AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yep,” Joe said, and walked out of the kitchen trailing children.
The noise level dropped to almost nothing, and Bryn felt awkward again. “Hi,” she said, and held out her hand. “I’m Bryn. Bryn Davis. I, ah …” How was she supposed to explain any of this? How top-secret was it, anyway? “I work with Joe. Oh, and this is Mr. French. I promise he’s housebroken. ”
Kylie smiled at the dog, then shook hands. She had fine blue eyes, and Bryn sensed a sharp, lively intelligence behind them. “I never heard him mention you before. ”
Joe appeared in the doorway again with a baby on his hip, comfortably braced in his big arm. “She’s new,” he said. “Honey, take her a minute; I have to lock up the boom sticks. ”
“Jesus, Joe, you’re walking around with her and your guns?” Kylie rolled her eyes and took the little girl, who cooed and nestled against her with more trust than Bryn thought she’d ever had shown to her in her entire life. “Go. Shoo. Get less dangerous. ”
“Impossible,” Joe said. “I’m a
lethal weapon, baby. ”
“Shut up. ”
He blew her a kiss and disappeared again. Kylie jiggled the baby—Juliet—on her hip and exchanged another smile with Bryn. “So,” she said, “he talked you into the heart-attack special, right? I hardly ever let him eat that stuff, which is probably why he’s running late. Here, let me get you a plate; go on into the dining room. ” She raised her voice to a yell. “Jeff, come in here and rinse the dishes!”
“Mooooooom, the show’s starting!”
“It’s recorded, honey; put it on pause and just do what I tell you. ” Kylie handed Bryn a plate, picked up the food and drink, and followed her into the dining room. It was a warm kind of room, all earth tones and wood, with family photos on the walls. Bryn felt a little odd eating fast food there, until Joe Fideli came back, plunked his own down on the table, and began digging in. Kylie settled in across from him.
Bryn found out quickly that she wasn’t just hungry; she was ravenous. The burger disappeared, and so did the fries. The fizzy sweetness of the Coke tasted so good it almost made her weep.
She didn’t feel quite as dead anymore. Especially when Mr. French stretched himself out in a warm blanket across her feet.
Kylie and Joe chatted about family stuff, occasionally asking her a question or two; it was all unforced and comfortable, and Joe finally got around to telling his wife that he’d invited Bryn to use the guest room. That got another second of hesitation, as if she were trying to figure out his motivations, and then a quick agreement. Kylie got up to fix the room while Joe slurped the last of his drink.
“Do they know?” Bryn asked softly. “I mean, about what you do. ” Whatever that was.
“They know I’m in corporate security,” Joe said. “And that my work is top-secret. So she won’t ask you any questions. She’s just going to assume you’re someone I’m protecting. Which is true. ”
“Do you usually bring people you’re protecting home to meet your family?”
“Not ever,” he said. “Hope you feel special about it. ”
He started to get up from the table. Bryn put a hand on his arm, holding him in place. “Joe. ” She got his full, alert attention. “Thanks. You’re sure I’m not putting anybody in danger by being here?”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You really think I’d bring you within a mile of my kids if I thought there was any chance at all of that? Bryn, you’re a nice girl, and I admit, I got you brought back mostly because I felt I’d let you down. But you ever pose any danger to my family and I’ll make you permanently dead, and I won’t hesitate for a second. ”
She believed him. She let go, and Joe picked up her empties and cleaned up the table, just like a normal guy.
“If I ever did pose a danger to them, I’d want you to do it,” she said. “You’ve got a lovely family. ”
“You say that now; wait until you spend a couple of hours with the little terrors,” he said. “Come on. I owe Jeff a video game or two. ”
Normal life.
Bryn wondered if she would ever have this again, this taste of a future, of life, of family.
Well, she thought, if this is all I get, I might as well enjoy it.
Chapter 4
In the morning, the family had breakfast, and Joe drove Bryn to drop off Mr. French at her apartment, and then to see what was left of Fairview Mortuary.
It was a grim sight. Most of the building was still standing, but the other part was blackened and had collapsed in on itself. The serene little garden out front had been trampled into mush by firefighters and emergency crews.
“When you stage a rescue, you don’t go about it subtly, do you?” she asked. Joe shrugged.
