How this woman managed to live through the evolution of women’s rights and keep such a narrow mind, I’ll never know. “Women are often more successful at sales than men. They know how to interpret a client’s needs better.” Although I don’t talk about new cereal packets or billboards for housing estates.
Not that she needs to know.
“Anyway.” She dismisses me as she sets the cup back on the side table. “Have you had any luck finding somewhere to settle? I have a friend at bingo who looks to sell her house. Moving into a serviced apartment now that her mobility isn’t so good. I could ask her what she hopes to get for the place.”
“What kind of house is it?” Not that I’m overly fussy.
As much as I love my parents, living with them again has reminded me why I left in the first place. More so, I haven’t been able to film any new content since being under their roof. Itwould be easy enough to do a few close-up teases—something to keep the membership hooked—but it doesn’t feel right.
Not in my childhood room.
Not now that it could send me to jail.
“It’s a two-bedroom bungalow. Craftsman style. She had the roof redone about five years ago, and the bathroom updated; otherwise, it’s mostly original. It’d need a few renovations to be more pleasing for your modern eye, I imagine.”
I ignore her subtle dig. “She doesn’t have it listed yet?”
“Not yet.” Lucy reaches for her coffee again. “I can have a word with her. But Kyra? Are you sure you can afford this on your own?”
I stifle the urge to choke on the sip of hot liquid that scalds my lips. “Do you mean, am I sure I can do this without the support of a man?”
She lifts an eyebrow.
For crying out loud.“Yes, Grandma. I can do it without a man.”
“Well, if you’re confident,” she sing-songs, lifting both eyebrows this time. “I’d hate to waste Marla’s time.”
“I wouldn’t be looking if I didn’t think it was achievable.” I’ve let my family believe I only have a deposit for a home. That I rely on steady employment to pay the ensuing mortgage. It was a hell of a lot easier than explaining how I saved over half a million dollars in under five years.
“I think it would suit you,” Lucy says with a small tip of her head. “Not too much land to take care of. It’s not as though you need a lot of bedrooms any time soon, either.”
Lord, give me patience.I raise my cup to my lips and focus on the heat of the steam against the underside of my nose as I stare out the window at her rambling garden. “Do you give my brother this much grief?”
“What are you talking about?” She sets her drink down and retrieves the quilt. “I simply make observations.”
“That all seem pretty darn negatively geared toward me, Grandma.”
“Well, you go on and take it how you like, Kyra. But that’s not how they’re intended.”
They should give the woman a part-time job as a real-life case study in gaslighting for psychology students.
I abandon the health-hazardous drink and pull the crooked craft project onto my lap. “Well, how about you go ahead and give me some more of your positive encouragement, then, by telling me how I can fix this.”
Saves her from telling me how to fix my life.
FIVE
JINX
The engine cuts off,and I roll my shoulders to stretch my back, attention on the scene before me. The last time Matthias came face-to-face with the Kings, we left him with his life on the condition that he repay the eighty thousand we lost in revenue. Which means, whatever he deems necessary to bring to our door today has the guy brave enough to share the air with the people who spared him his life and dignity mere months ago.
Crow leans casually against the doorframe, blocking the entrance into the old farmhouse that’s our new headquarters, Matthias face-to-face with Chaos, arms folded high over his chest. And who should be seated behind him, re-enacting our previous encounter, but the shit-stirrer from the barber shop. The blonde lounges in one of the wicker porch chairs, foot bopping before her—entirely unfazed by Circus, who leans against the balustrade opposite, his inky, black glare fixed on the unwanted guest.
Well, I suppose it’s no mystery who her brother is, then.
I draw a deep breath and acknowledge Chaos as he crosses the yard toward me. He glares at our youngest officer—Darko—who follows his sister into the barn like a lost puppy.
“How do you want to play this?”
