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“That’s different. They call for us.” I suppose she’s right there. We don’t approach them.
I’m about to say something more when I hear the front door open and close. I stand from my seat and walk over to see Cam walking in with a bloody lip.
“You good?” I ask him. He reaches up and wipes the blood on the back of his hand before nodding and walking to his room. I blow out a breath. I knew this was going to be hard on them. I knew moving around so much was going to take a toll on them,but what else could I do? I can’t let Dave find us. I won’t let him near the boys ever again.
5
Knight
Fucking kids. There’s a reason I don’t have any kids, and that’s why. They get into too much trouble. Besides, I’m only twenty-eight, and I don’t need any kids running around just yet. In my eyes, I still have plenty of time. I like to live my life and do what the hell I please. I don’t know where Cage’s head was when he decided to trick his old lady into a kid.
I scrub my hand over my face as I light up a cigarette and turn my head to look next door. She must have her hands full with those two boys. I suppose I’m not making it that much easier on her with all my bitching, either. Shaking my head, I blow smoke into the sky when I see her walking toward me. If she’s coming to bitch me out over dealing with her kid, she’s picking the wrong guy on the wrong night.
“Hey,” she greets me softly.
“Hey.”
“I just wanted to say thank you for helping with that little fight earlier.”
“Not a big deal, lady.”
“Lyra. My name is Lyra,” she says.
“I’m Knight, but you already knew that.” She nods her head. “Like I said, no big deal, Lyra.”
“I’m sorry my kids bother you so much. I’m going to talk to them about that,” she adds. I see the lost look on her face, and it intrigues me. I know that look. Is she running from something?
“It’s all good, darlin’. They’re just bein’ kids. I just get home late and sleep light,” I tell her. Why the hell am I telling her? I shouldn’t give a shit. I should be going off on her about her little heathens being so damn loud, and here I am, just letting it go.
“It’s not okay. They shouldn’t be doing that, and I’ll make sure they stop,” she tells me.
“Just you and the kids?” I ask, changing the subject on her. I want to know more. I’m a nosey motherfucker when it comes to my neighbors. I know little Miss Weaver, on the other side, is eighty-one and has lived by herself since her husband passed away three years ago. I know the man across the street looks out for her all the time, too. The family next to them is quiet, even their two kids. But her? I don’t know anything about her, and it’s time I start digging.
“Yeah, just us. As I said, I’ll deal with them.” Then she turns and starts to walk away, but I stop her.
“Where’s their dad?” She stops dead in her tracks, slowly turning to face me. I see the way her eyes narrow and her chest heaves slightly. Now I’m interested and want to know what the fuck is going on.
“He’s not around.”
“Divorce?” I ask. She licks her lips and shifts on her feet. I know whatever it is, she doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Something like that. I’m sorry I don’t make it a point to talk to strangers about my personal life,” she snaps at me. I shove off the step I’d been sitting on and walk toward her. When I’m close enough, I lean down into her space.
“I’m Knight. We’re neighbors,” I tell her.
“And I still don’t know you,” she reminds me. I smile, and I hear her suck in a breath.
“Smart girl. When you’re runnin’ from somethin’, you don’t give anything away.”
“Who said I was running from anything?”
“I know girls like you.”
“Women. I’m not a girl,” she adds, catching me by surprise.
“Is that right? I could have you beggin’ for me on your knees like a little girl. I bet I could break a woman like you, Lyra.”
“Not interested.” Now I smile again.
