He huffs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I’m super-intelligent and an idiot at the same time.”
I push up on my knees, place my hands on either side of his head, and wait until he meets my eyes. “I said I was proud of you and I fuckin’ meant it. Last night, when the chips were down, you didn’t use the skills you have. You knew you shouldn’t hack into the Kings’ shit. Even when they tried to use Toni to persuade you, you stuck to your guns. That takes guts and bravery, Ace. And more, shows you were thinking about the repercussions.” I chuckle softly. “I think Pippa’s rubbed off on you.”
“She’s going to hate me.”
I can feel a V forming between my brows. “Pippa? Why the fuck should she?”
Looking sheepish, he admits, “Because I left a back door open in our database, so I could get in if I was ever locked out, and even if passwords were changed.”
I exhale deeply.Fuck, we’d thought we were safe because Pippa had sewn everything up tight.Another “if” that I can’t bring myself to think about. “Not saying I expect you to get kidnapped again, kid, but any access Pippa and Genie don’t know about is a possible weakness. I suggest you reverse whatever you’ve done. Just in case.”
“You’re not going to tell Pippa?”
He idolises her, I know. “If you tell me you’re going to correct it, then there’s no reason anyone else should know.”
Again he swivels and changes the subject. “Dad, did you mind that I went to Trixie last night? You told me to stay away from her.”
Ace takes everything literally. “Kid, adults get shit wrong all the time. And I was so fuckin’ wrong about her. I’ll be man enough to admit I misjudged the situation.” And that’s the understatement of the century. The only thing that had ever guided her had been the safety of my son. Even last night, she’d hidden her own pain and given her all to comforting him, rather than taking care of herself.
My statement seems to satisfy him.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?” I’m wondering what else he’s going to throw at me.
“I’m really hungry.”
I snort. Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. He’s a teenager after all.
“Me, too, kid. Let’s go find something to eat.”
I stand and make my way to the door. As I open it, he stops me. “When are you going to stop calling me ‘kid?’”
“Never.” I laugh. “Not even when you’re fifty. You’ll always be my kid.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
FREAK
When we enter the kitchen, the first person I see is, of course, Trixie. She’s chopping some vegetables while Heaven and Sweetie are sitting on their asses talking and laughing.
“What the fuck?” I exclaim, approaching Trixie and gently encouraging her to a seat. I turn my ire on the two club girls. “Trixie’s got broken ribs. She should be taking things easy. You,” I point at them, “take over whatever she’s doing. And while you’re at it, throw some bacon and shit on for Ace and me.”
Spurred on by the expression on my face, Heaven and Sweetie jump to their feet. Sweetie goes to the fridge to act on my last demand, but Heaven pauses beside Trixie.
“Babe, I didn’t know you were hurt. Why the fuck didn’t you say?”
Trixie just shrugs her off. “I’m okay. I wasn’t straining myself, and I suspect my ribs are just bruised.”
I’d bet good money that fucking husband of hers made her do all the domestic chores after he’d beaten her, never mind how much she was hurting. Well, as a thank you for saving my son,I’m going to ensure everyone treats her like crystal glass while she’s got any lingering injury.
“You make sure she stays off her feet.” I share a glance with Heaven, who I actually believe would have helped out if she’d known the state Trixie was in.
“So, what are we making, Trix? I’ll do it all. You just have to tell me.”
Trixie shoots me a glance that suggests giving directions is going to be far harder than doing everything herself. Her expression makes me chuckle. It’s not often a club girl isn’t wary of me. After I’ve had to suffer her glare for a good few seconds, she answers Heaven. “Lasagne. And you can finish chopping the vegetables to begin with.”
Ace says in a loud stage whisper, “Lasagne has vegetables?”
