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“Because I worked out a deal with the administration that I could work ten-hour shifts instead of twelve, and I could work during the day. I took a pay cut for it, which she doesn’t know about, but she’s decided that I’m getting special favors.”
“Of the…” I stopped myself right before I said the wrong thing in front of the kid. “Um…toy variety.”
She looked at me funny, but followed my eyes to Parker and got the hint. “Yeah, she thinks I’m getting toys.”
“I haven’t seen any new toys, Mama.”
“That’s because I didn’t get any,” Skylar said, her eyes lighting with humor. “How much do I owe you for the repairs?”
She stood and walked over to the counter, taking down the jar that I had seen Rico take from the other day. She was going to be disappointed when she saw he took what was inside.
“Uh, you know, don’t worry about it.”
“I don’t even know you. I can’t accept such a big favor.”
I was about to stop her, but she’d already taken off the lid. I saw the panic wash across her face as she stared inside. Her whole body started to tremble, and she leaned against the counter for support. I was up in a matter of seconds, storming across the space.
“What is it?”
“Um…” She blinked rapidly, but it didn’t fight back the tears that were quickly forming in those beautiful eyes. “It’s gone,” she croaked out.
I tipped the jar in my direction. He had completely wiped her out. “How much did you have?”
“Everything,” she whispered. “It was…” She shook her head, replacing the lid before setting it slowly on the counter.
“Who had access to your house?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
I wasn’t sure it was a great idea for her to know that Rico took the money. If she went after him, it could end badly. But it wasn’t like I could hide the fact that the money was gone. If I had thought about it sooner, I would have stuffed some money in there, but I had no idea how much was missing.
Clearly distressed, she turned away from me, pressing her hand to her mouth.
“Mama, what’s wrong?” Parker asked.
She quickly swiped at her face, turning to him with a smile. “Nothing. I just got something in my eye and it burned.”
“Your pizza is getting cold.”
“I know,” she smiled, sitting down at the table.
I walked back and sank down in my chair, watching her closely. My heart thudded in my chest with every second that passed. I hated seeing her like this, staring at the table as if she’d lost everything. It did something to me that I’d never felt for a woman before. I wanted to protect her and tell her everything would be fine, but I wasn’t in the position to help her, not without blowing my cover.
I didn’t touch a bite of the food as Parker chattered on, telling us about his day. Skylar tried to pay attention, but she was distraught. Maybe I could slip the money back inside and…and what? I didn’t know how much she was missing, and since I was here when she discovered it was gone, she might assume it was me who took it.
Why did I even fucking care? My life had been torn inside out for this job. The last thing I needed to be worrying about was this woman and her kid. I had to focus on getting the information I needed to take down Baz. Anything else was just distracting and unnecessary, no matter what Rae said.
I tossed my napkin on the table and stood. “I think I should go.”
I didn’t even bother saying goodbye to them. I walked out the door and stomped over to my house, glaring at the dark figure I saw standing on the stoop where my team had just moved in. I couldn’t tell if it was Johnny or Jason, but they had eyes on me, and they would be watching my every move from now on.
The explosion shook the house,jerking me awake from where I’d finally passed out on the couch. “Skylar,” I whispered, running to the door and throwing it open without even bothering to put on shoes. Myfeet ate up the grass to her house as I watched the house next to hers lit up like the Fourth of July.
“Skylar!” I shouted, banging on the door. When she didn’t immediately answer, I slammed my shoulder into the door, then stepped back and rammed it again. The lock busted open and I rushed inside. “Skylar!”
I could hear Parker’s cries from the living room and ran down the hallway to his room. Skylar was wrapped around him, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay, baby. We have to go.”
I rushed inside and picked him up in my arms, then grabbed her hand and pulled her through the house. Parker’s hands wrapped around my neck, squeezing me tight as he cried into my neck. The kid was terrified, and I couldn’t blame him.
I dragged them through the night to my house, not stopping until we were in the safety of my living room. Skylar pulled Parker out of my arms and walked around with him, trying to calm him down. I couldn’t stop staring at her, thinking about how that could have been them. It was only one house away. They could have been injured…or died.
