Ryker nodded slowly. “You’re trustworthy and protective. I don’t know what else I could ask in his partner, really.”
“Is him being alive going to be an issue? Especially because now that he has his Instagram active, anyone could see where he is and probably what kind of place we run here. Everyone here is queer in some way and most of us are couples now.”
To his credit, he gave it some thought, then said, “If there’s any, and I meananyreason to think he’s not safe here because of something happening in Brooklyn, I’ll send Murray over for however long it takes.”
I was happy with that. “That’s a deal. We’re pretty nonviolent here, but I would kill for him.”
He looked into my eyes and nodded. “I believe you. Thank you.”
“Anything else we need to talk before we call him back?”
“No, I don’t think so. Except, maybe give me your number?”
We exchanged numbers.
“Just…if the queer thing isn’t an issue for you, let him know. He thinks you’re the same as those guys and…”
Ryker sighed. “Yeah. Okay. I get that.” He made eye contact again and said, “For the record, I have no issue with it. I’d be a bit hypocritical if I did.”
Well, then.
“Bucky!” I called out and let out a whistle.
A minute later, Rey and Bucky came back downstairs.
I started to clear the table. “Do you want to show your dad around?”
“Yeah, that’d be nice,” Rey said, having clearly used the time upstairs to relax. “Can the kids come downstairs?”
It was funny that he called them kids, but I understood it was because he wanted to keep their identity safe just in case.
“Yeah. You can even take them with you if you want,” I said, because why not. These men might be dangerous, but I didn’t see them being a threat to anyone here.
“Bucky, go get Mona,” Rey said, and then dug out his phone to text Madden, I supposed.
Bucky dashed up the stairs and within a couple of minutes, a giggling little girl followed him downstairs. Madden moved at a more sedate pace, but I could immediately tell he was curious if not a little suspicious.
I cleared the table and Madden, after being introduced to Ryker, came to help me out while Mona went outside with Ryker and Rey.
“Is he safe?” Madden asked quietly while filling the dishwasher.
I opened the fridge door to put the remaining salads in. “Yeah. For now, at least. I guess it all depends on how many enemies his dad makes.”
Madden thought for a moment. “You think someone might threaten Rey to get to his dad?”
“It’s a possibility. A small one, because it’s a whole operation to even try to get to him here when Ryker is in Brooklyn, but…you know.”
He hummed and then sighed as he closed the dishwasher. “Let’s go see how the tour’s going.”
It wasn’t a question, and I recognized it as what it was: a peace offering.
“Yeah. I bet Mona is running circles around the gangsters.”
Madden snorted and we went to get dressed to go out.
* * * *
As expected, we could hear Mona’s excited babbling coming from the old stable. She was explaining what every animal was named.
