5. Eva #2
That did make me feel better. Maybe it shouldn’t, but I needed that reassurance that he wasn’t still lost like when he came home after killing Rafe. So, I took a deep breath and focused on the future.
“So, what’s the plan?”
He shrugged, glancing away. “There’s nothing for me to do at the moment. I just have to wait it out until I get some signal from him.”
“And you’ll know it, right? I mean, I don’t know how you’re communicating with him, but he’d let you know if he needed help, right?”
“Yeah,” he said after a moment. “He has a way to let me know he needs help.”
At least there was that. “I just?—”
The back door flung open and Fox came strolling in, a huge grin on his face as he rushed over to Knight.
“It’s The Kamau! Man, you should have told me you were going out of town. I could have gone with you. We could have been travel buddies.”
“I needed to go alone.”
Fox rolled his eyes exaggeratedly and scoffed. “You were never really alone. Do you think I’d let you leave my sight now that you’re home? I was there with you the whole time, not that you knew it. I swear, I didn’t try on your shoes this time.”
Knight kept his face cool and even as he stared at the Funyuns-loving man in front of us. “That’s a relief,” he deadpanned.
“Well, I figured I’d give you some space while you conducted business. I’m not saying it hurt that you didn’t think to include me in your plans, but you know you can trust me. I have your back. By the way, that deodorant you use is new. I like the way it works, though. And the smell is amazing.”
I bit back a smile as Knight held his temper. “You tried on my deodorant?”
“Well, I mean, I had to know what you smelled like. It’s the only way to properly mimic you. But hey, I swiped it down before I put it back. I didn’t want things to be weird.”
Knight’s controlled eyes flicked to mine, and for just a moment, showed a hint of vulnerability. “Right.”
He was definitely changing deodorants by tomorrow.
“So, now that Cashola is gone, are you taking over the role of protector of the family?”
Knight glared at him. “How about a little sensitivity?”
Fox’s gaze swiveled to mine and he winced. “Right. I bet you want to be the protector of the family. After all, I did train you. It’s not like you’re not capable. I just thought having a man around the house would help.”
“Knight has his own family,” I answered. “Besides, I don’t need a man to take care of me.”
“Well, sure, but Cash would definitely want someone watching over you.”
“Then why did you blow him up?” I snapped, feeling a little more on edge.
“Out of respect for my man, Knight.” He frowned as he looked at me. “Was that not okay?”
“Fox, why would it be okay for you to blow up my husband?”
“He did Knight wrong. I thought we all agreed on this.”
“I don’t recall you asking for my input when you ran out of here to blow up my husband.”
He frowned, his head bouncing as he thought through things. “That’s odd. I know I talked to you in my head.”
“Well, the message didn’t get through,” I snarled.
It wasn’t fair to take out my anger on Fox. Not when my husband was actually alive and well, but this is what angry Eva would do.
“Can we keep on point?” Knight gritted out.
“Right,” Fox winked. “Don’t spend all our time talking about the man you admire. So, anyway, our boy Cashina?—”
“Cashina was supposed to be the name of Rae’s firstborn child,” I corrected.
“And she didn’t do that,” Fox scoffed. “Can you believe it? I would kill to have my kid named after Cash.” He stiffened as he glanced at Knight. “I mean, after you, of course. The little lady wasn’t on board with it, though.”
“I’m touched,” Knight muttered, earning a smile from me.
“So,” Fox said, jumping to his feet. He started rooting around in my cabinets for food as he talked.
“I was thinking about this whole conundrum with Cash. I think we need to find a way to honor the late boss while also not offending our new leader. By the way, now that Cash is officially kaput, I think it might be time to think of finding a replacement for Lock. You know, liven the place up a bit.”
“And who would you suggest?”
He snagged some chips, a bowl, sour cream, relish, and milk, setting it all down on the table. “Well, not that I’m biased, but I think Max would be a great choice.”
“Max,” I repeated as he poured all the contents into the bowl. “Drunken Max, who is rarely sober and functioning.”
Fox nodded, scooping all his stuff around in the bowl before taking a big bite and groaning. “Oh God. Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He chewed a few times before continuing. “Think about it. He’s fun, but he also goes to church. That shows the ability to put someone else above him.”
“His wife,” I pointed out. “I’m not sure how that would help the company.”
“Right, I guess I could see your point. However, I think you’re missing the bigger picture.”
“Which is?” I asked as he shoved another spoonful in his mouth.
“He’s—gottabland—and the—pwane—know?”
I had no idea what he just said as he chewed on the most disgusting concoction I’d ever seen, but I went with it.
“Right, I see your point.”
He grinned wide at me before taking another bite.
“But it’s not going to happen. I like Lock being in charge. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
Fox whined, his shoulders drooping as he pouted. “But he has all those charts! I can’t fill out another fucking spreadsheet.” His eyes bounced around the table to Knight. “How about The Kamau?”
“No,” Knight answered instantly. “I have a job.”
“Right, but you don’t have this job,” Fox laughed.
“And I’m not going to.”
“Now, just hang on a minute. Before you say no, you have to really consider the possibilities. Think of all the training you could get in.”
“I already train a team.”
“Right, but you’re out here. It’s a new team.”
“You train the team,” Knight retorted.
“Right…” Fox frowned, still trying to come up with something.
“We’re not taking Lock out of the leadership position. I don’t care how many spreadsheets you have to fill out. He stays.”
I got up to pour myself some coffee, holding up a cup in offering to Knight. At his nod, I poured him a cup while Fox continued to pout about it.
“Tell me this, if I had suggested someone else, would you have gone for it?”
I pretended to think about it. “Who would you have suggested?”
“Zoe,” he said without thought.
“Nope.”
“Rats!”
“Lock is the right choice.”
“I knew I should have gone with IRIS.”
I barked out a laugh at that. “Trust me, this company does not need any more explosives.”
“Yeah, alright,” Fox grumbled. “But we’d definitely be having more fun. Do you have any idea how boring it is to protect some damsel in distress on the run?”
“You mean like me?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
His eyes widened and he shook his head. “No! I mean, you weren’t a damsel, and…well, you were fun.”
“Uh-huh. Nice save.”
He literally sagged in relief. Like I could actually be mad at Fox. He was probably the closest thing I had to family around here. Even closer than Izzy. I’d just known him longer. He understood me in a way that no one besides Cash did.
“Well, I guess since The Kamau isn’t taking over, that means you’re heading home soon?”
My gaze flicked to Knight’s, but I hid the questions, not wanting to give away the fact that I knew what Knight was really up to.
“Yeah, I’ll be heading out soon.”
“Cool. Well, you have my number. I’ll just be hanging around, twiddling my thumbs as I await your call.”
“You’re first on my speed dial.”
Fox’s eyes grew impossibly big, and I was pretty sure I saw a tear in there. “Seriously?”
“No.”