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“Not yet,” Burke said. “I called him back to the office for another client’s case, but he said he could run the searches on Rick’s dates at the same time.”
A clearing of a throat got their attention. Patty stood behind them, smoothing her apron. “Dinner is ready whenever you are. It’s not fancy, but we heard y’all had a trying day, so we decided to pitch in to make it a little better.”
Val gave her friend a hug. “Thank you. You’re the best.”
“And what am I?” MaryBeth yelled from the kitchen. “Chopped liver?”
“You’re all the best,” Val said with a laugh. “And I’m starving. It’s been hours since the last time you fed me. Elijah, give me a hand in setting the table?”
Elijah ran to her side, eager to help, and Kaj saw a future for them—his son and Val, blond heads together, setting the table for a family dinner. His family.
Which was silly. He had no right dreaming of such things after only a few days. But his brain’s logic wasn’t convincing his heart. He’d have to wait and see.
Elijah eyed Kaj warily as he set out the flatware. “Was that about me?”
“No,” Kaj said. “Not directly, anyway. It was about Jace.” Jace already sat at the table, staring down at his cuffed hands in his lap, the picture of resigned dejection. He didn’t look up, wouldn’t meet Kaj’s eyes. “You’ll be staying with us at least one more night, Jace.”
Jace’s chin shot up, his eyes wide and so hopeful that Kaj’s chest hurt. “Thank you, Mr.Cardozo,” he said, so very quietly that Kaj barely heard him.
Elijah relaxed, a smile tilting his lips. “Thanks, Dad. Can you uncuff him? Burke said we couldn’t until you said it was okay.”
“Elijah,” Jace said quietly. “It’s fine. I understand why your dad is afraid. As long as I don’t have to go back to Corey and he can’t find me, I’m okay with the handcuffs.”
Either the boy was sincere, or he was playing them. Kaj still didn’t know.
They sat down at the table—Burke handcuffed to Jace so that the boy had a free hand to eat—and dug into the dinner so kindly prepared by Val’s friends. Everyone seemed at ease, laughing as MaryBeth animatedly described the time that Val had chased down a purse snatcher in the Quarter, taking him down with a classic roller derby move. Elijah was enthralled and Jace was looking at Val like she was Wonder Woman.
Kaj glanced at Val over Elijah’s head, simply enjoying watching her smile. His skin warmed as he remembered that kiss in the garage. He’d forgotten how soft lips could be and how good it felt to be held. To be wanted. It was if the floodgates had opened, the need he’d shoved down for so many years rushing forth to steal his breath.
He couldn’t wait to get her alone so that he could kiss her again.
As if feeling his gaze, she met his eyes. Her cheeks turned the most becoming shade of pink and she quickly looked away, but not before all three of her friends noticed. As did Burke.
All four of them stared at him. He just smiled and dug into his dinner.
16
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 8:45 P.M.
I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU had shrimp and grits without me,” Antoine groused from Val’s laptop screen. Burke had outside watch duty, so she’d been working at Kaj’s dining room table, rereading Sandra Springfield’s file when Antoine had surprised her with a Skype call.
Not wanting anyone to hear what Antoine was calling her about, she slipped an earbud into one of her ears and plugged the cord into her laptop. “We saved you some, you big baby.”
He brightened at that. “Write my name on it so Phin doesn’t eat it tomorrow when he comes to finish the safe room.”
“I already wrote your name on one of the containers. The other is for Phin.”
Antoine narrowed his eyes. “They’d better both be huge containers.”
“Patty took care of you guys. There’s plenty. Now what’s up?”
Antoine sobered. “I heard about the safe house attack. Did you tell Jace?”
Val sighed. “Yeah. After the girls went home.”
Antoine’s expression softened with compassion. “How’s he holding up?”
