“Of course not.” She withdraws her hand. “It’s just my way of showing affection and telling you how much I love you. But you’re right. You’re not a baby any longer, so I won’t call you that again. How about pancakes for breakfast?”
“Really?” He gapes. “Really, really? I don’t have to eat oatmeal?”
Tatiana laughs. “Really.”
She’s good with him. Watching them together… it moves something inside me, something that’s been dead for a very long time.
“Are you coming, Dante?” He takes my hand. “Mommy lets me have pancakes with chocolate chips.”
Tatiana drops her gaze to where his small hand rests in mine, seeming a little hurt. She’s quick to hide it when she meets my eyes. The unspoken message in hers isn’t difficult to decipher. She doesn’t want me to join them.
“Sorry, buddy.” Even though pulling my hand from his is like having my skin peeled with a vegetable scraper, I go down on my haunches to put us on eye level. “I have work to catch up with.” At the crestfallen look that comes over his little face, I offer him a compromise. “How about we have dinner together again?” Tatiana opens her mouth, no doubt to object, but I continue before she has a chance. “This time, your mom can choose the restaurant.” I shoot her a glance. “I’m obviously no good at it.”
My phone rings. I straighten and take it out of my pocket. It’s Reino.
While I take the call, Tatiana escapes with Noah to his room.
Reino informs me he’s on his way up via the stairs.
While I wait for him, I push the cabinet away from Jasper’s door. Before I can knock, she steps out dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Her hair is loosely braided down her back.
Her tone drips with hostility. “Where’s Tiana?”
“In Noah’s room. She’s helping him to get dressed. You’re going out for breakfast.”
Someone raps on the door. I look through the peephole before opening it. Reino steps inside, wearing his usual attire of dark jeans, a T-shirt, Mexican pointy boots, and a leather jacket. I nod at the men standing guard in front of the fire exit and close the door, making sure to lock it.
Reino smiles at Jasper. “Morning.”
She cuts him to pieces with her gaze. “I don’t make nice with liars, so save your breath.”
Reino grins. “I reckoned we’re even, Delilah.”
She fumes in silence, continuing to glare at him.
I take my credit card from my wallet and give it to Reino. “Take them for breakfast wherever Tatiana wants to go. Make sure a team follows, and check out the place before you let them go inside.”
He slips the credit card into the back pocket of his jeans. “Where would you like me to take them after breakfast?”
“To work. Keep a watch around the clock, and send me hourly updates.”
“Yes, sir,” he drawls, grinning at Jasper when he catches her gaze.
Tatiana and Noah walk from the bedroom. Noah is dressed in the same tracksuit pants and sneakers as yesterday, but he’s wearing a Superman T-shirt that’s a tad too small for him. Tatiana has twisted her hair in a messy bun and put on her sneakers. The scarf she’s tied around her neck this morning hasn’t escaped my attention. I assume she’s not wearing it because she’s cold. Her tote bag hangs over her shoulder. She doesn’t seem happy to see Reino either.
I go over and pull her into my arms before kissing her on the lips. “Have a nice day, baby. I’ll come over as soon as I’ve finished important business.”
She’s too caught off guard to react at first. I set her free before she can push me away.
Noah stares at us, his gaze moving from his mom to me and back to his mom. “Are you in love, Mommy?”
A flush taints her cheeks. “Of course n?—”
“That’s how grownups greet one another when they’re in a relationship,” I interject.
Tatiana clenches her jaw so hard her teeth snap together.
Noah considers me with a tilted head. “Are you calling her baby to show affection too?”
