“I don’t think you understand,” Dad says. “That had nothing to do with us. It was random.”
“It wasn’t random,” Rafe says regretfully, looking at me with guilt in his eyes. “Ava, I’m sorry. But they have to know.”
I want to bury my face against Theo, close my eyes, smell his baby smell, and pretend none of this is happening.
“I posted those men on your house to keep you safe. They were defending you against other men, men a rival in my organization sent after them… or you. I can’t be sure. Which is why?—”
Mom stands abruptly, shaking her head. “No, no, wait a second. You’re an art dealer, correct? What sort of business could lead to something like this?”
“I’m not an art dealer,” Rafe snarls.
“What are you, then?”
“A man trying to keep you safe,” Rafe snaps. “And a man who can’t give you every single detail about his organization.”
Dad approaches Rafe, gesturing at him with his finger. For a scary second, I think Dad’s going to hit him. “If you expect us to go with you, you’d better give us some answers.”
“Dad,” I hiss. “Just stop. Please.”
He turns to me, disbelief on his face. “Stop? We’ve just had our peace disturbed in our own home. Now I’m supposed to waltz off with this stranger?”
“He’s not a stranger,” I snap. “He’s Theo’s father.”
Rafe looks at me in shock, a heartbreaking smile on his face, as though he thought I’d never acknowledge his parentage.
“The fact is,” Rafe says. “We’re in danger just by being here now. With the police gone, everyone in this room is at risk.” He looks at me with that same seriousness. “Including our son, Ava. We need to go.Now.”
I stand with Theo, rocking him gently, looking at my mother. “Can we just do this, please? It’s not like he’s asking us to go someplace bad. Just a hotel. Just for a little while.”
Mom folds her arms. “Not without answers?—”
“For Theo,” I hiss. “Please. Rafe’s telling the truth. We won’t be safe otherwise.”
“What’s so safe about ahotel?” Dad demands.
“The men who did this won’t risk storming a fancy hotel, possibly killing civilians on the way, just to get to you.”
“This makes no fucking sense,” Dad snarls, squaring up to Rafe. My heart nearly beats out of my chest. “But for my grandson and my daughter, we’ll go.”
Rafe leaves us in the most luxurious hotel room I’ve ever been in. Well, not aroom. It has three bedrooms, a balcony garden, a sauna, a bathtub, a huge living room, and a modern kitchen. Rafe takes off almost immediately, leaving us in testy silence.
Once I’ve got Theo settled in his bassinet – Rafe said he’s going to send someone with the rest of our things – Mom and Dad confront me in the living room. They look tired and furious at the same time.
“Answers,” Dad snaps. “Now.”
I swallow. What choice do I have? They deserve better than this.
“First, I need you to swear on Theo that you won’t tell the police.”
“What?”Mom snaps, then throws her hands up and turns as if talking to an imaginary audience. “What has our lives come to?”
“You have to swear, Mom, or I won’t say.”
“God,” Dad says, sighing. “I swear on Theo.”
“I do too,” Mom snaps.
Sorry, Rafe.
