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“Do you know why they happen?”
“There’s a few different reasons. I’m guessin’ last night was stress.”
“That makes sense.”
“You think your sister will tell your parents?” I asked her again.
“I doubt it.”
“Oh, good, you’re up,” my mom said from the doorway. “Hungry? I made pancakes.”
“I’m hungry,” Esther replied, leaning around me.
“Well, come on,” my mom ordered, walking away.
Esther pulled out a pair of sweatpants that I was pretty sure I’d never worn before and I pulled them on with a T-shirt before following her to the kitchen. Mom was the only one home since it was a fucking Tuesday and everyone else was either at school or work.
“Fuck, I need to get to the garage,” I muttered as I dropped onto a stool at the bar.
Mom laughed. “Yeah, right. You’ve got the day off, turbo.”
“Did someone grab my phone last night?”
“It’s in my purse,” Esther said, hurrying back out of the kitchen.
“Dad said to keep your eyes open,” Mom said quietly after Esther was out of earshot. “There’s been some movement this morning, and he thinks that whatever’s going to happen will happen soon.”
“Here you go,” Esther called as I nodded at mom.
“Thanks, sugar,” I said, grabbing the phone from her. No missed calls.
I drank coffee with breakfast like I’d never have it again, and about three cups later, I was feeling mostly human again. I needed to be on my game if the Sons of Calgary were going to be moving those guns. I also needed to figure out how I was going to keep Esther safe now that her sister knew she was alive and living with me. A plan formed as Esther and my mom talked quietly about the doctor appointment she’d set up.
“Hey, Ma.”
“Hey, Otto,” she replied jokingly.
“Can Esther hang here with you while I work?”
“You’re going to work?” Esther asked in surprise.
“Of course,” my mom answered at the same time. “I’d enjoy the company.”
“Thanks.” I turned to Esther. “I need to go in.”
“Can you run me home first?” she asked apologetically. “I packed clothes for you last night, but I forgot to get anything for me.”
I glanced at my phone. Still nothing. “Sure.”
We borrowed my mom’s SUV and agreed that Esther would drive it back over to my parents’ house after she’d changed and got ready for the day. I felt the tension leave my shoulders, knowing that she’d be safe over there while I went to the club and got an update on what was happening. I knew I could call, but I was pretty sure my dad would blow me off, knowing that I probably still wasn’t feeling great.
“It’ll only take me a few minutes,” Esther assured me as I parked in front of the house.
“All good, baby,” I replied, scanning the property as I followed her out of the car and up the porch steps. Nothing seemed out of place, but I didn’t like being exposed. I stood at Esther’s back as she keyed in the lock code and hurried her inside once the door was open.
As she took off her shoes and set down her purse, I hurried through the house. I didn’t have time to check the basement, so I locked the door instead before jogging up the stairs. The house was empty.
“What are you doing?” Esther asked curiously as I closed the nursery door.
