“Malakai is dangerous.”
“I know, Dad. Everyone knows that. Our business with him is done. He has Lucas, and we’re out.”
He stares at me with a blank face. “You think it’s that easy?”
“We were never involved. Malakai only wantedLucas, and since he decided to break in to Iris’s place, I figured I’d deliver him to Malakai directly.”
“Your grandfather could’ve done it without you.”
I shake my head. “My woman. My problem.”
Dad’s one eyebrow rises. “Noted.”
I’ve never said those words or anything close to that to my father. He knows what it means. I’ve heard him say it multiple times in my life about Tilly.
“Your grandfather said the same thing, but he doesn’t always give the whole story.”
“Well, he did this time. I’m not interested in Malakai. He’s not interested in me. He has everything he wants, and so do I. Lucas is out of Iris’s life—and mine, by default—forever. Case closed.”
Dad leans back in his chair, scratching at his beard. “Well…”
“Why don’t you shave that? You’re always scratching your face now.”
“Your mom bought some new balm shit I keep putting on it, but I think it’s giving me hives.”
“Just use soap like the rest of the world,” I tell him.
Dad rolls his eyes. “She thinks she’s doing me a favor.”
“Clearly, she’s wrong.”
“Don’t tell her that,” Dad whispers, finally using his palm to rub his skin rougher.
“Never,” I mutter.
“You’re done with Malakai?” he asks, somehow still not believing me.
“Forever.”
He exhales loudly as his hand finally falls away from his face. “Okay.”
“Do you think I’m that stupid?”
He shrugs, which shocks the shit out of me. “I’d hoped I raised you better.”
“You should be talking to your father. He obviously has made some bad life choices.”
“You have no idea,” he tells me with a pained expression on his face. “It’s surprising he’s still alive.”
“I’m home.” Ma’s voice fills the kitchen.
“She wanted to come home early to bring Iris some cupcakes,” he explains when I turn toward the doorway, surprised to see her in the middle of the day.
“That’s so sweet,” Iris says, and I can almost hear her belly rumble from beside me.
Everyone’s a sucker for Tilly’s cupcakes, and if they’re not, they’re not human.
“I brought your favorite,” Ma says to Iris as she kisses my father on the cheek where he sits across from me.
