“Yes, but Em and Dad…” Lenny whispers, his words hushed. Before I can answer, Alex spots me and comes barreling over.
“Mommy!” he yells, his tiny feet clomping across the floor. His face lights up like the sun, arms stretched out for a hug.
I bend down and scoop Alex into my arms, grinning ear to ear as he giggles and wraps his arms around my neck.
“Hey, buddy!” I say, planting kisses on his chubby cheeks. “Have you been helping Uncle Lenny?” I ask, tickling his belly as he squirms with delight.
“Yes! I read story!” he says with a huge smile, wiggling his fingers at Lenny, who, with his lips pursed tight, can’t help but return the smile, albeit half-heartedly.
I glance at him, silently telling him that we’ll be finishing this conversation later. “And was it a good story?” I ask Alex, giving him a little boop on the nose.
“It was good.”
Alex’s short, to-the-point answer makes me laugh. “Typical boy,” I tease, shaking my head in mock disappointment. “That’s great, squirt. You hungry? Almost time for dinner.”
Alex nods enthusiastically. “Can we get pizza?”
“Sure thing,” I say, forcing a smile. “Why don’t you go wash up while Uncle Lenny orders?”
As Alex scampers off to the bathroom, Lenny steps closer. “Did you get what we need?”
I nod, pulling out the burner phones. Lenny’s eyes widen as I set them on the rickety table.
“Jesus,” he breathes, his face going pale. “What about Em and Dad?”
I swallow hard, the image of them bound and gagged flashing through my mind. “They’re alive. For now.”
“Fuck,” Lenny whispers, running a hand through his hair. “What’s the plan?”
The sound of running water stops, and we both tense. I glance at the bathroom door, then back to Lenny.
“We’ve got till midnight to figure that out,” I say, voice hard. “But one thing’s for damn sure. Nobody’s touching our family.”
The bathroom door opens, and Alex emerges, hands still damp. “Is pizza here?”
I force another smile. “Uncle Lenny’s ordering it now, right?” I give Lenny a pointed look.
Lenny catches on quick, fumbling for his phone. “Yeah, yeah. I’m on it. Pepperoni good for everyone?”
Alex nods enthusiastically, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air. I ruffle his hair, my fingers lingering a moment too long. “Why don’t you find us something to watch on TV while we wait, squirt?”
As Alex grabs the remote, I sidle up to Lenny, keeping my voice low. “Make the call. But keep your eyes on the parking lot. We can’t be too careful.”
Lenny nods, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. He moves to the window, phone pressed to his ear, his free hand twitching the curtain aside every few seconds.
“Momma?” Alex’s voice cuts through my thoughts. He’s sprawled on the bed, remote in hand. “Can you watch with me?”
For a moment, I hesitate. Every instinct screams at me to stay vigilant, to keep moving, planning. But the hopeful look in Alex’s eyes breaks me. “Sure thing, baby.”
I settle next to him on the lumpy mattress, pulling him close. He smells of cheap motel soap and innocence—a scent I want to bottle and keep forever. On the ancient TV, some kind of wacky game show blares to life. Contestants in garish outfits are tackling an obstacle course, falling into pools of green slime.
Alex giggles as a guy dressed like a superhero face-plants into a foam pit. I force out a chuckle, trying to lose myself in this moment of normalcy. But my body refuses to relax. My eyes keep darting to the door and the windows, cataloging potential threats and escape routes.
My mind’s on overdrive, wheels spinning out of control. Em’s in trouble, John’s in deep shit, and now Alex is mixed up in this clusterfuck. I just want us to be safe, but how the hell are we gonna pull that off?Fucking D.
Lenny ends his call, pizza apparently ordered. He settles into the chair by the window, his leg bouncing nervously. The ticking of the cheap wall clock seems to grow louder with each passing second.
“Did you see that, Momma?” Alex points excitedly at the screen. “That lady justhopinside of water!”
