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Chapter Fifty-eight
Alia couldn’t stop hugging Kean. She was so proud of him. Once they’d left the marina, Kean had gone over to speak to Libby and Les, who’d stood by waiting.
She’d watched him pass over the kitten, and saw Les grin and nod. Libby had crouched down and given Kean a hug that he’d returned. Then they’d waved their goodbyes and mounted a motorcycle, taking Kean’s pet with them.
By the time Sloan had thanked the officer who’d been waiting in the background and they’d gotten in her car, she’d gladly handed over the keys for Sloan to drive. With Kean on her knee held close, the seatbelt wrapped around them both, the three of them made their way through the traffic.
Sloan looked over to them. “Thanks, son. You didn’t have to hand over the kitten. I understand that she meant a lot to you.”
Kean’s head rested against his mother’s chest, his eyes droopy. “Not as much as you mean, Sloan. Kitty can’t help making you sneeze. I asked Les to look after her for Roy… for when he gets out of the hospital.” He looked up at Alia. “Can we go and see Roy now?”
Alia glanced over to Sloan and saw him shake his head ever so slightly. “Not now, babe. We’ll go later when Roy’s awake. It’s still really very early and I think we all need to go home and try and catch a few hours’ sleep.”
Kean snuggled closer to her, his little-boy’s voice full of the compliance and trust that she knew best. “Okay.”
Her curiosity lit up and she wanted to settle the issue now so they’d never have to refer to this night again. “I need to ask you one thing, Kean? How come you went with Paul last night?”
“He’s my dad.”
She couldn’t hide her shock. “Yes. But you didn’t know him. You were a little baby last time he was with us.”
“No. He came to my school sometimes and we talked. He showed me a family picture. I was small, and he had his arms around you, and you were holding me. I thought he liked us.”
“But when he took you last night, weren’t you kind of shocked?”
“I was sleepy, and he said you wanted me to go with him and he was bringing me to where you were. So I didn’t stop him. He even let me bring Kitty.”
Sloan hadn’t said anything, but now he broke in. “What happened? When we got there, you were fighting with him.”
“He slapped Kitty and yelled at me when I told him I wasn’t going anywhere with him until Mom got there. He got so mad at me that I kicked him, and when he stuck his finger in my face I bit it.”
Sloan grinned at Alia. “He’s definitely your son.”
At this point, Kean looked up into her face. “Am I in trouble for biting, Mom? I know it’s bad, but he scared me.”
Alia hugged him, raining kisses on his hair and cheeks, her usual reserve totally forgotten. “You have my permission to bite any bas… anyone who tries to take you away from me. And kick him too.”
Kean giggled and nestled closer. His long eyelids drifted to his cheeks and his breathing evened out.
Sloan’s hand reached out to smooth Kean’s overly long hair away from his eyes. “I need to take him to my barber as soon as I find the time to go myself.”
Alia smiled at him, a sob very close. His gentleness made the inevitable tears that still lingered return.
Sloan took her hand, his thumb smoothing her skin gently. “Right now, all I want to do is take you home, put you both in my bed and have all three of us get some much needed sleep. Then we’ll take Kean for breakfast and go pick up Roy. Are you game?”
She squeezed his hand. “That sounds like heaven.”
“Unfortunately I need to ask you a question first, and I know you won’t like it.”
She stiffened at his serious tone. “Try me.”
“I need you to tell me your Cassie’s address.”
“You’re kidding me. Right?”
“Not even a little.” The look in his eyes said it all. He was as serious as a bullet in the chest.
“You know I can’t tell you that information. I’ve explained that we keep the police away from the kids for a reason. If we didn’t, the word would get out and no one would trust us again. We’d lose our creds, and all the work the women have put into helping those street kids will be for nothing.”
