Page 72 of Deadly Conflicts

Sven perked up at the information. “Seriously? How naked are we talking?”

“Watch yourself,” James warned. “That’s my wife and I love her more than anything.”

“You brought it up.”

“Yes, but not because I wanted comments from the peanut gallery,” James said. “I brought it up as an illustration.”

“Are you painting a picture that proves you have a hot wife?” Rodrigo asked.

James rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Maybe. That honestly wasn’t my intention, though.”

“What was your intention?” Grady asked. “I’ve totally lost track of this conversation.”

“That’s probably because all of the sugar you’ve eaten this morning is going to make you blind,” Sven said.

“I liked you better when you didn’t talk,” Grady shot back.

“My point is that Mom and Dad showed up out of nowhere and threw our lives into upheaval,” James said. “I thought it was because they wanted to see the baby, but they’ve barely spent any time with him.”

“What do they do all day?” Rodrigo asked.

“That’s a very good question,” James said. “They take off on outings every afternoon, but I haven’t asked what they’re doing because I’ve been distracted.”

“Are we back to the naked wife part of the conversation?” Sven asked.

“I agree with Grady,” James said, extending a finger. “I liked you better when you didn’t talk, too.”

“Oh, I may cry.”

James growled to let Sven know he meant business. The low-key mobster didn’t appear bothered in the slightest. “I’m saying that Mom and Dad have an agenda. We need to find out what that is.”

“I’m kind of busy with my doughnut,” Grady said. “If you want to investigate that, though, go nuts.”

“You’re going to help,” James said. “I’m going inside and dragging that filthy little computer genius out here so we can get some answers. Start putting the car back together so we can deliver it to Vince as soon as possible. I’m sick of that guy.”

“You’re awfully bossy,” Sven said. “Maybe I don’t want to put the car back together. Did you ever consider that?”

“Are you joking?”

“Perhaps,” Sven replied. “I think I might need more talk about your naked wife when you return. That will probably motivate me.”

“You have the oddest sense of humor,” James muttered.

“I kind of like your sense of humor,” Grady said.

James found Maverick sitting at his kitchen table with a huge pile of pancakes in front of him. He gripped a fork with one hand, a knife with the other, and he held his chin up as Rose tucked a napkin into the collar of his shirt.

“I need to come over here more often,” Maverick said. “Your mother is the best.”

“Did you hear that, James? I’m the best.” Rose’s eyes twinkled.

“I heard it, Mom,” James said. “I agree you’re the best. You’re not supposed to be feeding him, though. He’s here to work.”

“I have been working,” Maverick said, pointing at his computer, which sat on the table in front of him.

“Well, I need you to work harder,” James said. “That means you need to bring the computer back out to the garage and leave my mother to do … whatever it is she’s sneaking off to do these days.”

“I don’t sneak, James,” Rose chided. “And this boy is eating his breakfast. Don’t even think about making him leave before his food has time to digest.”