“We’re okay,” I promise her. “I’m okay. My brothers are okay. Our business is okay. Everything’s okay.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “It’s a little messy, but everything’s all right.”
“Okay.” Relief swallows her reservations as she stands on her tiptoes again, closing the distance between us. “I love you,” she whispers.
The words settle over me like a warm blanket, and I smile against her mouth. “Love you, too.”
“Hey, Jag?” Footsteps follow my sister’s voice from the second floor.
Pulling away from Vi so I’m not screaming in her face, I call out, “Yeah, Cobes?”
She jogs into the room, her phone stretched toward me. “It’s Judge. He wants to talk to you.”
I frown. “What?”
“He said you weren’t answering your phone.” Cobie hands her cell to me.
Bringing it to my ear, I say, “Hello?”
“About damn time.” Judge sighs.
I shift the phone to my opposite ear. “Hello to you, too.”
“Tell me, were you ignoring my calls on purpose?” Judge demands. “Or…?”
The man sounds like he’s about to have a heart attack. Part of me wants to mess with him more just for fun, but I decide to put him out of his misery instead. “I left my phone in my room.”
“And what are your brothers’ excuses?” he challenges.
A low rumble of amusement rolls through me. “Can I help you, Unc?”
“Just checking in to see if you’re still breathing.”
“And why wouldn’t I still be breathing?”
“I thought we already agreed you’d stop lying to me,” Judge snaps as if I’ve finally pushed him past the limit. “Look, I’m sorry,” he says in a softer tone. “It’s just…you scared me, all right? I couldn’t get a hold of you, and?—”
“I said I’m fine, Unc,” I remind him.
“I know.” He sighs. “I know you are. And I know I already told you this at the coffee shop, but if you need help, or if you need anything like I know you needed last night, I’m here. All right, Jag?”
Last night? The man’s more aware than we give him credit. And even if I want to question him about it, there are too many ears for that. My attention shifts to Violet and Cobie. Unsure what to say, I mutter, “I hear you, Unc.”
“And next time, answer your damn phone. Felt like I was having a heart attack.”
With a laugh, I return, “Will do, old man.”
I end the call and hand the phone back to Cobie. “Thanks.”
“Everything okay?” she prods.
“Just worried about my face,” I reply. It’s only half a lie, but Cobie doesn’t need to know about Gus or our arrangement, or exactly how in trouble we really are. Hell, a small part of me wonders if I even really know it. What the after-effects from last night will bring. Part of me doesn’t want to know. And part of me…the biggest part, well, I guess I don’t really care. As long as I have my family and my Little Thief, I can handle it. We all can.
But for now? For now, I’m going to eat some pancakes with my little sister and my Little Thief. Snaking my hand around Violet’s waist, I kiss her temple, then steal another piece of bacon.
We’re going to be okay.
