“My tires. They have no air,” Roman said through gritted teeth. “Someone let the air out of them.”
“Oh dear.” Babushka shook her head. “Vhy vould they do this thing?”
“That’s what I’m asking you,” Roman said.
The numb had passed and Sadie was certain she should probably say something. She just had no idea what that might be.
Babushka beat her to it,tsking and saying, “This is not good neighborhood.”
Roman looked as though he might throttle his grandmother. “It’s a gated community. And now I have to find someone who can come fill them up.”
“You just said they are no good tires. No air in tires is not good tires.” Babushka lifted Lothario and stroked his head. Not to say she had a whole evil genius schtick going on, but it wasn’t totally absent. “You make no sense, my grandson.”
Roman shoved his hands on his hips, his murderous expression making Sadie’s alarm bells ring louder.
“I’ll call roadside assistance.” He searched the pockets of his suit jacket. “Shit. Where’s my cell phone?”
Sadie sorted through the throw pillows on the sofa, but her gaze snagged on Babushka as the woman’s poker face slipped.
Oh crapola.
“Did you take Rome’s phone?” Sadie did her best to channel the attorney she brought into the courtroom. The one who took no shit. “Because that would be theft.”
“Roman should take better care of his things. He misplaces this. He loses air in tires in that.” Babushka acted as though all of this were perfectly normal.
“Hand over the phone.” Roman’s words were the sharp edges of ice and hard as stone.
Babushka made a face that, frankly, would’ve made the Queen of England jealous because of its regal nature. “I’m certain ven time is right, your phone vill be found.”
Babushka didn’t seem like the type to get caught. She was the type that perpetually got away with offenses.
Hands on his hips, Roman stared his grandmother down.
She stared right back.
“You can use my phone,” Sadie suggested. She handed it over.
Roman made the call. There was a lot of grumpy silence followed by “mmhmmm” and “okay, sure.”
He handed Sadie back her cell. “They’ll be here in four hours.”
“Where do you need to go, Rome?” Sadie asked. “I can take you there. We’ll sort out the tire issue tomorrow. I know a guy. I’m sure he’ll help.”
Babushka seemed utterly disinterested in Roman’s predicament, instead making kissy faces at Lothario.
Roman finally looked away from the ceiling to Sadie. “I need to go somewhere there is alcohol and no family.”
Sadie could make that happen.
“You’re sure you’re good staying with Lothario?” Sadie asked Babushka.
The dog was perfectly capable of spending a night alone, but Sadie didn’t feel comfortable with that option at the moment—what with all the stress of the night and the changes he was about to go through with the baby coming home.
Babushka grinned a huge smile. “Of course. You kids go and have good time on your date.”
“We’re going to discuss this later.” Roman was not pleased, to say the least.
Babushka apparently was done with him and pretended not to hear.
