I unlace our fingers and run them over my face. “I’ll get some burners. Have you spoken to your mom?”
“I haven’t been able to get a hold of her.”
My mouth tastes like ash when I swallow. “It’s probably just a coincidence.”
I know better than London does how efficient and expedient my enemies can be.
Now that they know how valuable London is, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re hunting down her family.
If they haven’t found them already.
London reaches for my hand again and waits for me to look at her. “Are you okay?”
I blink. “Why?”
“You were muttering in your sleep last night…something about it being your mom’s birthday?” London inches closer and squeezes my hand. “I don’t know what you guys do to honor her—”
“We don’t do anything.” The words come out harsher than intended. “There’s no room for sentimentality in my world.”
London moves closer and presses a warm hand to my cheek. “Right now, it’s just the two of us. There’s no one else in the room.”
My stomach dips. “She would’ve hated this. What we’ve become.”
London presses her forehead to mine. “I’m sure she knows you’re doing what you have to do. At least you’re keeping Olivia and Oliver safe.”
I release a harsh breath. “Not if my dad has a say in it. He’s trying to force them both to come back, and knowing my dad, it’s going to take a hell of a lot to deter him.”
London climbs onto my lap and links her hands at the nape of my neck. “You’ll figure something out. You always do.”
I lean back to look at her, and my stomach stirs strangely when she lifts her eyes. “You sound surer than I feel.”
London beams at me. “I figure one of us has to be. We can take turns.”
I move her hands to my lips for a kiss. “Sounds reasonable.”
London looks into my eyes, and her expression turns serious. “From what you’ve told me, I can tell your mom was an amazing woman, and I know you want to honor your promises, but I’m sure she knew how hard some of them were going to be. She wouldn’t blame you for not being able to keep your word.”
I don’t say anything.
London’s expression is soft and open. “I don’t know what you’d like to do to honor her, but I can come with you.”
I scooch backward onto the bed, keeping an arm wrapped around her. Then I tuck her into my side and lie down. “This is fine.”
London drapes an arm over my stomach, and I can feel her eyes on me, wide and searching. “Do you want to tell me about her?”
I press a kiss to the side of London’s face. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Anywhere you like.”
Silence stretches between us.
London props herself up on her elbow. “What kind of food did she like?”
“Fried chicken.”
London smiles. “She had good taste.”
“I thought so, too. When we were younger, she used to insist that we have a ten-minute dance party every day before bed.”
