It felt like forever since Emmett last visited his sister. He'd promised Everly that they'd drop by, but time always slipped away from him.

Things had gotten hectic in his life. With Mal's murder, Mayor Kaufman's hitman jobs, and their regular drug dealings, he barely had time for himself now. At last, he finally found the time to spare to see his little sister. But he needed to be back before nightfall, as he had more clients to handle and gang business to tend to.

Acres of farmland stretched out before Emmett as he drove with the windows down. Cows wandered the grassy fields aimlessly and a couple vultures swarmed above some trees not too far from the road.

Everly resided out in the countryside, far from the ruinous inner city of New Syracuse, where the two gangs fought over territory. It had been awhile since Emmett's last run-in with those damn Black Vipers and he wanted to keep it that way. Part of him still wondered if they were responsible for Mal's murder.

Soon enough, Everly's house came into view and he reduced his speed before pulling over. It was a homely little place away from most crime and with superb surveillance, thanks to that worthless piece of shit detective.

Emmett missed having her around in his gang, but he understood why she abandoned them to keep her baby safe. It wasn't like she could bring Grace along while dealing drugs. Emmett would never force his sister to stay with them when she didn't want to. He always knew she'd leave his side someday, but he wished she hadn't chosen that damn detective.

After parking in the driveway and killing the ignition, he climbed out with Kazimir trailing close behind him. The sun set beyond the horizon; gray storm clouds held promises of a thundershower to come later in the night. The two of them crossed through the freshly mowed grass, passing Everly's pink Volkswagen parked in front of the garage.

They hadn't even reached the porch when the front door walloped open and Everly hurried out, looking like she'd faint from exhaustion. She held her four-month-old daughter in her arms, trying her best to shut the wailing baby up. No wonder she wanted them to come by more often. That screaming shit-machine already gave him a migraine.

"Someone's fussy today." Kazimir gently took Grace in his arms, trying to calm her with the weird faces and coos he made at her would quiet her. It worked like a charm before.

"I've tried everything to get her to stop crying. I don't know what's wrong," Everly told him. "She's been this way all morning."

"That must be annoying as fuck," Emmett muttered.

"No shit, Sherlock."

Babies made Emmett uncomfortable. That was partially why he hadn't dropped by her house after she'd given birth to Grace. He didn't know how to bond with her or care for. Part of him hated himself for not gushing over the little baby like everyone else in their family did, but he figured he'd enjoy her company more when she got older.

Emmett stepped inside the foyer, moving away from the crying baby in his lover's arms. Seeing his little sister so worn out broke his heart. If only he could be around more often for them, but with everything going on in their gang, there just wasn't time. Not only did he need to handle Mal's murder and their drug dealings but Mayor Kaufman too.

While he'd finished doing business with their town's mayor, he knew it wouldn't be last he'd hear of him. There would be more jobs soon, and Emmett couldn't deny how tempted he was to kill again. That bloodlust felt as amazing as shooting up. He could never let anyone know about that though, not unless he wanted to get his ass locked up.

Everly paced around her living room, biting her nails. Her blonde hair was uncombed, and her nighties had some spit-up stains on them. Emmett couldn't imagine how tired she had to be. With Adam always away at work, she was there all alone with the baby. It wasn't like he could stop being a police detective and stay at home, but he needed to make more efforts to be with his family. Everly couldn't keep this up by herself. Too bad Adam refused any charity money Emmett tried to offer him. That bastard had too much pride.

It surprised Emmett how good Kazimir was with Grace. His lover didn't grow up with any siblings to help take care of, yet he bonded with Grace better than he did. Kazimir always stepped in to hold her in Emmett's place. It was like he knew how Emmett felt about her, but didn't get upset with him. Emmett knew it would break his sister's heart if she learned he wasn't very fond of her daughter. Maybe when Grace got older things would change. Babies just weren't cute to him.

Emmett sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV. "Is it normal for her to cry so much? Maybe something's wrong with her."

