Chapter 21 #3
“The path is murky,” she admits, her lips firming into flat lines.
“I believe everything will work out, because the love you have for each other is powerful. But Cordoza is on that path, too, and he’s the reason things are less clear.
I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I truly think he’s influencing her future.
For whatever reason, whatever his desires, I don’t…
” She shakes her head. “I can’t…” Giving up, she exhales a noisy sigh.
“I’ve had a constant headache since the weekend because I’m trying so, so hard to understand.
We must remember Estefan did not stumble into his power.
He cultivated it. He grew it. And for decades, he has defended it.
He’s not a man to be messed with, but I don’t believe he should be trusted blindly, either. ”
“I don’t have any other options.” I wish we were in an alternate reality where I could pick Minka up and take her to bed.
Where I could crawl under the covers beside her and pull her close, so tomorrow, we’ll wake with her drool on my chest and, most often after infusion, her delicious hips rolling over mine.
“Estefan has been good to my family,” I murmur.
“He’s helped Lix and Micah, and Soph and Michelle trust him.
The fact is, I just don’t know what else to do.
If he says she’s at risk, ignoring him could be the reason she dies. ”
“And listening to him could be the reason her heart never recovers.” Aubree carefully unfolds her legs and twists on the arm of the couch, setting her feet on the floor and smiling her appreciation as Tim takes her hand and helps her stand.
She fixes her shirt and tucks locks of pink-streaked blonde hair behind her ears.
“I’m gonna do everything I can to help repair what’s been broken, but ultimately, until Cordoza reveals his motivations, and until you tell her the truth, there’s nothing anyone can do except stand by and watch her break a little more.
And that…” She wraps herself around my brother’s chest, laying her ear on his heart and cinching her hands together at his back.
“It’s a real shame. She was already convinced everyone would eventually leave.
She got to experience something else for a little while.
It was a growing, pulsing, magical belief that, even if the rest of the world sucked, her soul would be safe with a Malone. ”
My eyes burn, itching and tempting me to bring a hand up to wipe them.
“This week shattered that belief.”
“You’re digging those knives in, Aubs.” I press my free palm to my aching stomach. “Twisting like you get off on hurting me.”
“I’m sorry.” She pulls out of Tim’s embrace and comes around to me instead, placing her hand on my shoulder and squeezing. “That was never my intention. I simply needed to pass on a message Minka never would. I hope this is resolved soon. For everyone’s sake.”
She grabs Tim’s hand and leads him away now that I’m here to take over.
Too bad I’ll have to pass the baton to Cato soon.
“I’m heading into the office tomorrow,” Aubree murmurs by the door. “I know it’s the weekend, but cases are piling up, and the chief hasn’t been at the top of her game lately. Mia really wants to swim at the house, too, though, so maybe I’ll swing by after and hang out.”
Cato grunts into the back of his throat. Agreement. Confirmation. Love. Then the door opens, and the duo leaves.
“She asleep?” Fletch wanders across the apartment, done with his thing with Fifi, I guess.
Circling the coffee table and pushing Minka’s supplies aside—empty Factor bottles, a tourniquet, though not the rainbow one she keeps at the house, tape, the packaging from her butterfly needle—he sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and dangles his hands between his legs.
He studies the sleeping pair and smirks.
“She acts all tough and shit, but damn, she looks good with my baby curled in her arms while they sleep.”
Mine. Not yours. “You taking Mia home now?”
He nods, reaching across and fixing Mia’s shirt, pulling it down to cover an exposed inch of belly. “Might even walk it. The air is nice out there, the street isn’t packed, and Sera agreed to walk with us anyway.”
Surprised, I peek over my shoulder and find the woman shuffling her feet in the kitchen. “Why were you here?” I ask her. “Did something happen?”
Her eyes, willow green and bright, even in the low light, swing up to mine. Then she gulps and shrugs. “I knew it was infusion night, heard Aubree and Mia would be here, too, and I’m three days out from my cycle.” Her cheeks glow a warm red. “I was promised ice cream and cartoons.”
Chuckling, I bring my eyes back to my wife. “Did you eat ice cream for dinner, Chief Mayet? Have I taught you nothing?”
