Selene talks nonstop about ideas, and I listen with half an ear. I look out the window to the back of the building and notice Dax talking on the phone. To the untrained eye, he looks stoic, but his cheek twitches, and I know whatever he’s hearing is upsetting. He hands up the phone, tosses it to the ground, and stomps on it.
He takes a deep breath and walks back toward the door. He finds me moments later in the upstairs loft. If I hadn’t seen him, I would have no idea he was upset. He pulls me into his body and wraps his arms around me from behind.
“I have to go.” He spins me around. “I’ll see you at home.”
I have a billion questions, but I won’t ask them where Selene can hear.
“You’re our ride,” I remind him. “You drove us here.”
“I’ll have Mom pick you up and drive you home.”
As soon as Daxton left, his mother showed up at the boutique. After I showed her around and told her my plans, the three of us had lunch together.
She dropped Selene off, and I expected Haddie to do the same with me, but she parked her car and came inside. I designed a dress to her instructions, and we went through my sewing room to find the correct material. After I took her measurements, we went back to the kitchen.
“I’m thinking of doing a limited line for older brides,” I say while she cooks dinner. I sip my wine and continue. “I would love it if you would be one of my models. I think I’ll also ask my mom and Eden’s.”
“Oh, sweetheart, that sounds amazing. I know whatever you make will be beautiful.”
“Let me show you some of my ideas. I’ll go get my iPad.”
An hour later, I start to set the table while she finishes cooking. The front door opens, and I hear human and canine footsteps.
“Hi, Finchie girl. Daddy missed you. Did Mommy and Grandma take good care of you?”
“I told you not to refer to me as Mommy to that thing,” I yell.
“Who the hell put this tutu on her?” My husband sounds annoyed, and that makes me happy.
Haddie shakes her head and points at me.
“Don’t bring Finch in here, but I need to talk to you about your sister.” Haddie turns to me. “Sweetheart, can you put our dinner on the table for me? I’m gonna walk Finch with Daxton.” She puts her hands on my shoulders and kisses my cheek. “I love you so much.” I blush at her words. I notice Dax leaning on the wall at the kitchen’s entrance. He has Finch on a leash. “Good job picking her as your wife, son. A plus.”
“What grade does Cori get?” He playfully asks.
“C minus.” I cackle, Dax acts offended, and Haddie grins. “I raised you. Thank you for taking him. Just remember, I don’t want him back.”
Chapter 57
Dax
I let Finch off the leash the moment we get to the backyard. She runs around, and I throw a ball at her. She takes it, runs to her favorite corner, and starts digging.
“Everything okay with Josie?” I ask.
“Your sister’s fine. What happened?”
“The Brennans had their business raided. It was a day after they received a shipment, and the police took them into custody.”
Mom nods her head and exhales. “Good. And who is going to handle them?”
“The Titans will take care of that part. I’m sure the Brennans will get bail eventually. Once they’re home, that’s it.”
“Not the wives or children,” Mom warns. She sighs. “I hate that it came to this. Violence has no place in this business. I made that clear with Neal when he started. When he died, and we took over, it was my one rule. That’s why this has worked.That’s why we had to stop working with the Titans in the first place. Now, we’re in bed with them again.”
She paces, so when she walks past me, I wrap my hand around her wrist.
“Mom, it will be okay.”
