Chapter 6
SIX
April squeezed the bridge of her nose as she watched Riversong's parking lot through the front windows, waiting for Shane to bring her son back to her.
She replayed the last hour in her head. The way Pirogue had tried to handle her with kid gloves, right up until she got the call telling her that Kevin was safe.
Then, he went right back to insinuating that she was a bad mother, and worse—that Kevin was a bad kid.
"He's still suspended three days for fighting," Pirogue had said.
April wasn't about to stand for that.
"Since this is a Thursday, how about two of those suspension days are Saturday and Sunday? I'll keep him home tomorrow, but I'm not letting him get three days behind in school and flunk his finals."
"April, that's not how this is going to work. You're lucky it's not for the rest of the school year, to be honest."
She'd stopped, turned, and squared her shoulders. "You know what? I should sue the school for losing my kid. Kevin was still under your care. He could have been kidnapped. He could have gotten hit by a car. Anything could have happened, and you know it."
"Fine," Pirogue had sputtered, his face turning red. "He can come back on Monday. I don't want to see him—or you, or your lawyer—until then."
April had smiled. "The feeling's mutual."
It wasn't until she'd driven away that the tears started. Not for Pirogue—he wasn't worth the salt in her tears. She was crying because of how afraid she'd been when she looked in that detention room and Kevin wasn't there.
This could have been so much worse. This could have been the end of my world.
The familiar whisper crept in. It's only a matter of time.
She'd had to pull over, hands shaking too hard to drive safely.
The memories hit like a physical blow, dragging her back to a frantic packing session and a desperate escape from Vegas.
She felt the same fear, the same irresistible desire to run until she found safety again—not just for herself, but for her entire family.
But that’s why this time was different. This time, she was with her family who loved her, she owned a business that mattered, lived a life worth protecting.
And of course, Kevin had all of that now, too.
She remembered the night she argued with her parents and her sister about leaving and felt their love all over again.
And then the guilty relief when they realized April wasn’t the one in danger.
Even now, I’m still safe, she reminded herself.
This time, I'm not running.
She only prayed that was the right decision, one that wouldn’t ultimately hurt the ones she loved.
Through the front windows, she saw Shane's SUV pulling into the lot, snapping her back to the present. Her heart did that same fluttery dance it had done since high school—Shane Foti still had the power to unravel her with just a smile through a windshield.
Sonny appeared beside her, his big frame radiating protective energy. "You okay?"
"I’m okay." April watched Shane park and then turn to say something to Kevin in the back seat. "Can you—"
"I already texted your mom and Hannah. Told them Kevin's safe and they don't need to cut their trip short after all." His normally booming voice quieted. "Unless you need them home?"
April's throat tightened with gratitude. "No. Let them enjoy their day." She made the quick hummingbird gesture over her heart that told her Papa she loved him, and headed out the front door.
The back passenger door opened and Kevin unfolded from the seat—lanky legs, backpack strap over his shoulder, that careful set to his mouth that meant he knew he was in trouble. But his eyes were bright, almost...relieved?
Mom-scan first, always. No blood. No bruises. No obvious missing limbs. Check, check, check.
"Hey, baby," she said, one palm settling at the back of his head as she did her second inventory—ten fingers, ten toes, pupils even, breathing steady.
"I didn't run away," Kevin announced before she could say another word. "I was on a mission."
“A mission?” April's gaze flicked to Shane getting out of the driver's side, all controlled movement and watchful eyes as he headed to the back of the SUV.
"Mr. Foti will explain," Kevin added.
“O…kay,” she managed—more air than word.
She smoothed Kevin’s hair, and he tolerated it like a soldier under inspection, then made a dash for the back of the SUV, undoubtedly to help Shane with Pete.
The kid was crazy for the dog. April followed, her heart squeezing at the sight of Kevin helping Shane with Pete.
Her son looked happy, and so did Shane. He glanced up at her with a smile and a shrug that said This kid. What can you do?
If I were a better mom, I’d ground Kevin this minute and not let him near Pete. But, she couldn’t find it in her heart to do it. They looked so…natural together.
If only things had been different.
She threw that thought back into the locked box of things she wouldn’t let herself think about.
"Thank you for bringing him back," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "I know you're busy and I don't want to keep you—"
"Actually, April, we need to talk."
Kevin froze mid-pet, flicking a nervous look at Shane.
"It's okay, buddy," Shane said gently. His gaze returned to April. "Kevin and I had a talk."
April's pulse skipped. "What kind of talk?"
"Man to man."
A startled laugh escaped her. "He's a third-grader."
"He's also scared."
April’s stomach dropped through the asphalt. The world tilted. April's hands went cold, her mind immediately jumping to the worst possibilities. Why go to Shane and not to me—or to his Grandpapa? Guilt punched hard and mean.
"Oh God, did something else happen?" Her voice came out wrong, barely there.
“Mom,” Kevin said in an annoyed voice that was more defensive than disrespectful. “I’m fine.”
Shane's fingers brushed her arm, a familiar touch from long ago that still sent shivers through her. "He is. Let's just go inside and talk, okay?"
His gentleness threatened to undo her. This wasn't Shane the Bad Boy with his cocky swagger. She knew how to handle that Shane, not this careful one who was treating her like she might break if he said or did the wrong thing.
She wasn't sure if she liked the change in attitude or hated it.
The bell chimed as they entered Riversong, the familiar scents of coffee and cinnamon wrapping around them like a hug.
