Chapter 159

Kim sat on her bed watching Bosco get ready to leave. She knew he wasn't working today. He was going to look for Mikey.

"Your Mom called. Did I tell you that?" she asked quietly.

Bosco paused for a moment and then went back to dressing, "No. You didn't. I talked to her last night. I told her to call if Mikey showed at her house." He looked at her. "What did she say?"

"That she's worried about you. You kinda scared her when you showed up at her house last night."

"She should be scared. They think Mikey killed a cop, Kim."

"I know. Carlos told me." She looked down at her hands and then back at him, "What do you think?"

"I can't afford to think right now."

"Oh, don't tell me that. Please don't tell me that."

"I didn't mean it like that," Bosco said.

"Good. Because I need you to think while you're out there because I need you alive."

"I know."

"Good. Bosco, I know you need to do this. I know you need to find Mikey so you can help him. But I need you to do something for me."

"Okay."

Kim brought her legs up onto the bed and crossed them before she met Bosco's eyes. "When Bobby died I felt a little like a widow around the guys in the house. I don't want to feel like that again."

"Kim-"

"I'm not done. So, today, when you're out there looking for Mikey, I want you to remember that you have a daughter who looks up to you and wants to be a cop just like her dad. I want you to think of the fact that whenever someone asks Joey what his parents do he tells them that one of his Dads is a firefighter, the other is a cop, and his Mom is a paramedic. And I pray that you remember that Johnny isn't old enough to remember you well enough yet. Also, think of me. I need you."

"Kim, I think of you guys every day."

"I know. Just try and think of us extra hard today before you do anything."

"I will. I promise." He kissed her and then left her in their bedroom.

Kim heard the door shut and let out a breath, "Be careful Bosco. Mikey, if you get him hurt, I'll kill you."


Kim shot a look at the clock next to her bed when she heard the bedroom door open. She heard Bosco move around and stifled a laugh when she heard him curse after knocking into the dresser. She took pity on him and turned on the light.

"Hey," she said sitting up.

"Sorry I woke you," he said sitting down on the edge of their bed and taking off his shoes.

"You didn't. I was waiting for you," she sat up. "You okay?"

"I've been better." He paused for a moment. "Kim, Jimmy's a good Dad right?"

"Joey seems to think so."

"What about you?" He turned to face her.

"Yeah. He loves Joey and he'd do anything for him. I think that's the essence of a good Dad. Why?"

"What about me?"

"Do I think you're a good Dad?"

"Yeah."

"Yes. I think you're a great Dad. Joey, Amanda, and Johnny all love you."

"Do you think I'd ever do anythng to hurt them?"

"What? No, Bosco, of course not."

"I have always had this fear of turning into my Dad."

"I know," Kim said as she scooted down and took his hand in hers. "You shouldn't though. You're not like him."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Bosco, you're not like your Dad."

"He turned Mikey in."

"What?!"

"He turned Mikey in for the money. Told them where to look for him."

"Oh Jesus, Bosco."

"He turned in his own son for money."

"You wouldn't do that."

"Kim-"

"No. I don't care what you think of genetics - you would not do that to any of our kids. You'd do for them what you did today for Mikey. You'd try your hardest to help them. I know that. So do you."

Bosco looked down at the bed and Kim reached out and made him look at her.

"Hey. So do they."

"I love you, Kimmy."

"Love you, too, Maurice."