Her expression morphed into disbelief. “You couldn’t have just gotten a dog?”
“No dogs allowed in 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 a few years ago. 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 seventy. 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 in return.
“Let me know when you’re back,” I said, and Jude nodded. He always used to find me when they got back. It was good to know some things hadn’t changed.
“You want to watch some TV?” Mom asked once she’d wiped the last crumb off the bench and we could 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 a corner on the big couch.
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.
Oh boy, did I ever. I gratefully took the glass and gulped half its contents.
“The bottle is on the coffee table, and I restocked the wine cellar last weekend. Help yourself.”
There were definite perks to being back home.
