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She holds her hand up to silence me. “You don’t have to explain it to me.”
My cheeks heat which they seem to be doing a lot of these days.
“I put that together last night,” Oracle says, pointing to the shelving unit I need for supplies. “Next on the list are these shelves. Any idea where they need to go?”
We set to work and I do my best to keep my mind in the right place. But knowing Vincent is right outside in the garage makes it hard to concentrate. I now know why so many of the couples around here are in a rush to get their daily tasks over with, so they can be back in the arms of the one they can’t resist.
Chapter 31
Stormy
“We’re not going to be out here long enough for that,” I tell Jace when he asks if he can jump into the pool. “Plus, you’re not in your swim trunks.”
The older boy frowns, disappointed, but isn’t going to argue. I can see Luca’s little mind working as he tries to figure out a way to get around the rules. I grin because that one is going to be a handful when he really comes into himself.
“There’s a washing machine here, right?”
My smile grows wider. “Yes, but we aren’t swimming in our clothes, Luca.”
He frowns, his eyes narrowing because I had the audacity to predict what his arguing point was going to be.
It’s been two weeks since Mila and I reconnected after Albuquerque. Although she gets in her head on occasion, it’s been two of the best weeks of my life. I never pictured myself in this scenario, one where I set an alarm on my phone so I can be outside with the boys while they’re on recess. Well, Jace is on recess because he’s started back to school.
We spend a lot of time outside. The boys love the freedom of getting to run around and play. Much to Mila’s disdain, Sutton likes to dig in the dirt. I will say that Em made it very enticing with her little mud pie kitchen that’s fully stocked with pots and pans, silicone molds and every kitchen utensil imaginable.
“Okay,” Luca counters. “What if we—”
His words drop away when my phone rings.
“Give me just a minute, bud,” I tell him as I pull it from my pocket and glance at Hound.
“I’ll keep an eye on them,” he says without me having to ask.
“He’ll jump into the pool,” I warn.
He waves me away. “I know how to watch kids. Take your call.”
The call goes to voicemail before I can answer it, but I recognize the number.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Dobbs,” I say when he answers, my gut clenching.
I haven’t heard from him since the last time we spoke in St. Louis. I didn’t even tell him of my plans to bring Mila and the kids back to New Mexico. The fewer people who know the better, and it’s honestly none of his business.
“I have bad news.” He sighs as if what he has to say has any bearing on him. “Well, sort of bad news. No, it’s bad news.”
“If you could just say it, then I can begin to work on a resolution.”
“The Clarkes’ house was set on fire last night. It’s a total loss.”
“When you say set on fire—”
“Arson,” he clarifies. “Accelerant was used and the fire investigator found evidence of Molotov cocktails inside.”
My jaw clenches. Keres is a hundred percent responsible for this. There isn’t a doubt in my mind.
“You said sort of bad news. What makes a family’s home burning to the ground sort of bad news?”
