Daphne frowned. “What did you change it from?”
“Williams,” he answered. “I picked Church because I happened to see one before heading into the courthouse to complete the paperwork. My first and middle names are my grandfather’s, but my last name is just a random word.”
“Do you think that impacted the lawyer’s ability to find you?”
“What lawyer?” Mantis asked.
“My grandfather apparently left something for me,” he replied. “I have no idea what it could be or why I’m only hearing about it now, though.”
Daphne wagged her head. “Good point. Up until you changed your name, you wouldn’t have been hard to find.”
“How long ago did he pass?” Ava asked.
“Twenty-three years,” he answered.
“And even if there was some stipulation that you be an adult before receiving whatever he left you, you had your original last name until six or so years ago,” Mantis said.
Ava frowned. “All that is true, but it’s not uncommon in, well, the circles I grew up in, for parents to create a trust that only becomes available at a certain age. Didn’t you just have a birthday?”
He paused, letting that idea roll around in his head. He could see his grandfather wanting him to be a grown man, hopefully well out of the muck and mire he’d grown up in, before taking possession of any inheritance. He would have done it to protect him, to keep it out of reach of his mother and siblings and the many other predators who stalked the streets of his childhood neighborhood. But while that was in character for his grandfather, Lovell still couldn’t fathom what he might have left his grandson.
“March first,” he said. “I turned thirty-five. I’ll call the lawyer tomorrow, but I don’t think it has anything to do with what’s going on with Weeks and Beeker,” he said, although misgivings swirled in his stomach as the words came out. He couldn’t see how they might be related, but he shouldn’t discount the idea. Not until he talked to the lawyer.
“Anything else?” Mantis asked.
Ava shook her head. “Daisy is doing the same stuff she’s been doing since she got released. Spending most of her time at home or the food kitchen.”
“You need anything from us?” Mantis asked, directing the question to him and Daphne.
Daphne shook her head. “Thank you, but no, we’re good. We’re spending the day with Gabe and Callie at their place. We’ll head back to the cabin before the storm rolls in. I have zerodesire to be out when the wind and snow pick up,” she said with a shiver.
A familiar river of rage and fear and panic coursed through him at the memory of Daphne struggling through the last blizzard, of watching her collapse into the snow when she’d finally made it to Falcons’ land. Intentionally, he buried those feelings and focused on this storm. This storm would be very different. They’d be locked up safe in the cozy cabin. He’d give her much better memories to replace the old ones.
Mantis’s foot shifted, and Lovell looked up. His brother raised an eyebrow a fraction of an inch. Lovell narrowed his eyes. A grin teased the right side of Mantis’s mouth. Lovell might be the calm in the storm, but Mantis sensed things no human should be able to. A product of an upbringing filled with violence and instability, but a handy skill to have as an adult.
“We’re going to pick up lunch from the Boom first,” Daphne said, rising. “Are you guys sledding all day?”
“Until the kids get cranky,” Ava replied, rising as well. Mantis and Lovell followed. “It’s like a domino effect when it happens,” she continued. “All it takes is one to fall, then slowly but surely, they all succumb.”
“Then we feed them and let them watch a show and most fall asleep,” Mantis chimed in. “While the adults linger by the bonfire and stuff ourselves with s’mores.” He paused. “Except for Cody and Mitch and whoever else is feeling particularly invincible that day. They start the sled races. I’ve never seen so many grown men fight over a disc sled.”
“Mitch will tell you they’re the best,” Ava said with a laugh as they exited the office.
“Not even close,” Mantis replied. “Flexible Flyer all the way.”
“Did you win the last race? Oh, wait, you didn’t. You came in second. And if you don’t win, you lose,” Ava said, hip-bumping Mantis before turning to Daphne. “Stay safe, and I’ll call whenwe have more info,” she said. The two women hugged, then he kissed Ava’s cheek before she slipped back into the mudroom.
“I’ll walk you out,” Mantis said, as the sounds of Ava dragging her snow gear back on filtered through the hall. “Any plans tonight other than wait out the storm?” he asked. Not a casual question, though thinly disguised as one.
He opened his mouth to respond, but Daphne cut him off. “Yes, actually,” she said, lifting her coat from the hook. “James is going to do dirty, sexy things to me and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. So is he.”
Mantis blinked. Daphne flashed him a saccharine smile. Lovell should have known she’d noticed his brother’s subtle silent communication.
“Okay, point taken. Mind my own business,” Mantis said.
Lovell fought a smile. “On that note,” he said, setting a hand on Daphne’s lower back and ushering her out into the cold, “we’ll be on our way.”
“Stay safe, kids,” Mantis said. “Remember the talk we had about safe sex,” he singsonged.
