"Ilike the boy," I told Luke when I found him standing halfway down the drive, watching the contractors work on the cabins.
He moved an arm around my waist and then smiled. "You see him when those men kissed?"
"Yep," I agreed. "As if that wasn't scripted or anything."
Luke chuckled. "I pulled them out of the barn and told them to let the kids breathe, but yeah. Cy admitted it was."
I turned Luke back toward the house and got him walking that way. "So, the boy told me that most parents don't like him."
"Zeke," Luke corrected. "He's at that age where getting called a boy hurts the pride a lot. Guy's fine. Man's a compliment."
"And the problem child part?" I pressed.
Luke sighed, the sound a little too heavy. "Yeah, I tried to hate him, but the moment I realized the shiner was on his face and not Faith's? I thought he was crushing on her until his mom broke the big news to me."
"And you're ok with them hanging out?"
He nodded slowly. "I'm learning, Vi. I swear I am. The kid's gay, which means the others are going to pick on him. Naturally, he's going to fight back. He doesn't really have any other choice. Considering that's exactly what they're doing to Faith? I dunno, I just keep thinking about that picture Ash carries around. The cute kids who grew up to become something impressive, you know? And there, right at the back, is this funny-looking boy that turned into Cy. The same guy who admitted that he picked a few fights and finished even more. Besides, Zeke doesn't exactly have a father figure in his life."
"And Emily?" I asked, that twist of jealousy coming back. Thankfully, this time I had it under control.
Luke still heard it, and his smile proved it. "I just feel bad for her because she's a single mom, hun. Zeke's dad was never in the picture. She got pregnant and did it all alone, and I kinda know how hard that is."
"Just be ready for anything," I warned as we reached the house.
Then I turned around and sat on the front steps. This would give us a place to talk that was far enough from the barn that we wouldn't be heard if we kept our voices down, close enough that we'd hear if there was any problem, and with a perfect view of the pasture side, so we'd know when the kids got on the horses and left. Luke glanced over, decided I had a good idea, and then joined me.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about something," he said, reaching over for my hand. "I think you need to call Cobalt."
"Cess is starting to think the same," I agreed. "She asked to give me long enough for her to try one last legal push, so they can't say we didn't try all the options, but the clock is ticking."
He nodded. "And if Cobalt can't make it go away, I want to talk to Blaze myself."
"He won't answer your call," I tried to explain.
"He will if I use your phone." Luke's thumb swept across the back of my hand. "Cy was explaining to me how he works, and I don't want you paying for my mistakes."
Ok, that was cute, but also not necessary. "Luke, he's part of the rainbow. Gran gave him a color for a reason. Billy's a good guy. I mean, he's a bit dark and pretty fucked in the head, but he really is a good guy." I groaned. "Ok, no, he's a shitty one who does bad things for the right reasons, which counts the same in my book."
Luke just tipped his head toward the barn. "And that's why I'm giving Zeke a chance. All I'm saying is that I'll pay his price."
"And if it's cash?" I countered. "Because he does get paid for his work. Quite a bit, and by people with more money than sense."
"I know about the hitman," he said softly.
I paused. I'd known that. I had, but it was different when he pretended to ignore it. Still, I owed him an explanation. "Bad things for good reasons," I said. "Like killing a child molester."
Luke nodded. "Do I want to know what he was in for?"
"Officially? Accidental hit and run. Unofficially, he stole the car, chased the man down, drove over him three times, and then fled the scene. Billy ditched the car and almost got away. The guy he ran down? Gang thug who was dealing to kids and had put a hit on a few people. Drive-by shootings were happening every night in his hood, so he stopped it. On the stand, he said he was scared because he'd heard he was next, and that it was his first time to drive so didn't know what he was doing. Just to be clear, it was bullshit. He wasn't scared."
"Did Vera know?"
I nodded. "She told him that when the Avengers saved the world, a lot of buildings were destroyed, but no one talks about that part. She said that being a superhero wasn't always pretty, but it was always good, and so long as he had the right intentions, Blaze was part of her family."
"The more I learn about that woman, the more I respect her," he said softly.
"Luke, you don't understand. Billy's the type of guy who could've become a serial killer. He's the kind that climbs a clock tower. My grandmother worked so hard to redirect him, and somehow she managed, but he's not better. He's just in a field where his brand of insanity is accepted."
