“Nah,” Drix stated. “Everythin’s quiet. My worries lie with the men more than the jobs.”
“Don’t tell me... Fender?”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “And Blade.”
My ears pricked up at that. “What’s Veep done?”
“Got himself a woman,” Drix explained.
“Well, it’s about fucking time,” I said wryly. “It’s a good thing, right? Carina wasn’t gonna wait forever.”
“That’s just it,” Drix said dryly. “It’s not Carina.”
I sighed deeply and rubbed at the tension headache forming in my temples. “Fucking stupid dick.”
“Yeah. I know, brother. Tried to talk some sense into him, but he’s got a chip on his shoulder as big as fuckin’ Texas. Says she’s too young for him.”
“There’s an age gap for sure,” I concurred. “But it’s not like she’s eighteen. Jesus, her daughter’s a teenager, and Carina knows her own mind.” I shook my head frustratedly. “How’s she takin’ it?”
Hendrix let out a short, humorless laugh. “Think she’s given up. Anna reckons she’s at the stage where she wouldn’t take him now if he were gift-wrapped. Says she wants a man who wants her no-holds-barred like Benny did.”
“Can’t blame her for that, Drix,” I pointed out. “It can’t be easy to have all that chemistry with someone who keeps blowing her off. Her confidence must have taken a nosedive.”
“You’re right,” he stated. “Blade’s made his choice, and right or wrong, he has to live with it. Veep’s big enough and ugly enough to take care of himself.”
I chuckled softly. “Thought we were over all this angst bullshit when we left Wyoming,”
“Same,” he responded.
“What’s happening with Fender?” I asked.
He heaved out an audible breath. “Nothing. That’s the problem. The kids are running wild. If it weren’t for the women, they’d have no discipline at all. Addy’s screaming for attention and even the boys are gettin’ pissed with him. It’s a nightmare, Ice. He can’t even look at her.”
“She’s Ashley’s double,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, she is. But the kids’ schools are even noticing now. Had Addison’s teacher sniffing around the other day, checking on things. Anna asked me about approaching Fender to officially adopt her. She’s fuckin’ furious with the way he’s neglecting his girl. She and Carina step in and step up, but Anna feels like she’s crossing a line most of the time because Addie’s not even related to her. She shouldn’t be bathing the girl and doing all that personal stuff.”
“Better Anna than nobody, Hendrix. Maybe you could couch it to her like we’re all a big family, kids included, and you don’t need to adopt Addie to care for her. Go with the whole ‘it takes a village’ concept. Fender obviously doesn’t have an issue with Anna’s relationship with Addie if he hasn’t spoken up.”
“Not sure he even cares, Iceman.”
“He does. He’s just lost in his grief. If anyone can get what he’s goin’ through, it’s us.” I felt a presence behind me, and I craned my neck to see Saint walking toward me wearing a short robe.
I held my hand out as she approached, tugging her onto my lap the instant she put her fingers in mine. Myfree hand went to her hair and stroked it back from her face, and I touched my mouth to hers.
“Gonna bring Saint to the hotel before we go to New York,” I announced, shifting the cell phone slightly to allow Saint to tuck her head under my chin.
Her eyes lifted to meet mine, and she beamed.
“Anna and I moved into the house last weekend,” Drix declared. “You two can take my suite while you’re here if you like. It’s at the top of the hotel, and nobody bunks up there apart from Dad, and he’s cool. No fucker will bother you up there, except Diablo, maybe.”
“Why the fuck would Diablo bother us?” I demanded.
“Apparently, he’s a huge Saint’s Rapture fan.” Drix laughed.
Slowly, my eyes closed. “Oh fuck.”
Prez laughed harder. “He’ll make a fool of himself. You know he’s got no chill.”
