Chapter Thirty-Four #2
My father opened his mouth. I could tell by his expression he was going to lay down the law again, as stubborn as ever. His mouth snapped closed as my mother smacked him in the gut, knocking the wind from him just enough to shut him up.
“Louis. Let it go.” Putting her hand on my shoulder, she said to Knox, “I understand your concern. Lily's bedroom still has a double bed, a little small, but there's room on the floor for the air mattress we have in the closet. The guest room has a queen, but there's no room for Adam.”
“Lily's room and the air mattress will be good. Thank you, Rose.” Knox said, looking to me for directions.
My father grunted, pushing past us down the hall. I figured that was the last we'd see of him until breakfast, but he returned a few moments later carrying a bag I recognized from my days of sleepovers. The air mattress.
Taking it, I said, “Thanks, Dad.”
“See you in the morning,” he muttered and disappeared again.
My mother watched him go and let out a sigh of exasperation. “Do you need help making up the bed, Lily? The linens are in the hall closet where they always were.”
“No, we've got it, Mom. Thanks.”
“All right then, sleep well.”
After a tight hug for me and a kiss to the top of Adam's head, she followed my father down the hall to their bedroom. I turned to Knox, raising my eyebrows. “That was awkward.”
“Lily—” Knox started to say.
I cut him off. “Don't apologize, Knox. It's been a long time since anyone cared what happened to Adam and me. I'm not going to ask you to stop because it makes anyone uncomfortable.”
“Good. Because I'm not going to stop, even if you ask.”
I didn't try to hide my smile. “Let's get this bed made so we can go to sleep.”
Knox followed my lead, getting sheets and a pillow, helping to usher Adam to the bathroom down the hall and then into his pajamas. It was only a little weird to slide into my childhood bed beside Knox.
First of all, Knox was way too much man for a double bed. And second, the last time I'd slept in this bed I'd been newly graduated from college. A lifetime ago.
I was exhausted, but it was hard to settle surrounded by remnants of my childhood.
We lay there, Knox spooning me, his arm around my waist, listening to Adam babble about the swing and his grandparents until he sank into a mumbling recitation of the alphabet, something he did now and then to sing himself to sleep.
In the half-light of the moon, I watched Adam's eyes droop closed, his little voice still murmuring through the A-B-C's. In my ear, Knox whispered, “Your father is a tough nut, yeah?”
I choked on the laugh. “That's one way to put it.”
“After I left you with your mom, I found him in his office. He was standing over his desk, crying. When he saw me, he pretended it didn't happen.”
“Of course.” What, my father acknowledge that he had an emotion other than stubborn pride? Hell would freeze over first.
“He wiped his eyes and led me around the house, barely said a word, but Lily, when I found him, his shoulders were shaking, tears streaming down his face. I don't know if he can tell you. Maybe he never will, but he was standing there weeping because you were home. I thought you should know.”
“Thanks, Knox,” I said, my voice hoarse.
The steel band around my heart loosened a little. The only time I'd ever seen my father cry was at his mother's funeral. That he would cry over me said more than any words. Maybe he did love me, even if he couldn't tell me.
Tucked against Knox, my son within arm's reach, I slept like a baby once my eyes finally slid shut.
The smell of coffee and bacon woke me in the morning.
I sat up, blinking against the sunlight streaming into the room.
Knox was already awake, quietly tapping away at the screen of his phone. At my movement, he glanced my way.
“Morning,” he said in a low voice full of promise.
I was overjoyed that my son was safe and happy and still asleep. Not so overjoyed that he was in the same room as Knox and me.
Not that we were going to do anything in my parent's house, but still. Sleeping with Knox in front of Adam was one thing. Adam waking to find us making out on the bed? Not going to happen.
I glanced at Knox's phone as it vibrated in his hand. “Everything okay?”
“Yes and no. LeAnne Gates is missing.”
“Missing? What does that mean?”
“It looks like she took off. We don't know for how long, why, or who with. No signs of forced entry, or a struggle, and it looks like she packed for at least a week or two. Maybe more.”
“Okay, so what do we do?”
“Cooper has someone looking for her. He also has people looking for Tsepov, but so far, the guy is vapor.
Not in Atlanta, not in Vegas. Nowhere. Axel told Cooper there are some rumblings in Vegas.
His organization is unhappy with the way he's handled the situation with Trey and my father.
He's getting pushback. It's not safe for us in Atlanta.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked
“Do you trust me?”
I didn't have to think about the answer. “Of course, I trust you.”
“Then let me figure it out. I'm going to keep you and Adam safe. We'll find LeAnne Gates and deal with Tsepov and my father. I promise. Right now, we're going downstairs to have breakfast with your parents.”
A thousand questions flooded my mind. Where would we go? How long would we stay? Where was LeAnne Gates?
I shoved it all aside.
I trusted Knox.
I'd worry about the rest later.
“Okay. Let's go get some breakfast.”