“We’re on it,” he vows.
Needing a breather from their blindness, I turn to head up to Tor and I’s room and come face to face with Annabel.
“That was hot. I love a man who can put others in their place.”
“Drop dead, cunt.”
Turning from her, I point for Angel to join me in the back room. As soon as he closes the door, I ask, “What’s Rudi working this week?”
“After tonight, she has a few days off.”
“Good. I’m sending Tor and River to Willow’s Peak. If Rudi goes with her, she’ll be more agreeable to leave. My dad said he’d pick her up, but if Rudes goes with her, they can drive.”
“With us out of town, I’m happy with that.”
“Will she give you grief about it?”
“Nah, she’ll love to see Aspen.”
Annabel is nowhere in sight when I leave the back room. My feet are heavy as I climb the stairs. If Annabel continues to put herself in my presence, I’m not going to hold off putting a bullet in her head. Music plays softly in our room as Tor waters her plants along the top windowsill. Her ass sways gently to the music and I cast a look across the room to see River asleep in his cot.
I lean against the doorframe and watch her for a few moments. I wonder what the crazy bitch downstairs truly believes in her twisted head to make her think I’d want her over my wife. I cross the space and pull her against me, holding her in my arms and sway with her to the music.
“This is nice,” she murmurs.
“I need something from you.”
“You need to ask?” she retorts amusedly.
“Nah, not that. I need you and our boy to go to Willow’s Peak tomorrow and stay for a few days. Rudi’s gonna go with you.”
She pulls her head back and looks up at me. “While you’re on the run?”
“Yeah. I don’t have a good feeling leaving you here.”
“I can go.”
With Tor and our son back home, it’s one less thing I’ll have to think about.
27
The Prospect
Konan
Mom is on her date with the old guy. Luca and the brothers left this morning, after watching Victoria and Rudi drive off. Warren is out, no doubt looking for where the Hades fucks are located, and King is stuck here babysitting the Mayor’s daughter. Tension is taught between them, and I don’t plan on sticking around to witness their shit for the rest of the night.
The girl is strange and is a master of manipulation. I see straight through her thanks to my mother.
“I’m heading out. I’ll have my phone on me if you need anything.”
“Be safe,” King says without taking his eyes off Annabel.
I grab Rudi’s car keys and make sure to lock the gate after me. I’m glad Luca wanted Tor and the baby away from the city while he is gone. The pressure of protecting her, saving us from Luca’s wrath, is heavy to hold.
I drive across the city and find a parking spot across the street from the restaurant my mom’s having her date in. Climbing out of the car, I lean against the hood and light a cigarette. From my point, I have a clear view of Mom laying it on thick. The old guy doesn’t stand a chance. When my mom sets her sights on a guy, nine times out of ten, they’re putty in her hands. She moulds them into whatever she wants, though on a few occasions it’s blown back in her face. When I was a kid, I could never help her when a guy would suss her out and go after her. It wasn’t until I was fifteen, I learned how to defend her and could send the assholes on their way. She hates being alone, but I learned a long time ago, she doesn’t like men either. She can draw them in easily enough, but she makes them her toy to play with. To drain financially dry, take what she can until things sour.
A baby’s cry distracts me from the fake date, and I look right and left. It grows louder and I inhale on my cigarette as I see the woman from the swimming lesson. Pippa was her name. The baby sounds in pain. She holds the kid in her arms, her baby bag hanging off her shoulder. She frantically keeps looking left and right, clearly worried. Grinding out the cigarette under my boot, I head up the street.
