to my delight. If Gus had said anything or had any feelings about the situation, he hadn’t made them known to me. My nights were endless with Theo taunting and teasing until the early hours, where today had become tomorrow, and tomorrow had become today. My late nights wore into early mornings with Georgie. He was rambunctious and sweet. He was also calculating, a trait he’d inherited from his father.

I wondered about Genevieve often, she was beautiful, that much was clear from the black and white photo of her next to Georgie’s bed. But what was she like? This woman who loved Augustus James? It takes a special woman to love any of these men, particularly Gus. I could feel Theo’s arm tighten around my waist, “Good morning. How’d you sleep?” His smile was easily heard in his voice. Our bliss was soon interrupted when we arrived at the betting shop.

Henry's pallid face was sullen when he asked me to watch the kids for a while, and he looked sullen now as I looked up to the window from the street. The sun was glaring harshly off of the window above his head, and the children’s laughs and screams echoed up and down the street and around me. Whatever it was… It was bad. I turned my attention back to the children as Georgie pulled at my sleeve.

“The little one’s lost his shoe in the mud.”

“Thank you, Georgie,” I said glancing back at the window, only Henry's back greeted me now. I stooped in the mud digging for a tiny shoe, never noticing the man half a block down, staring at me while puffing on his cigarette.

*Several Minutes Later*

The door of the betting shop flew open with a bang. Henry made his way towards me as I finished wiping my hands on my mud-stained hanky.

"Georgie, your father’s leaving for the factory. You can go in now, and watch the mud he’s meeting up with some folks. Kids.. we’re going home. Thanks for keepin’ an eye out for them.”

“Henry?”

“Come on kids.” He said, his face red from frustration, and his eyes puffy.

“Henry, I’ll watch the kids… I can see that something’s happened. Go… do whatever you need to do, they’ll be safe with me.”

Henry's eyes wouldn’t meet mine, “Have someone take you guys out to the house… I’m sorry, I... I can’t… thanks.” He stuttered, his hands shaking while he tried to light his cigarette, cursing several times until he finally got it lit. Once he did he turned down the street towards some unknown destination. A cloud of smoke floated up from his mouth every few feet.

“Things are changing, Ev. Let’s round up the kids.” Spoke Theo in my ear, startling me. My eye’s turned to him, his face was the usual poker face that was so similar to Gus’s. I wanted to ask but I couldn’t, I knew if I needed to know then he would tell me. Until then, I would have to wait.

*That Evening*

Henry’s beautiful house had been a mess when we’d arrived, the kids had wreaked havoc upon it this morning from the looks of it. The dishes still sat dirty on the table, and the chairs hadn’t been pushed back in. The beds were left unmade and night clothes were strewn about on the floor. A stark contrast to what the house usually looked like. Never perfect, but never like this. It hadn’t taken long to figure out what had happened. There were several photo’s missing from the mantel in the front room, along with little trinkets from the bookcases. Half of the hangers were empty in the upstairs closet. Renee was gone, and from the looks of things she wouldn’t be coming back.

I was finishing up the dishes from dinner in the sink when I felt his arms snake around me. His hot breath ghosted the back of my neck as he pulled me tightly against him.

“She’s not coming back is she?”

“No, she’s not.”

“Poor, Henry. Poor, kids. What’s he going to do?”

“I have no idea. In the meantime, the family will help as much as we can.”

“I’ll watch the kids for him, I already watch Georgie, and I don’t have much else to do anyway.”

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that. We need to talk about some things though before you get any more tangled up in this.” He said as he pulled away to sit at the table. I leaned against the sink, my arms crossed and fists clenched under them.

“What is it?”

“There are some things you need to know about me before we dive too much further. I’m assuming you know, judging by my reputation and the James family's reputation, but I want to say them out loud. I want you to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.” His eyes didn’t leave his hands as they fiddled with his lighter on the table. The metallic sides hit the polished top with a quiet clank. When I didn’t immediately answer, his bright eyes flitted to mine.

“Nothing you say is going to scare me away, Theo.”

“Even if I told you I’ve killed a man?”

“Even if.”

“And if I told you I’ve killed several?”

“Even then.”

“I might have to do it again you know…”

“I don’t care.”

“A life with me is dangerous. You already know that. If there's a chance you might get frightened and run you need to leave now.”

We sat like that in silence for a moment before his cigarette case clicked open, as his chair scraped the floor for him to stand. He didn’t come to me, he didn’t look at me. He walked out the door, no glance in my direction, his limp more noticeable after a day of chasing the kids. I stood there for a moment, shaking from the cold, and maybe from my emotions. I walked to the door and his outline was visible about twenty feet down the bricked path down towards the pasture. His head turned up, and a hand in his pocket. He wouldn’t stop me if I tried to leave. He was going to allow me to walk away. He wanted me to walk away to keep me safe. I thought hard for a while before I turned and walked out the door.

*Theo’s POV*

There was a slight chill in the air, and the bullfrogs could be heard down by the pond. I could feel the goose flesh rising on my arms. I shifted on my legs. I was sore today. What would she choose? I could see the fear in her eye’s when we were speaking in the kitchen. She had every right to be scared of me, she had every right to leave and never say goodbye. More and more time passed and I was almost fearful of her decision. I don’t know how long I stared up at the clear sky before I felt her arms wrap around my waist. A shaky relieved breath shuddered out of me. A translucent white puff floated up and away from us.

“I’m not going anywhere, Theo.”