Everly looked like she'd burst into tears too. "What do you mean? Do you think I did something wrong?"

"Babies cry. It's completely normal," Kazimir said. "They can tell when you're upset and stressed sometimes too. That could be why she's so fussy."

When the fuck did he become a baby expert? That's what Emmett wanted to know.

"Maybe you could just lock in her room until her voice goes out?" Emmett suggested. "She has to shut up eventually, right?"

Everly frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not that kind of mother."

Emmett shrugged. "Just trying to help."

"Don't worry. I've got her." Kazimir assured them. "You already fed and changed her, right? Burped her too?"

"Yeah, I've done everything," Everly told him.

Kazimir walked around the house with her, gently bouncing her in his arms while making silly faces at her. It was amusing to Emmett, but he worried about his little sister. She stood beside him, shaky and watching Kazimir's move with her daughter. How long had she been up with her? Was this an every day thing for her to deal with?

Within minutes, Kazimir was able to get her to stop crying. It relieved Emmett when she finally quit the waterworks and wailing. Everly seemed just as thrilled and took a load off on the couch beside Emmett, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. What a night they had a head of them. Emmett already wanted to head back home to their hideout.

Everly sighed. "You don't know how happy I am now that you're both here. Y'all wouldn't mind if I took a quick nap, would you? I know Adam doesn't want y'all alone with Grace, but I can trust you both for about twenty minutes, right? He should be home in about an hour. I'll just be in my bedroom. You can come get me if you need anything."

"Sure. You can count on us," Emmett told her. "I promise not to let Adam know."

"Thank you so much."

Everly got up and kissed Grace on the head before heading off to her bedroom. Raising a baby was difficult, especially when she did a lot of the grueling work by herself. She messaged Kazimir out of the blue earlier that morning, asking if they'd like to come over and help with Grace. Of course, Kazimir agreed and dragged Emmett along. Had Emmett known the stress that weighed on her shoulders, he would've been around more.

Emmett and Everly's folks helped out a lot when they came into town. Adam's mom did too, apparently, but they couldn't always drop everything and drive to New Syracuse. But Emmett didn't know what else he could do to help her out. Kazimir and Everly had more patience with the baby than Emmett ever would. Emmett loved his niece, but she kinda gave him the heebie-jeebies, like all babies did.

It was Everly's dream to become a mom and raise a family, which Emmett couldn't empathize with. He never wanted kids. Being gay helped a lot in that aspect, as he never needed to worry himself about unplanned pregnancies. But he couldn't wrap his head around why Everly wanted this life for herself when she had the potential to do far better things. Why'd she throw her life away for some snot-nosed baby and a fuckhead cop?

Curled up on the couch, Emmett tried to concentrate on the television showing some drama Kazimir loved so much. They took turns holding Grace and keeping her entertained, but Emmett usually put her in the swing when it was his turn. Kazimir never pressured him to hold her either, which he was grateful for.

Emmett just wished Adam would quit his job already and live off the Voiceless Rebels drug money. They'd be able to spend all their precious time with Grace then. Adam just wouldn't accept his offer. That damn detective had too much pride and desire for their system's warped sense of justice.

"I'm sorry your daddy's such a jackass." Grace smiled when Emmett told her that. He found her dumb innocence to be hilarious.

"Emmett, don't say stuff like that. You know Adam's been doing his best. He can't always be around when he works, but Grace and Everly are his whole world," Kazimir said.

"He should try to be around more often," Emmett snapped. "Leaving your kid to be cared for by gang members won't earn him father of the year award."

Family meant everything to Emmett. He would risk his own life for all of them if they got in harm's way. Emmett loved them more than life itself, and even death.

Kazimir sighed. "You only say that because you hate him. Adam's actually a good father."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Why did Kazimir stick up for that fuckhead cop so much? Jealousy coiled around his heart like a hungry snake. He hated how Kazimir admired Adam. Emmett only wanted his artist to admire him.