Chapter 61
Dax
“What?” I almost snap into the phone. I only calm down because I have Ruby, who is busy pulling the hell out of my ear.
“You have my daughter, and now you think you can talk to me however you want?” Leander snaps. I don’t have time for him or his shit. My nerves are shot. The Brennans got released today, and my guy followed them home.
Two nights from now, the Titans will end the two brothers. I’m not one for that type of justice. That’s not what I do, and it’s not what my business is, but they are dangerous, and I need to take them out before they do it to me.
“Leander, what is this about?” I take a deep breath and hope for patience.
“My son is missing. Did you have anything to do with that?”
“Why on earth would I? That little thief owes me money, and I want it. I suggest you find his sorry ass and drag him home.”
“I need help finding him. He didn’t come home last night, and my wife is worried.”
I rub the bridge of my nose. I have too much to worry about. I don’t need this worthless kid dumped on me now, but I agree.
“Fine. I’ll have someone look for him. I’m adding this to his tab. Might I suggest you get him under control?”
“Don’t tell me how to handle my kid.”
“Are you done?”
“Don’t tell Annette. I lied and told her that Devin said he was going away for a few days.”
I want to say that’s not my problem, but if any of this affects Cori, it’s my business.
“Fine. I have to go.” I abruptly end the call just as my other phone beeps.
It’s a thumbs up from an unknown number. I know who it’s from, and I know what it’s about.
After fishing out the bag of toys I keep hidden in the living room, I set Ruby down to play and order lunch.
“I got us some Jamaican food. I hope you like that, Annette.” I should have asked, but all I considered was that Cori likes it.
“I love anything.” Annette reaches her hand for me. “Please help me to a seat, honey. I think I overdid it.”
I help her settle on the loveseat. Ruby crawls to her grandmother and pulls herself up by holding her skirt. She shows off a stuffed animal before she crawls on Annette’s lap.
The food arrives while Cori makes lemonade. I’m surprised when she warms milk and puts it in a sippy cup for our niece.
While my wife puts the food on the table, I set up the highchair and help Annette to the table.
“I forgot,” Cori announces. “I have news.” She stands tall in the kitchen and smiles. “I hired a receptionist.”
My smile drops. “What? I was supposed to help you with that. Did you do a background check? Who is this person?”
“I think you’ll approve.” Just as the words leave her mouth, the bell rings. She runs to the front door and returns with my mother. “This is my first hire!” The two hug and laugh at the same time.
“You want to go back to work, Mom?”
“Only part-time. And I want to be part of my daughter’s team.” Mom pats Cori’s cheek, and my wife smiles so wide.
“My first hire. I think I did pretty good,” Cori beams.
“You did great, sweetheart, but I want to help with the others.”
“Let Daxton help you, honey,” Annette says from the living room.
She gestures for me, and I help her from the couch to the kitchen table, where she takes a seat.
She seems to be out of breath by the time she’s situated.
“Maybe I can get a job there, too, in a few months.” Annette looks from Cori to my mom, who are now holding hands.
Her nostrils flare as if she’s a bit put off by their closeness.
“Mom, you need to focus on your recovery. Let’s eat lunch. You hungry, Momma? How about a cocktail?”
“I will never say no, but just one.” Mom points at Cori, who gives her a mischievous grin.
“None for me, Cori. I can’t mix alcohol with my pain pills,” Annette announces, even though she wasn’t offered a drink.
Despite Annette’s permanent fake smile as she looks from Cori to my mom, lunch is a nice family affair.
Ruby sits next to me in her highchair, kicking her feet and shoving fistfuls of food in her mouth.
She drops enough on the floor for Finch to eat.
I notice Cori dropping chicken for the dog every few minutes.
“Her stomach will be upset, sweetheart. This is too spicy for her.” I shake my head at my wife.
“Sorry.” She whispers the words, but they are aimed at Finch, who whines as if she understands.
After a few more seconds of the whining, Cori gets up, gets a bag of doggy treats, and throws a few on the floor.
“I can’t take the doggy whines.” She glares at me as if she’s daring me to say something, but all I do is smile.
