My mom turned her disgusted look my way. “Why isn’t it in a cage?”
“He’s housetrained,” I said for the third time today. Why did nobody believe me? There hadn’t been a single accident since we arrived. Except the missing corner of the rug.
Her expression morphed into disbelief. “You couldn’t have just gotten a dog?”
“No dogs allowed at the apartment,” I said, pushing my empty plate away. I’d missed my mom’s cooking, but not the interrogation that came with it.
“If you were still living here, you could have had a dog,” my dad pointed out unhelpfully.
A topic change was in order or I’d pick up my very clean and friendly bunny and walk right out the door. “Any news on when I can go back home?”
“We’ll know after the meeting,” Liam said.
It was already eight at night, but all their meetings usually happened in the cloak of darkness. If you did something not exactly legal, you usually didn’t want the world to see what you were doing.
“When are we heading out?” Jude asked before I could.
“Thirty minutes.”
“Gunner picking you up?” Gabriel cut in.
Liam nodded. “Carter is backup, and you guys are going with him.”
“Backup just behind the factory?” Dad asked.
“Gunner’s set it all up exactly where I would have. He’s good,” Liam said.
My dad didn’t hire idiots. That Gunner knew what he was doing was a given. But the fact that he had Liam’s approval was huge.
“Let’s get ready,” Liam said and stood up, signaling the end of the meal.
Dad might officially be the head of the family, but Liam had unofficially taken over. Dad had trouble letting go, but his heart wasn’t the best, and his doctor told him if he didn’t take it easy, he wouldn’t make it past sixty.
He’d reluctantly handed over the reins to Liam when Mom put her foot down and made him retire. She didn’t get angry often, but when she did, it scared the pants off even the most seasoned of our soldiers.
Once everyone disappeared, I helped Mom clear the table. She must have really missed me because she didn’t once try and shoo me away.
We were doing the dishes when the guys walked past the kitchen, fully kitted out. Except for Liam, who was in his usual suit. I often wondered if he slept in that thing.
“Don’t wait up,” he said and led the guys outside.
As if that would happen. I’d be unable to sleep until I knew everyone was back safe and sound. And Mom would be the same. Yet they told us every time not to stay up.
“Be safe,” Mom called out.
“Let me know when you’re back,” I said, and Jude nodded. He always found me when they got back. It was good to know that some things hadn’t changed.
“You want to watch some TV?” Mom asked once we could once again eat off every surface in her kitchen.
“Sure.”
I had to figure out if I still had a business. And doing it while watching one of her shows sounded great. I got my laptop out of my room and settled into my corner on the big couch.
I logged on to my emails while Mom flicked through the channels. I wheezed when I saw how many emails were waiting for me. My only saving grace was that I hadn’t started any projects before my kidnapping. But I had clients who were waiting for me to get in touch with them about upcoming jobs.
I’d feel better once I’d tackled some of the emails and made a plan. But for now, I needed to hyperventilate.
A glass of wine appeared in my sight. “You look like you need this,” Mom said.
