How on earth does she know he has a gun?
“Everyone here has one, Mom. You saw that, right?”
Did I say that out loud?
“Please, Mom? I just want to…” And there’s the pain on her pretty face again and her shoulders slump.
“Honey, I’m just worried, you know?” I pull her against me.
Tears trickle down her cheeks. “I just want to get away from here, Mommy.”
Ballistic joins us, blowing out smoke after a puff of his cigarette. “Hey. I was thinking, maybe she can join us for dinner, play with Brandon for a while, and then I’ll take her back afterward. That way you have some time to spend with Kyler…” He casts a brief glance at Rebel. “You need clean clothes and things like that, I guess?” He raises a single brow.
My blood’s boiling. Why is that prick always so practical? I’ve never seen him show much emotion. Always with the practicality.It’s practical when you do this. We’ll get rid of all the problems if we off that prick. You need clean clothes.
How the hell does Rebel’s teacher live with him? How did they have kids? Okay, I actually know how you get kids, it’s just… I gesture with my hand from top to bottom at him.
“What about me, Laylay?” He takes a final drag and tosses the butt.
Holy fuck, what am I doing? “Nothing. Good idea. Rebel, you can have dinner at Miss Paisley’s,” I say through clenched jaws.
My daughter gives me a watery smile and then looks at Ballistic. “I get to come to dinner. I can show Brandon that girls aren’t dirty.”
He starts laughing, which is seriously the first time I’ve seen that happen. “Come, little one.”
Rebel wraps her arms around my waist. “See you later, Mom.”
I press a kiss on her head. “Have fun, honey.” Looking up at Ballistic, I narrow my eyes and point a pedantic finger at him. “If there’s even a hair out of place when she comes back…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then you’ll have my balls.” He rolls his eyes.
“Just so you know.” I exhale deeply. Brooks and Rebel walk leisurely to his bike.
I startle when Kyler touches my arm. “How about I make us dinner before I pick up some stuff from your house?”
“I’m coming with you.” With a nod at him, I watch my daughter get on a motorcycle with a gang member, and my heart skips a beat. This is totally against my principles, but I trust him more than any “normal” person from her school. He fixes her helmet, fires up the bike, and she gives me a wave. I wave back and as they leave the grounds, I walk up the stairs to the apartment.
“Layne, you can’t come with me,” Kyler grumbles. “We’ll make a list together and I’ll pick it up.”
Halfway up the stairs, I stop and look back at him. “I’m coming with you. I know exactly what Rebel needs, so I’m making sure you forget nothing.”
“Layne,” he says, all condescending.
“I’m serious, drop it.” With a sigh, I walk up the stairs. Now that Rebel’s safe with Ballistic, I have some time to gather the right stuff.
After dinner, Kyler grabs the empty plate from the coffee table. “Nothing’s going to happen to her. You know that, right?” A deep frown and the look on his face betrays his worry for me.
As I nod, I get up and take the bowl to the black kitchen counter. “Regardless, I put my little girl in the hands of a ruthless murderer.”
“Wow, that’s…” With wide eyes, he looks down at me. “The guy has a wife and son of his own, Lay. It’s not like he murders every person he comes across. And I think you know him as well as you do me.” He opens the dishwasher and puts the plates in there.
I close my eyes and sigh. “I do know that. Apart from the last part. Ballistic is…” How do I explain this to Kyler? After all, he’s his best friend. “…like Fort Knox.”
Kyler nods, keeps loading the dishwasher without a care, then bam—new subject. “Do you know what you need?”
I shrug as I wash my hands and dry them.
“A quiet evening to relax.” When he straightens, he reaches out to me, but retracts.
