His brows furrowed. “What?”
“You heard me. You can tell him I was here and what I took. He’s out a lot of money, and I wiped out a good number of his men the other day. I’m interested in seeing what his next move is.” I crouched down in front of him. “Just know, I’m watching you. Enjoy this while you can, if you can, because I don’t want drugs on my streets. All this will end soon enough, and then you’ll need me. Think about what that future may look like, Parker.” I patted his cheek, stood, and left the shop.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Pennsylvania
While the cookies were baking,I was able to go up to the bedroom I was staying in and sift through my belongings. They’d been delivered the day before, but I was surprised at how much Gideon could distract me.
As much as I traveled, I hated leaving stuff in bags and boxes. One thing Tenny had always said—treat wherever you are like home, and you’ll be sure to respect it. I was tucking my empty duffel bags on the top of the closet when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Gideon walked in as I was moving toward the last box.
“Looks like you’re getting settled.”
I pulled out the four books I had and set them on the nightstand. “Yeah, I can’t live out of bags and boxes, no matter where I am or for however long.”
I collapsed the box and slid it under the bed, watching as Gideon gravitated to the nightstand to peruse my books.
“Interesting collection.”
“Is it?”
“Eclectic, I should say.”
I shrugged. “I usually get a new book every town I go to. It’s hard to move books, so I don’t have more than one per location.”
His gaze met mine. There was a glint of something—I wasn’t sure what. “And what book did you get in Northchester?”
“None…I would have. I planned to be here longer, but I didn’t expect to be stuck in this house.”
He playfully gasped. “Stuck in this house? It’s a work of art. There’s a game room.”
I laughed and couldn’t take my eyes off him as he pretty much prowled over to me. “Oh, a game room, how silly of me.”
When he was only a few inches from my body, he smiled. “What are you doing now?”
I glanced around the room. “I finished unpacking, so, nothing. Why, want to play a game of foosball with me?”
“Hmm.” His finger skimmed along my cheek. “I do want to play with you, but maybe I’ll play with?—”
“Daddy!”
Holy cockblock.Gideon and I turned in time to see Olivia strut into the bedroom, dragging Owen behind her.
“Hello, Olivia. What is causing you to scream at the top of your lungs?”
“Daddy,” she huffed. “Owen ate my Play-Doh.”
Oh, dear. That can’t be good.“Isn’t that toxic?”
Gideon shook his head. “They make it themselves…which, if I’m being honest, is because Owen ate the storebought one once and ended up in the ER. So, we make it now.”
“Because you can’t get him to stop eating Play-Doh?”
“Exactly.” Gideon studied Owen. “We’ve talked about this. You can’t eat things that aren’t food, and before either one of you says it’s made from food, I will forbid you from having dessert. I’m making a point—don’t ruin it.”
