“You’re a big girl, aren’t you?”
I catch myself and don’t say more. Luckily, Mom doesn’t comment on my momentof weakness.
“Show me around, baby,” Mom says. She reaches for the cane again, and I pick up Ruby. Once Mom is upright, I take her elbow.
I give her the tour of the room, and she gushes. Ruby babbles, and after a few minutes, I hear footsteps. Finch makes it into the sewing room first. She runs around my legs and rubs her head on my pants.
“Oh, calm down,” I whisper to her. She gets on her hind legs and puts her front paws on me. I pat her head, and she barks, so I rub behind her ears.
“See, Finchie, I told you Mommy would come around eventually.” Dax plants a loud kiss on my cheek, but his attention is on Ruby, who extends her arms and starts to bounce.
He quickly takes her and kisses her fat cheeks. Finch runs around him, gets on her hind legs, and rubs her head on his shirt.
“I’m just going to show my mom around this room, and then I’ll make lunch.”
“I’ll order something. Come downstairs when you’re done.” He walks out with Ruby, but Finch doesn’t follow him. Instead, she follows me while I hold my mom’s arm and show her around my sewing room.
Chapter 61
Dax
“What?” I almost snap into the phone. I only calm down because I have Ruby, who is busy pulling the hell out of my ear.
“You have my daughter, and now you think you can talk to me however you want?” Leander snaps. I don’t have time for him or his shit. My nerves are shot. The Brennans got released today, and my guy followed them home.
Two nights from now, the Titans will end the two brothers. I’m not one for that type of justice. That’s not what I do, and it’s not what my business is, but they are dangerous, and I need to take them out before they do it to me.
“Leander, what is this about?” I take a deep breath and hope for patience.
“My son is missing. Did you have anything to do with that?”
“Why on earth would I? That little thief owes me money, and I want it. I suggest you find his sorry ass and drag him home.”
“I need help finding him. He didn’t come home last night, and my wife is worried.”
I rub the bridge of my nose. I have too much to worry about. I don’t need this worthless kid dumped on me now, but I agree.
“Fine. I’ll have someone look for him. I’m adding this to his tab. Might I suggest you get him under control?”
“Don’t tell me how to handle my kid.”
“Are you done?”
“Don’t tell Annette. I lied and told her that Devin said he was going away for a few days.”
I want to say that’s not my problem, but if any of this affects Cori, it’s my business.
“Fine. I have to go.” I abruptly end the call just as my other phone beeps.
It’s a thumbs up from an unknown number. I know who it’s from, and I know what it’s about.
After fishing out the bag of toys I keep hidden in the living room, I set Ruby down to play and order lunch.
“I got us some Jamaican food. I hope you like that, Annette.” I should have asked, but all I considered was that Cori likes it.
“I love anything.” Annette reaches her hand for me. “Please help me to a seat, honey. I think I overdid it.”
I help her settle on the loveseat. Ruby crawls to her grandmother and pulls herself up by holding her skirt. She shows off a stuffed animal before she crawls on Annette’s lap.
