Cara and Kennedy laughed.
“WhereisKady?” I asked.
Kennedy angled her body toward me. “Carbine’s home for a few days, so she stayed behind for a guitar lesson. There’s talk of her going to LA next summer to intern at the new Saint’s Rapture studios. The band started a record label. They’ve not signed anyone yet because they want to take a few years to write and record their new album first. Saint’s pregnant, so she wants to enjoy motherhood and still write, but do it in her own time. After what happened with their crazy band member, they deserve to go at their own pace.”
“How’s Iceman doing?” Layla asked.
My ears pricked up.
I loved Ice. We’d had a flirty banter thing going for years, though nothing ever really happened between us on account of him yanking Atlas’s chain all the time, especially when Sophie first came on the scene. Then I left town to look after Mom, and he went to Virginia with Hendrix to start the new Speed Demons chapter, and it died there. We still messaged now and again, and he sent me filthy memes, but that was as far as it went. Still, I liked Jake. He was a great guy, and I was happy that he’d found someone. Plus, some of the crew had met Saint and had nothing but great things to say about her, so I was glad he eventually ended up with a decent woman.
It worked out well for both of us because I couldn’t imagine being with anyone other than Donovan now.
“When do you go to Idaho?” Layla asked softly.
“Next week.” I grabbed Gabby’s hand and gave her a smile. “We have to take the kids out of school for a few days. Luckily, Principal Landry has been great about it.”
“Dad just wants the kids to get all this business with Evan out of the way,” Cara explained gently. “It can’t be easy on them or you.”
My throat burned with the threat of tears, so I fixated on the training going on across the room. I didn’t want to cry in front of Gabby; it would worry her.
“Girls,” Cara murmured. “Would you go over to the grocery store before it closes and get me some chips. I’ve got a pregnancy craving that won’t quit.” She fished some cash out of her gym bag for the girls and waited for them to head out before taking my hand. “What’s wrong?”
The back of my eyes stung.
I reached out to soothe Imogen's soft little cheek. “I don’t know. I’m just feeling down. This court case has got me so damned worried that I’ll lose my kids, and I can’t seem to get out of my funk. Everybody’s telling me not to worry, but how can I not?” I swiped at the tear rolling down my cheek.
“Ro, you’re not a crier,” Cara pointed out.
“I know,” I exclaimed quietly. “But they’re my kids.”
“What’s Donovan said about it?” she asked.
“He’s been supportive, and he keeps telling me not to worry, but how can I not? I feel like I’m coming out of my skin.”
Kennedy slipped her hand onto my back. “You’re not losing your kids, Ro.”
“I need to talk to Dan,” I said decisively. “Maybe if I knew some details about what you had on Evan, it would put my mind at rest.”
A smirk spread across Kennedy’s face. “We’ve been planning something, and we didn’t want you involved. Not even Donovan knows everything. The way we’ve gone about things isn’t strictlylegal, and if the judge found out, we’d be fucked. You can’t talk about it in front of the kids, either, and your reactions have to be authentic in court.”
“I know, but I can’t go on like this,” I argued. “I’ll take the risk and use my acting skills.”
“Okay.” Her voice dropped, and her eyes flashed wickedly. “Come closer, babe. We’ve got a plan, and it’s gonna blow your mind.” An evil grin spread across her face, and her voice was pure ice as she murmured, “By the time we’ve finished with your shithead ex, he won’t be able to show his face in public, let alone court.”
CHAPTER 24
DONOVAN
Our day in court turned into an extended family vacation to Idaho. No word of a lie, the night before our custody case started, Rosie, the kids, and I sat around the dinner table in a steak restaurant with Atlas, Sophie, Kennedy, Kit, Cara, Cash, Colt, Freya, Callum, Maeve, Kennedy’s PI Perry, and Mam.
I turned to Atlas, who sat to my left, and swept my arm around the table. “How did this happen?”
His thoughtful stare went from one person to the next. “Character witnesses.”
“But we don’t need character witnesses.”
“You do,” he shot back. “Wasn’t that long ago that you were the dog’s dick of Hambleton.”
