I just lifted my hands and stepped back. "I'm full up on boyfriends, thanks."
That made Billy's lips curl just a bit on one side, but his eyes hung on me like he was judging me. "I like you. I also watched the video of the fight at the Grill. You didn't hesitate. Why not?"
"Because I thought they were going to kill Ash," I said, sure that he'd heard the story by now.
"But why did that matter?" he asked.
And all the little pieces people had been saying began to fall into place. Billy really didn't understand why I'd care about that. He couldn't wrap his mind around that feeling, so he needed someone to explain it to him. The strangest thing was that I immediately knew how.
"Because Ash is mine - one of mine - and I didn't want to lose him. If he got killed, then I never would've had the chance to see where things went. Sexually, emotionally, or anything else."
Billy nodded like he was soaking that up. "I have a girlfriend."
Excuse me? I was pretty sure he'd taken my words completely out of context. "No, that's not - "
"Listen!" he snapped. "I have a girlfriend. I think I do. She's the best marksman I've ever seen, but she's an even better assassin. She's who I was going to use to take out Brody. I knew that once she heard what he did, she wouldn't ask for payment. She'd do it because it's what's right. She cares. The problem is that she cares too much, and I don't understand that. I do not know how to be what she needs!"
I clasped his arm, then rubbed to soothe him - if I could. "Maybe what she needs is someone who can stop caring for a bit? Someone to balance the emotions hammering inside of her? Billy, I don't love Ash, Cy, or Violet because they're just like me. I love them because they balance me." When his eyes jumped to the ground, I tilted my head, trying to read his face and yet knowing that was probably pointless. "You do know that you can always call me for advice, right? If you need ideas on how to talk to her?"
His eyes jumped back up. "I just might. Brothers?"
"Brothers," I agreed, not surprised at all when he slapped my shoulder.
But right before my eyes, his expression returned to something that looked normal. At the same time, I heard the rumble and clatter of the school bus. Billy was performing again, doing his best to be normal, and the man was terrifyingly good at it. The odd thing was that it also made me feel a little bad for him.
"That's the kids," I said, turning to see the lights on the bus start flashing as it slowed down for our drive.
Billy bumped my shoulder. "You care if I show them how to install this stuff? I think Zeke's interested in it. If he learns, then Faith will want to, and she needs to realize that tech can be girly too."
"Keep it legal," I told him. "Once she's eighteen, you can corrupt her all you want, but please wait until then?"
He flashed me a smile. "Have to make sure my niece stays with her dad," he assured me. "I worked too hard to do it the first time, so I wouldn't want to waste the effort."
Chapter Thirty-Five
We managed to get all of the cameras installed by dinnertime. That didn't mean they were up and running yet, but the actual devices had been mounted where Billy had directed. They were small things and easy to overlook, not like the typical security cameras - although we had a few of those as well. Darnell said that the sight of them was often more of a deterrent than the videos they recorded.
Naturally, the conversation over dinner was about the best way to keep the footage. Darnell wanted off-site storage, and while Billy agreed, the problem was that they were both adamant that they should be responsible for it. Naturally, Violet solved that by pointing out that there was nothing wrong with redundancy.
Then, the next morning, I headed down to the front gate with Faith. No, not to wait for the bus, but because the fire marshal was due to be back and I had no interest in doing this a fourth time. When Emily kicked Zeke out to wait with Faith, she noticed me, so she waved me over.
"Coffee?" she offered. "Or are you busy with something?"
"Fire inspection," I explained.
She hummed knowingly. "Which is why Luke came to check on my fire extinguisher yesterday." Then she pushed the door open a little wider. "I really can make a decent cup of coffee, Cy."
"Never once doubted it," I assured her as I headed inside.
What a difference a few days had made! The living room now looked like it would be a comfortable place to sit. The TV was on, playing a report about the weather. A rug had been placed in the middle of the room, over the newly waxed hardwood floors, and there were a few family photos on the wall. I paused to look at the baby, who must have been Zeke.
"I hope it's not a problem that I put holes in the walls," she said.
"Nope," I said. "I'm just curious if that boy's hair has always been white."
"His father had platinum blonde hair," she admitted. "Mine wasn't much darker at that age. When I was in high school, I was a blonde, actually."
"Still pretty close," I pointed out.
