The Last Thing He Needs Read Online Free Page A

a thank-you and practically ran down the steps, as if he was escaping with his life and nothing else. Tommy could identify. Cal and Cheryl had that effect on people.
    “Gimme my money back,” Cheryl demanded in a whiny slur from his feet. “I need that.”
    “Yeah, well too damn bad, your kids need it more.” Tommy had never been so grateful for a little cash. With nearly eighty dollars left, he could take the twins to the clinic as soon as it opened.
    “You give that back!” she hollered, swiping at him. “You don’t know what I had to do for that!”
    Cal seemed completely unaware of anything going on around him, and Tommy wondered what else was in his system because drink had never made him quiet before. He turned his attention back to his stepmother. “What? Sucking cock out at the truck stop? Yeah, I know, and I don’t give a shit. The babies are sick, and they need to see the doctor, so consider this your good fucking deed for the day.” He was furious, whispering down into her face in the hope that the twins might sleep a little longer. Cold rage slid through him knowing they were out getting shitfaced when two of their kids were hurting and sick and sad. It wasn’t new, it wasn’t a surprise, but it was the kind of thing that made him see red.
    “I’m sick too! I need that.”
    “Sick in the head,” he offered, still glaring down at her. “And shut the hell up because, I swear to God, you wake the twins and I’m locking you and Cal in the goddamn basement till you shrivel up and die.” His tone was murderous, and Cheryl must have believed him because that was the last he heard from her all night.
    As he stomped back up the stairs, he wondered to himself why he didn’t do it. Locking them in the basement seemed like a trick out of a sitcom, but hell, it would be one way around their bullshit.
     
     
    E VERYONE WAS already moving when he got up again. The twins had only stirred during the Cheryl and Cal Comedy Hour, and he’d managed to get them back to sleep and catch a little more for himself.
    Stepping over his parents and tripping on an enormous toy truck in the living room, Tommy was nearly run down by Carrie as she blazed past him with a piece of toast in her hand. He made his way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Colleen was there. The babies were sitting up in high chairs and working on small servings of oatmeal, getting more on the tray than in their mouths.
    “Time is it?” he asked, stretching and reaching for his mug.
    “Almost seven.” Colleen passed over a small carton of half-and-half.
    Nodding toward the living room, Tommy asked, “Where’d that truck come from?”
    Davey smiled proudly as he scooped more oatmeal from his bowl. “I found it.” He had just turned thirteen and his blond hair and dimples made him look a lot more innocent than he actually was.
    Tommy walked over to his brother. “Found it where?”
    “Other side of town,” Davey answered amiably. “It was just sitting out in someone’s yard. Figured the babies might like it.” A brotherly tap landed on the back of Davey’s head and he flinched. “What? I found it!”
    “You don’t nick shit from kids . Jesus, Davey. If you’re gonna steal somethin’, get some diapers and formula.”
    “I got formula.” Davey sounded indignant.
    Tommy wanted to laugh. Instead, he looked sternly at Davey. “Take it back.”
    “The formula?”
    “The truck . Christ.”
    Davey didn’t seem to appreciate the order. “But what if I get caught putting back something I got away with taking in the first place?”
    He made a fair point—the damage was done—but there were those limits again, and it was bad enough Tommy let the kids steal things like food and toilet paper. Robbing someone in their own home was a line he didn’t want any of them crossing. “Take Collin with ya. He’s young enough, if you say your brother took it and he came back to return it and apologize, he’ll just get a pat on the head or a