“Hi, Mom,” she chuckles, sipping her milk. “I wanted to come wake you up in a minute, because I gotta go to school soon.”
Suddenly, the bathroom door opens, which causes a chill to go down my spine. A couple of seconds later, Kyler appears in the living room.
“Be right back,” I tell Rebel and press a kiss on her hair.
“Mom, my breakfast?”
I put a finger up, and walk toward Kyler, whom I pull into the bedroom by his elbow. “She thinks she can go to school, Ky. What should I say? She isn’t safe in school.” My heart beats erratically, and I have no clue why I ask him the question, because I know this is a bad idea.
“Brooks is driving her to school because you can’t go with her. I called this morning. It’s already settled.”
“What the fuck? No, Kyler. She isn’t going to school without safety precautions! What if they try to kidnap her to get to me? You told me yourself, we can’t go home, but you sent my daughter to school, just like that?” I punch his chest, which sends a jolt of pain through my hand. Shit. I shake it to get rid of the feeling.
“You know her teacher, right?” He seems completely unaffected by my action, just looks at me questioningly.
“Mrs. Paisley? Yes, of course.” I nod, but don’t understand what he’s getting at.
“Paisley?” It’s a question with a tone that implies the name is a dead giveaway.
I shrug, frustrated, and nod.
Kyler rolls his eyes at me. “You don’t know what Brooks’ last name is, do you?” He flops down on the bed, which causes his towel to slide down, and my eyes involuntarily follow.
“I was never interested in Ballistic’s last name, or Ash’s or anyone at the MC. You were the only one I was interested in.” I blow a strand out of my face.
“Jen is Brooks’ old lady, Layne. If there’s anything remotely suspicious at the school, we know it in seconds. Brooks takes her, but he picks her up as well. Jen will not give Rebel to a random person, except for him. Or one of us, of course.” He points at himself and me.
“What if someone armed enters the classroom before the teacher spots these people?” I refuse to call her Jen.
“Do you really think that armed men would enter a classroom full of children with no one noticing? Jen always carries a weapon, and the principal has been informed of the situation.”
What have they done? Informed the principal? My daughter is in real danger, damn it!
Without thinking, I follow him. “Hey, seriously. What if someone—”
As his towel lands on the floor, I find myself unable to look away from the view. Shit, shit, shit. No, Layne, you can’t… Quickly, I avert my gaze to his face. I didn’t just take a peek at his crotch. Really, really, really didn’t. I shake my head. This is the second time he’s flashed me, damn him.
“That will not happen.” He tilts his head.
I’m momentarily stunned, faced with the full-frontal reality of his naked glory. “It can’t happen. If something happens to Rebel—”
“A single scratch on Rebel will be the last mistake that person ever makes.” Kyler’s voice is void of emotion.
“The last?”
He nods while pulling up his briefs. Then puts on his shirt. And I just stand there. There’s an internal struggle between my better nature and my baser instincts. The good one screams you can’t kill people. That it’s not normal how Kyler talks about it:as if it’s just another task. Like doing errands or going to the bathroom.
But my bad self screams “hell yeah”. If someone comes after Rebel, I will shoot them in the head or heart myself. Just to know for sure they’re dead.
Both options guarantee that someone comes out on the losing end.
When Kyler turns around, he collides with me. “You’re still here. Do you find it intriguing to observe me changing outfits?” Again he tilts his head and runs his hand over his dark-blond hair, then lets it slide further into his beard. Meanwhile, he’s taking me in.
I shake my head, to make myself think of something other than where else that hand might go. Then I put mine on my hip, roll my eyes, and storm into the living room. “Breakfast,” I mutter, and head to the kitchen, rummaging in all the cupboards for something Rebel can eat.
During her breakfast, I tell her that something happened yesterday before we came to get her, so I have to sort some things out. “So Kyler has arranged for Mrs. Paisley’s husband to take you to school, okay?”
“I don’t know that man at all,” she whispers as she finishes eating.