Sonny looked up from the register, his quick scan of Kevin shifting from worry to relief.
"Sonny, can you cover for a bit?" April asked. They always used first names in the coffee shop in front of customers. "We need a minute in the back."
Sonny's gaze moved between his grandson and Shane, still guarded but not openly hostile. Progress at a glacier’s pace.
“It’s fine, Sonny,” April reassured him.
Sonny nodded curtly and returned his attention to Kevin. “You hungry?”
Kevin nodded. “Can I have a black-and-white cookie?”
“You’ll have a sandwich,” April answered for Sonny.
Shane looked solemnly at Kevin. “And do me a favor? Keep Pete company while your mom and I talk.”
Kevin's face lit up. Pete duty was serious business. "Yes, sir."
"And don't give Pete half of your sandwich," April added.
Kevin rolled his eyes. April rolled hers right back. Shane chuckled, the sound warm and familiar.
"Back office," she told him. "Follow me."
The air in the back office was different—less cinnamon, more roasted beans and old wood. April left the door propped open a crack and turned to face Shane, her heart hammering against her ribs.
If Kevin needed a ‘man-to-man’ talk, why not with his grandfather? Why not Gabe, or Ben, or any of the good men who would drop everything to stand between her son and harm? The answer stung hotly behind her eyes.
Because I taught him I can carry anything. Maybe he thought he had to carry me.
“Before you say anything,” she blurted, edges fraying now that she was safely out of sight, “if Kevin needed to talk to a man about something. If some adult—” Bile rose. “If something happened and he didn’t want to tell me, I can take it. I won’t make it about me. I just need to know.”
“No.” Shane shook his head firmly. “Nothing like that.” He reached out and gently gripped her upper arm. His touch calmed her at once, just like it used to. "No one else hurt him. The only person who attacked Kevin was HRH Regis, that little shit.”
Relief flooded her so fast it made her dizzy. She couldn't help the giggle that slipped out. "HRH. You remembered my nickname for Leslie."
Shane chuckled. “How could I forget? It was too perfect.” He paused.
“I remember everything you said, April. Everything you did.” His gaze went soft and warm, the look that used to signal he was about to lean across their homework and kiss her.
Her lips parted reflexively. She bit the lower one as soon as she realized what they were doing, but it was too late.
Shane’s gaze darted to her mouth and his eyes smoldered.
April felt her legs turn to jelly again but for completely different reasons.
Shane seemed to catch himself. He let go of her arm and grew serious again. “You have an amazing kid there. He loves you,” Shane said simply. “He’s worried about you.”
That didn't compute. She was the one who did the worrying. She looked down and realized she was clutching a Sharpie. When had she picked it up?
"Worried about me why? I'm fine." She tried for a convincing smile. "Well, except I need to come up with a few grand to fix the espresso machine."
Shane saw right through it. "April, stop. I know you. You're not fine." His voice gentled. "I need you to trust me, if only for today."
April closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Do I even have a choice? No, she didn't. Not if Kevin was scared. A kid his age should never have to worry about his mom; it was her job to worry about him.
She nodded. "Okay. What did you guys talk about?"
"He asked if he could hire me as a bodyguard for you."
"A bodyguard for me?" April's voice pitched higher.
The corner of Shane's mouth tilted up, not quite a smile. "Said he had fifty bucks and was hoping I only cost forty because there's a ten-dollar game on Steam he wants."
A laugh burst out of her before she could stop it. "Yeah, that sounds like my boy."
Shane wasn’t smiling now. His hand flexed against his thigh, then stilled. "I told him money wasn't the question. Sometimes Watchdog takes cases pro bono. But I also told him I'd talk to you first."
“Oh, I get it. We’re ‘discussing’ this to put him at ease.”
But Shane wasn't sharing her amusement. “No, we’re discussing this for real.”
"Are you serious? Shane, you don't have to—"
"April." His voice cut through her protest, gentle but firm. "Kevin told me about the fight with Regis. About what that little bastard said."
Her mouth tightened. "Let me guess. More poison from Leslie."
"Most of it was the usual trash talk about you and your family. But then Regis said something that hit Kevin different." Shane's jaw ticked like the words physically hurt. "He said people were glad the drive-by happened because you had it coming. And that next time, you won’t be so lucky."
April's fingers curled around the back of her chair, gripping it like an anchor that would keep her from drifting away.
"I told him the truth as I know it," Shane continued, his voice steady and sure. "The shots weren't about you. Nobody died. We found the people responsible. It was handled."
April felt herself breathing again.
"But that wasn't the part that scared him," Shane said quietly. "He heard you talking to your folks that night after the shooting. He was supposed to be asleep, but you know how kids are. He heard you say if someone was after you, you'd take him and disappear to keep everyone safe."
The words hit like a physical blow. April stared at the floor, breathing once, twice.
"He put it away in his head because you told him later the bad guys weren't after you," Shane said. "But when Regis mentioned 'next time,' it brought it all back."
Her chest ached. All this time, she'd thought Kevin had moved past the drive-by. Instead, he'd been carrying this fear, this knowledge, protecting her from his own terror.
"Here's what I didn't tell him," Shane continued, his voice dropping lower, "because it isn't mine to say. I don't know what happened to you after high school. I don't know if that night pulled up old ghosts or if there's new trouble."
His hands were deliberately open, nonthreatening. Showing her he wasn't here to interrogate her.
"So I'm asking," he said quietly. "Did Kevin misinterpret a family argument, or are you in danger, April?"