“She had one of those protein breakfast pouch things, actually.” Cato pops off the counter and tosses the bag of chips down.
Brushing crumbs off his shirt, he strides around Fifi and straight past me.
Stopping between the coffee table and the television, he sweeps up a small box and meets my eyes.
“She’s considering these trial pills, by the way.
Soph sent them and told her to take them. ”
I blink. Blink. Blink. “I’m sorry, I…” Slowly standing, I extend my hand and accept the parcel he slaps into my palm. “I thought I heard you say my wife is considering taking drugs a fucking ballerina sent her… in the mail?”
“I said what I said.” He plants his hands on his hips. “Sophia’s screeching about how they’re the new Factor infusion. One pill a day, take it in the morning. No more needles, no more sleepy crash, no more drama.”
I peel the box open and study the black foam sections, each pocket nestling a small white pill… all except one. “Why is one already missing?” I turn the box and show them both. “Why is my wife taking drugs that came in the fucking mail?!”
“‘Cos she likes to stress us the hell out?” Cato growls. “I dunno, dude. If married life means worrying about someone else all the damn time, then I’m reconsidering my stance on stealing your wife. This shit is hard work.”
“Wait till you become a dad,” Fletch smarts.
“Then you’re worried about a human whose—” He waves his hand in front of his face.
“The impulse control part of her brain isn’t even developed yet.
So then your five-year-old is making friends with the mafia, throwing herself into a pool even though she can’t swim, tying a string around perfectly good teeth, because she heard the tooth fairy brings cash, and if some prick was to offer her candy and a puppy, I know for a damn fact she’d yeet herself into the creepy van to get a look. ”
“What happened to the good old days of checking a woman out but not having to be responsible for her?” Cato snatches up Minka’s used needle and points it in my direction. “I miss those days of objectification and sending them on their way.”
“I’m quite certain that suggests a certain level of…” Fifi rolls her wrist. “Maturation. It’s a good thing.”
“Hell it is.” Cato sweeps up the factor bottles and discarded tape, and stalking back toward the kitchen, he goes about tossing the trash into the trash, and the needle into the sharps container under the sink.
“I didn’t even get laid yet this week. That hasn’t happened to me since I was brand new! ”
“Sure is hard being you,” Fletch drawls, his disdain punctuated with a roll of his eyes. Exhaling a noisy breath, he pushes off the coffee table and stands over the sleeping pair. “Time to take my girl home.”
“Where’s Harrison?” Cato closes the cupboard and glowers from one end of the apartment to the other. “He’s supposed to be here.”
“He’s busy doing a job for me.” I push up straight, too, knowing once Fletch takes Mia, I get to scoop Minka up and put her to bed. “Why? What’s the problem?”
Cato slams his feet into a pair of high-tops and grabs his phone. “I need an hour of immaturity before I explode.”
Fifi’s cheeks pale. “Ew.”
“You stay with her.” He looks me in the eye, driving his point home.
“I’ll be an hour, she’s asleep anyway, and don’t even act like you don’t want this.
” He strides across the apartment and waits patiently as Fletch carefully extracts Mia from Minka’s octopus-like grip, then he stops in front of the pair and presses a kiss to Mia’s forehead.
“Uncle Cato will see you tomorrow, McStinkerson. We’ll swim in the pool and learn how to float.
” Stepping back, he shoots a dangerous glare at Fletch.
“The frontal cortex impulse thing is stressful for me, too. You had sex five years ago and made a baby, but I’m the dumb fuck left worrying about her. ”
“Doing the Lord’s work,” Fletch chuckles, carefully situating Mia against his chest, her legs straddling his hips, and her cheek squished against his shoulder.
“Knowing you worry about her means I won’t go gray every time she’s out of my sight.
” Draping her arms over his shoulders, he looks to me…
then down to Minka… then up again. “You good here?”
“He’s fine.” Cato strides across the apartment and through the door on his mission to get laid, not a single backward glance for the woman he swears he’s in love with.
“I’m fine.” I close the medicine box and set it down on the arm of the couch, then I do as Cato did and settle a kiss on Mia’s temple. “That… uh…” I clear my throat. “That overtime we worked tonight?”
Fletch’s eyes flicker between mine, curious, probing, and a little on the feral side.