“Okay, so I found four women who matches his sister’s description, with the same name and who has had children in the last ten years.” Swede was still tapping away at his keyboard as he spoke. “You’re going to need help running all of them down and we don’t have the manpower to spare right now. Taz is on assignment.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I told Swede. “I have a few people I trust.”
“Okay, good. Listen, how is she doing?” Swede asked.
“As good as one can be after finding out her father was a manwhore who knocked up a gangster’s sister while still married to her mother.”
Swede groaned. “I have to run. I’ve sent the information for the women to you. Let me know what you find. Call if you need anything, cool?”
I nodded. “Very.”
Swede smirked and his face disappeared off the screen. I was about to head up the stairs to wake Ellie, when a car pulled into the driveway. I picked up my gun from where it sat and shoved it into the back of my pants. Carefully, I made my way to the front and peeked out. My mother’s SUV was parked beside my car. She had her keys, so I went back to work. It took her a little while to get to me. I could hear her putting around in the kitchen and figured she’d brought us a small feast. In the meantime, I began going through what Swede had sent over. Mom would get to me sooner or later.
“Did you know Ellie is in love with you?” Mom asked from behind me.
I closed my eyes for a steadying moment then turned to look at her. She stepped forward and kissed my forehead then handed me a piece of sugar cane.
“Hey, baby.” She smiled at me.
I immediately bit into the cane, ripped off a section and sucked the juice out. The husk, I dropped in the trash beside my leg. “Where’s this coming from?” I asked.
“I spoke with Malik.” She explained. “She was jealous of you and Susan. I’m not sure how to feel about this.”
“Then stop thinking about it.” I sighed. I knew there was something there. Ever since she was falling asleep and muttered how beautiful I looked to her. But I’d ignored it. Then the instant in the office where I’d all but ripped her clothes from her body and she did nothing but gave in to me. But love?
Shit—love was such a strong word. I ran from it for I knew when it came to lovers, love was merely a catalyst to get what they wanted. Those words coming from Ellie would probably kill me.
“You do realize she’s a beautiful woman, right?” Mom asked.
“Mom, I know.” I sighed. “I can’t let my mind go there with her. I can’t think about her in that way. Not after…”
“Forgiveness, baby.”
I frowned. “I could have been locked up, life over. Mom, she accused me of—”
Mom rubbed my back. “Yes, but everything worked out. I often think about that time in our lives. And I think, if we didn’t have to leave there…”
“No.”
“It was a bad time for us, I’ll agree with you there.” Mom walked to stand in front of me and to frame my face with her tender hands. Her voice and touch were reassuring. “But try not to think of what could have been.”
“Does dad know you’re here talking to me about forgiving Ellie?”
“Who do you think dropped me here?” She grinned prettily at me.
I should have known. My father would walk on water if it meant my mom would smile. There wasn’t another love on the planet like theirs. They truly went through richer and poorer, sickness and health, good times and bad times—and they stood firm like the giant bur oak tree behind their house.
With a soft sigh, I leaned forward and kissed her nose. “I love you, you know that, right?”
“No duh!” She giggled.
“Mom…”
She used her thumb to caress my cheeks. “Don’t close yourself away. If you see she’s really changed—be open minded. I don’t want you to miss out on something that might be good for you because of past slights. We’ve raised you well. We’ve raised you to know how to see darkness and light in people. Whatever you choose, your father and I will stand right here to protect you. And whether you rise or fall, we’ll still be here.”
“Okay, mom.”
“So.” She released me to look down at the papers on my desk. “Need to run the case by me?”
