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“Of course I would. Daniel’s an asset to that school. He said something silly in the heat of the moment.”
Fucking hell. My lip wobbles, and I suddenly feel so terrible for coming down so hard on him. He’s right. Daniel is a credit to them. “Thanks, Lennox. It means a lot.”
“No sweat. Do you want me to come with you to the school?”
I look back to the car. “We have to drop everyone home, then I’ll get Tank to bring us over, but I can’t leave Daniel without Tank. Plus, Danny will go spare if he finds out I went anywhere without one of the Vikings.” Damn it, where’s Fury?
“Well, I have my own Viking now.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Oh?” I say warily.
“It’s nothing like that. No men out to kill me.” He laughs, awkward as hell. “Barney’s mother’s been in touch. I don’t trust that woman as far as I can throw her, so I’ve hired Sid.”
“Sid?”
“Yeah, Sid. Former CIA. Scary fucker.”
That feels extreme. “You think she’d take Barney?”
“I don’t know. We’ve not heard from her since she went to Sri Lanka with her new man. She’s showed no interest in Barney, and now all of a sudden she wants custody. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m just being cautious.”
Very cautious. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s fine. Anyway, my point is, Tank can watch the kids, we can take Sid. Or vice versa, whichever you’re comfortable with.”
“I think I want to meet Sid before I make that decision.”
Lennox laughs. “Fair enough. See you soon.”
I opted to leave Tank with the boys. Yes, Sid is a scary fucker, as per Lennox’s words, but Tank knows the boys, and Tank’s a scary fucker too. I’m just used to him, so the impact has worn off. I can still appreciate it, though.
Pearl and Anya asked if they could stay at the café to hang out, so Tank called Fury in, who was kicking his heels around the boatyard after being relieved by Brad when James and Danny picked him up. Naturally, my mind wonders what they’re doing. Who they’re killing. Threatening. Paying. Supplying. It’s actually been so . . . unusual. The quiet of the last six months. Well, five if you include the last month of loud thanks to Miss Maggie’s entrance into the world. But I’ve enjoyed the quieter side of Danny. The less secretive, less . . . volatile side. And I never thought I’d think that.
After dropping everyone home, leaving Maggie with Esther, expressing to relieve my chest—again—and leaving a few extra bottles, Tank and I went to Lennox’s.
I hopped into Lennox’s four-wheeled drive Volvo and made small talk from the back while figuring out how to approach this in between the brief silences on the journey.
I couldn’t hide where I was going—Daniel’s not stupid. Where else would I go with Lennox? So the pressure is on to fix this and get Daniel back into school, but more importantly, get his sparkle back.
Sid pulls up. “You can wait here,” Lennox says, slipping out and opening the door for me before I’ve had a chance to unclip my belt.
“Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
I look up at the impressive building as we walk side by side up the well-kept lawn . . . that’s been cut with the new ride-on lawnmower Danny paid for. I press the buzzer and announce myself, and, to my surprise, I’m let straight in. The kids have all gone, so I enter the reception and see Mrs. Carnaby. She looks a little pale today. “I’m here to see Principal Tucker.”
Without even looking at me, she points to the door, offering us to go straight in, as if she was expecting us. I frown at Lennox. He shrugs. Then I wander to Principal Tucker’s door, knocking before pushing it open.
And stutter to a stop, my mouth dropping open, when I see my husband perched on the desk.
Holding a gun to the temple of a terrified-looking Principal Tucker.
30