“Cori, I think we should go to the Essence Festival. I know it’s soon, but it’s the perfect time because we’ll be so busy with Corine’s Creations. Josie is on board and will help us with the grand opening. I have a job for all our volunteers, and you have plenty.”
Mom pulls out her iPad, and the two put their heads together. Annette fidgets in her seat.
“What can I do?” she asks. Her voice sounds small.
“We have a list of things, so whatever you can do, Mom.” Cori leaves her seat and takes the one next to her mother. “Take a look.”
While the women talk, I get a text on my other phone. I notice Cori looking at me while I read the text. I close the phone and slide it into my pocket. Ruby fusses, so I take her out of the chair.
The doorbell rings, and I open the door to Leander, who seems to have aged overnight. Ruby bounces and reaches for him. He drops the scowl, takes her, and kisses her cheek.
“I found him,” I announce. “He’s shacked up at some woman’s house in Hollow Mist.”
“Are you shitting me?” Leander growls. “Where? I need to take Annette to her physical therapy, but I’m going to go find my son afterward and kick his ass.” I text him the address.
“Well, I don’t know what you want us to do, Cori,” Leander snaps.
“First thing you can do is check your tone.” My mom nods in agreement with me as she scowls at Cori’s father.
“And you can make your son accountable,” Cori adds.
Leander makes a show of looking around. “Do you see him here? How can I do anything when he’s not here? I have to take your mother to her appointment. All I’m asking is that you watch Ruby for a few hours.”
“And I said I can’t. I have work to do, and Dax has a meeting.”
“Cori, please.” Annette starts to cry in her seat, and Leander runs to his wife. He bends down and rubs her shoulder. “This isn’t about punishing your brother.”
“You’re right. It’s about me not cleaning up his mess.”
“This is not even about you, Cori,” Leander maintains. “This is about your mother getting treatment and not being stressed out about—”
“Why is it never about me when you want me to do something? And who’s stressing Mom? Not me. We had a great day together, but what I’m not going to do is become a caregiver to—”
“Your niece. Whether you like your brother or not, Ruby is your niece, and you’re being inconsiderate.”
“Unlike her father, who is where, Dad?” Cori makes a show of looking around.
“Your precious son is the inconsiderate one. Ruby is not my child, and I’m not the one who dumped her on you.
You know my boundaries. I’ve done enough for this family.
” She stomps out of the kitchen, and my mother follows her.
Ruby rubs her eyes and rests her head on my shoulder.
I try to hand her off to her grandfather, but he steps back.
“I have to get my wife to her appointment,” Leander says.
“And I have to go console mine.” Ruby starts to whine when I try to hand her over. My mom returns and takes her from me, while glaring at Leander.
“Go talk to Cori,” Mom whispers.
I find my wife and Finch in the bedroom. She’s sitting on the edge of the bed, and Finch sits at her feet as if she’s trying to comfort her.
“Are they gone?” Cori whispers.
“Yes, but my mom is holding Ruby.” Cori lies on the bed.
“I know. I asked her to. I don’t want to be a monster, Dax.” I sit next to her. When she sits up, I pull her to me and kiss her temple. “But I knew this would happen, and I absolutely refuse to do a thing for that loser.”
“I understand, sweetheart.”
“But I also get that Ruby is an innocent baby, so I feel like a monster.”
“You can never be that, and I’m sorry for not seeing your point sooner.”
Despite the door being wide open, Mom knocks before entering with a sleeping Ruby in her arms.
“They’re gone, and this little angel is exhausted.” I take her from Mom and put her on the bed.
“I’ll stay and watch her,” I volunteer.
“No, you go. Momma Had already volunteered to stay with me. We can do all our work from here, and I have a dress I want her to try on.” My mom’s eyes light up, but Ruby turns over and Mom drapes a blanket over her. She smiles and gently strokes her cheek. “Don’t get attached, Momma,” Cori warns.
Mom’s smile deepens while she pushes Ruby’s hair back.
“Oh, I won’t, sweetheart, but she’s so cute. Looks just like you. I’m going to bring some of Josie’s old dresses over so we can play dress up.”
Cori sighs and rolls her eyes.
“Are you kidding me?” My wife whispers.