TJ padded into the kitchen, his feet bare. Sweats and a thin sweater were all he’d put on, with Cody leering at him. “I’m supposed to eat knowing you’re freeballing it?”
“If you’re lucky, I’ll let you play with them later.”
Cody grinned. “Look at you getting in on the dirty talk.”
TJ felt his face heat up and groaned. “Stop.”
“Nah ah! Not gonna happen. I like seeing you like this. Hmm, this looks good.” Cody stirred the contents in the pan, then ladled some into two bowls.
“What is it?” TJ asked as he sat at the table.
“Mama’s beef casserole.” Cody placed the bowl in front of him, then sat. “Tuck in.”
TJ ate half the bowl before looking up to find Cody watching him. “It’s really good.”
“I know. It got me through many dark days when I was recovering. The stick. Any good?”
“I gave it to Miles, who did his thing and told me it was a goldmine and no wonder we couldn’t fix shit. Taylor has it now, who is our numbers guy, and I have a meeting with the local judge. It’s enough for us to investigate, but we need to keep it quiet.”
“So, you can get more up-to-date evidence.”
TJ paused then said, “Cody, Cass is your father. This will affect your mom and Cassie.”
Cody sat back and stared out of the window. “I know, but it needs to be done. I don’t want this hanging over me, knowing what he’s done. We share blood. Nothing more. I was never the son he wanted, and I grew to realize that while I was recovering. It’s the way things are. I knew that for certain when I went to visit him, and I’m okay with it. I have a family who loves me for who I am, and one day you’ll get to meet them. I can’t wait for you to ride Freya.”
“Freya. You mentioned her. That she found you.”
“A horse. She’d somehow escaped the barn she stays in with the other horses. Made her way to me. It was because of her they found me. She has a temper, but with me she’s always calm. Jed said she was mine, as I was the only one she would tolerate riding her.”
“You miss them.”
“They’re my family, like you. They’re only a couple of hours down the road. Anyway, the stick. You’ll speak to a judge?”
“That was some change of subject, but yes. I’ll see him tomorrow, hopefully. Show him what we have, and he shouldauthorize us to monitor their systems. Trace money transfers. Once we have enough, we can arrest them.” TJ placed his spoon in his bowl. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” So strong and sure. “He broke the law, and he needs to pay for it. And if there is any fallout, I’ll have you by my side.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Cody
After leaving therapy, Cody slowly walked toward town. Another good session with Darcy, but going over the past, revisiting those wounds, even if they had healed, left Cody with some lingering pain. He’d become used to it. The sessions ultimately helped, and so he continued with them. Walking into the main part of town, Cody noticed Cassie ahead of him.
He slowed, unsure if they should speak, but the decision wasn’t his to make. Cassie saw him and smiled. A huge grin lit up her face, and she ran over to him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. Cody instinctively hugged her back, and she laughed, squeezing him tight.
“Cody! I’m so glad you’re back.” She leaned back and kissed his cheek. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“We barely spoke.”
Cassie rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Cody’s. “You lived there. Do as they say or else? Emily is on my ass twenty-four-seven and don’t get me talking about Cass. God, Ihate him. Why did Emily have to shack up with him? I have half his DNA!”
Cody stared down at Cassie and now knew how TJ had felt when Cody reappeared in his life, looking very different from how he’d left. He remembered Cassie as this small girl who did everything Emily wanted, and now she was like this? He needed to apologize to TJ when he saw him later.
“Okay. You were a mini Emily when I left and you rarely, if ever, spoke to me. How did you miss me so much?” Cassie tugged on his arm and steered him toward one of the busier coffee shops. Cody slowed, muttering, “people don’t know I’m back.”
“Then they should, and I did miss you, but Emily told me not to talk to you because of your predilections. Like being gay is something you choose and prefer. Though maybe you do, ‘cause I guess vaginas are out for you.”
Cody would buy the best steak and cook it for TJ. Naked. He would do it naked. “That would be right.”
