“No, one more kid. He’s twelve, Matteo befriended him at school.”
“Oh, yeah! I heard about that. Matteo’s a good person.”
She nodded at the same time Matteo shouted, “Bri!”
The two of us turned and saw this Bri…and the person walking in with him flanked by two of my guys.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” I whispered.
“Is that?” Rita huffed.
“Bri is Briar Calvern, you didn’t know?”
Rita shook her head. “I hadn’t met the kid yet. I don’t think Matteo knows who his parents are.”
Monica Calvern seemed nervous as she shuffled up to us. Briar was a scrawny kid with glasses, awkward and innocent. I wasn’t going to ruin Matteo’s birthday.
Once Briar and Matteo were away from us, Monica opened her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who Matteo was. Briar only said his first name, and I was just so happy he’d made a friend I…please, just let him have some time, and then we’ll leave.”
I observed Monica Calvern. She was gorgeous, but there was something different about her than the last time I saw her. She wore huge sunglasses, long sleeves, which normally wouldn’t be odd in October, but we were getting unusually warmer weather currently. Her makeup, well, her foundation was thick, discolored slightly by her left cheekbone and her lips were naked, dry. I knew exactly what I was looking at.
“It’s fine, Monica. He can stay, as can you.”
I couldn’t see her eyes from here, but there was no hiding the shock. “Oh, well, thank you, Mr. Hendrix.”
“There’s an adult tent over there.” Rita pointed.
Monica thanked Rita and walked, somewhat awkwardly, to it. I nodded at my guys and they went back to their posts.
“You were nice,” Rita said.
“I’m not a detective, Rita, but it didn’t take a badge to deduce that Monica Calvern has felt her husband’s anger.”
“He hits her?”
I nodded. “I believe so. Watch how she walks, gingerly. Her makeup, huge glasses, long sleeves in warm weather.”
Rita’s eyes widened. “Carajo.”
“Fuck indeed.” I watched her in the tent; Mila was talking with her. I wasn’t sure she knew who she was, but that was Mila for you.
“What are you going to do?”
I hated where my mind was going, but this was huge. “I think maybe, just maybe, we might find an ally in Mrs. Calvern.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Penn
I’d gone abouttwelve rounds on the go-karts, built a plasma spider with Matteo—who was currently racing it with his friends—and I’d helped distribute enough cotton candy to induce vomiting. I needed a break. I meandered to the adult tent for a cold beer. Rita’s iced teas were amazing, but I needed a little alcohol at this point.
As I brought the bottle to my lips, I glanced to the right. What the fuck was Monica Calvern doing here? I spun, and not far away were Gideon and Dean. His eyes locked with mine, and he gestured for me to come over.
“What’s happening?” I whispered.
“I want you to look at Monica, really look, and tell me what you see.”
It was an odd thing to ask, but I did as he wanted and observed the woman. She was talking with Rita and another mother. She had insanely large sunglasses on—which, fair, it was sunny out. She wore expensive clothes…I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be looking for until Rita swung her arms up whiletelling a story that I noticed Monica flinched and stepped away from her. She placed a hand on her chest. While I couldn’t see her full expression, the fear was evident.
