8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
“Thanks, I owe you,” Ezra said into his cell.
“Nah, we’re good.” Scarlett, a former detective now turned private security, said. “Besides, I know her name. Well, her reputation. I’ll pull in someone with me for tonight so we’re watching her house at different angles. We’ll keep her place locked down.”
“Thank you. Also…if she or her son leave, keep someone on each of them.” Ezra would tell Magnolia about the security he was temporarily hiring, but for tonight he needed to know she was safe. He was tempted to simply sit on her house himself, but figured that bringing in two women for security would go over better for any local police doing a drive-by of her neighborhood. Especially since Scarlett had a good relationship with the department.
“Absolutely. How long do you want me to watch them?”
“Tonight and tomorrow at least. I’m going to talk to her tomorrow but she was overwhelmed tonight.” He was too, if he was being honest.
“Sounds good. I’ve got my phone on me. I’ll text or call with any issues.”
“Thanks.” As he disconnected, he pulled onto the quiet street of the company’s safe house. The new branch of Redemption Harbor Security in New Orleans had recently bought a big house they used as a place for people to lie low, to transition, or to plain hide out.
And he’d decided to come here tonight instead of going home .
Because his condo was depressing. Oh it was nice, expensive and had all the luxuries he’d never even imagined as a kid. But it had never been home. And being inside Magnolia’s place, filled with so much love and personality, only hit even harder how much he was just existing.
He had good friends, had done a lot of stuff he was proud of. But something had been missing for a long time. And he knew what it was.
Inside the house he wasn’t surprised to find Berlin gaming in the living room, a VR headset over her face as she kicked and punched at the air, yelling excitedly at the random people she gamed with online.
Adalyn was sitting in the cushy chair by the fireplace, a book in hand. She smiled when she saw him. “Hey. Didn’t expect you here tonight.”
“Didn’t feel like going home.”
“I feel that. Neither Gumbo or my man are at home.” Adalyn stood, stretched. “You hungry? There’s a ton in the fridge.”
“I’m good. So…I went by her place.”
Adalyn froze, blinked.
“Hold on guys, I’ll be back,” Berlin said, then ripped her headset off, set it next to a lamp on one of the side tables before sitting on the ground and stretching her legs out. Her sweaty hair was plastered to her face, her eyes wide. “So what happened?”
Adalyn sat back down as well, nodded. “Yeah, tell us everything.”
It was a hell of a lot easier to open up to them than the guys and he wasn’t sure why. But he laid everything out, right down to when Magnolia had ordered her father to leave. At first he’d thought she was kicking him out, but when he’d realized she was telling her father to leave… He’d already believed she’d been telling the truth, but that had taken care of any doubts that might have crept in later.
“I also got security for her and her son, for at least tonight and tomorrow. And I want to do a deep dive on Samuel Perry.” He’d filled them in on the asshole who’d shot at her as well. Or allegedly. “I know the cops are trying to find him, but you’re better,” he said to Berlin.
“Compliments will get you everywhere.” She grinned slightly, but nodded. “I’ll find the guy and we’ll nail him to the wall.”
“So…what’s your son like?” Adalyn asked.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, the action not as smooth as he was going for. “She said she was going to tell him everything tonight.” And Ezra kept worrying that Lucas wouldn’t care about meeting him. Wouldn’t want to. That was the worst-case scenario, the one that kept playing in his head.
“Stop,” Adalyn murmured, leaning back in her chair. “The kid is gonna want to meet you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Adalyn simply shrugged.
“Fine. I’m nervous.”
“That’s normal.”
“Yeah.” Berlin nodded in agreement. “But it’s going to work out.”
He didn’t have her optimism, but managed a small smile anyway. Sort of. When his phone buzzed, his heart kicked against his chest to see Magnolia’s name. It had been so damn long since her name had popped up on his screen.
I told him everything. Mari sat with us and confirmed what happened back then. He’s upset at his grandfather, but wants to meet you. So the ball is in your court. Also…a detective buzzed my gate, said that a private security company is keeping an eye on my house. Do you know anything about that?
Busted. I called in a favor, asked a couple people to watch your place. You need extra security right now and they’re pros. And I’m ready to meet him anytime, anywhere.
Little dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.
“Wow,” Adalyn murmured.
He looked up as he waited. “What?”
“Nothing. Just…never seen that expression on your face before.”
He frowned. “What expression?”
But she simply shrugged.
And Berlin rolled up from the floor. “I’m going to start digging into that asshole. I’ll let you know what I find. ”
Nodding, he sat back on the couch even though he wanted to pace. Or go a few rounds with a punching bag. Energy sliced through him in sharp waves, the anticipation and fear of meeting the son he’d never known about. And yeah, of seeing Magnolia again.
But she wasn’t asking for any sort of relationship or anything. They might have had a moment back at her house, but he wasn’t stupid. She’d built a nice life for herself, and while she was letting him in, he knew it was only so far.
His phone buzzed again, another incoming text. And yep, his heart rate kicked up in response.
Thank you for the security. I want to say it’s unnecessary, but even with our security and cameras, I’m grateful. More little dots popped up, then another message came through. Lucas took things so well. I mean, well enough. He’s really mad at my dad, but he’s so steady about this.
“I’m gonna head up,” Adalyn murmured. “You staying the night?”
“Ah, yeah. Should I set the alarm? Or is Rowan coming by later?”
“He and Tiago are working on something so just set it. He knows the code if he decides to come over.”
He nodded and texted back. Kids are resilient. Or at least that was what he’d heard. What did you tell him about me? Before, I mean. Even as he texted the question, regret filled him. He wasn’t sure he wanted the answer.
He only asked once and I was as honest as I could be. I told him I didn’t know where you were, but that you were serving your country.
He shouldn’t be surprised that she hadn’t thrown him under the bus. Considering what she’d assumed about him, he’d have understood if she’d told him that Ezra had abandoned them. But no, she wouldn’t have said that anyway. That simply wasn’t her.
I know I don’t need to thank you, but thank you for letting me into his life. Texting made things a lot easier, to say the words he normally wouldn’t have been able to get out.
You definitely don’t have to thank me for that. And if we’re being thankful, thank you for saving my life today. I don’t know if I ever said that. Everything is still blurry.
You don’t have to thank me for that either.
She sent him a smiling emoji. Then… So, when do you want to officially meet him? Is tomorrow morning okay? You can come over here for breakfast.
That sounds good , he responded immediately even as all his stomach muscles tightened. Good, terrifying, same thing.
We’ll see you at eight. Then she included another emoji, this one with little hearts.
Aaand he didn’t know how to respond. No way was he going to turn into someone who dissected texts. But still, he sent back a smiling emoji nonetheless. The first emoji he’d ever sent.
And he was lying to himself because he was going to think about those heart emojis all night.