Page 94 of Discretion at Its Finest

“He didn’t say that,” I replied quickly, too instinctively. “He couldn’t have.”

“Genevieve—”

“Alex, I need to see him.”

“He’s not just down at a local NYPD holding cell,” Alexander said, jaw tightening. “Getting to him is complicated.”

“And I’m sure moving five hundred million dollars was just a walk in the park for you then?”

He quickly glanced around before his eyes narrowed on me. “Lower your voice.”

“And I will. If you can take me to see him.”

“I don’t know how he deals with you,” he muttered.

I didn’t reply. I was still holding myself together by threads, bracing for the worst, and he must have seen it alongside the desperation and determination burning under my skin.

He looked at me for a long moment, assessing, calculating, and maybe, underneath it, pitying me. I couldn’t say I cared much at that moment. I only cared about one thing.

Finally, with a resigned exhale, he spoke: “Fine… I’ll pull some strings.”

Coming home from Eugene’s soccer game, I felt relieved and hesitant all at the same time. I wasn’t sure if the new“happy couple”would be home. Could I even call them that? It wasn’t like there was a formal announcement that I’d become the mistress in the last month, but I could feel Cheryl slipping my spot in this family from under me. From facing Raymond’s scrutiny to Reid being in prison to Gregory barely giving me or Eugene the time of day, I felt like an outsider in my own home.

Opening the door, I directed a distracted Eugene inside as his eyes stayed locked onto a butterfly fluttering around nearby.

“Inside, Lovebug, come on,” I coaxed him gently, and he huffed, hopping inside recklessly before he let go of my hands, sprinting in.

“GRANDMA!”

My eyes snapped up to see Jamie rolling in on a wheelchair, her smile lighting up the room as my son threw himself into her embrace carelessly.

“Eugene! Careful!” I said, my heart skipping a beat.

Jamie laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, you got so big!” she gasped, peppering kisses over his cheek as he climbed all over her like she was a jungle gym.

“You have wheels?” he whispered in awe. “Awesome.” He flipped himself halfway upside down over her arm. “Can I have a ride?”

“Well—” Jamie began, already smitten.

“You cannot take your grandmother for a ride,” I cut in, grabbing him by the shirt like a feral cat and setting him upright.

He turned to her instantly. “Can I, Grandma?”

“I’ll think about it. But first: bath time,” she instructed, and he sprinted off in excitement.

I looked over at Jamie, who was already smiling up at me. “You’re going to spoil him to death,” I muttered, crouching low as I pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her frail arms around me, pulling me tight.

“Like you don’t do that already,” she chuckled, and I could only let out a soft smile as I rested my head on her shoulder. Her hand ran down my back, caressing me gently as I clung to her.

“I’m so happy you’re back,” I couldn’t help but breathe out.

“I’m right here, sweetheart.”

The hug lingered longer than it probably needed to, and when I pulled away, Jamie’s hands cupped my cheeks, her soft fingers wiping away the tears I didn’t even realize had fallen. “Come, let’s talk.”

We made our way up the stairs, me gradually helping her with each step, and she lingered nearby as I gave Eugene a quick bath. In his room, I dressed him in his PJs, my mind elsewhere as I rubbed his little elbows and knees with lotion. When I finished, he darted over to his toy corner.

It was silent for a moment, my hands smoothing the non-existent wrinkles in Eugene’s blanket on my lap as I sat at the end of the bed. “Reid’s in federal custody…” I murmured, low, and she hummed in acknowledgement.