Page 59 of Deadly Conflicts

“You guys are giving me a headache,” Jake said from his spot sitting cross-legged on the floor and watching Rodrigo work. “Can you lower the volume?”

“No,” James and Grady replied in unison.

“They are very loud,” Sven agreed, a streak of grease running down his cheek as he pushed himself out from underneath the car. “I feel like I’m babysitting. I haven’t done that since Sophie was younger. She was better behaved than those two, though.”

“They’ve been like that since they were little,” Rose said, breezing into James’ garage with a full tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. “Who is thirsty?”

“Me,” Rodrigo replied, earning a beaming smile from Rose. “I don’t know how you raised such terrible sons when you’re clearly the world’s best mother.”

“Oh, you’re such a suck-up,” Grady muttered. “How can a mobster be such a suck-up?”

“Practice,” Rodrigo answered, winking as Rose poured him a glass of lemonade. “I want to know how a son can be so rotten to a wonderful mother like this.”

“Did you hear that?” Rose asked, cuffing the back of Grady’s head. “I’m a wonderful mother.”

“You are,” Grady agreed. “I knew that before he did.”

“You’ve never said it.”

“I’ve thought it, though,” Grady said, flashing his mother a cheeky grin.

“You’re a suck-up, too,” James said, using his wrist to wipe his sweaty brow so he wouldn’t get grease on his face. “What time is it? It feels as if we’ve been working for days.”

“It’s a quarter past six,” Sven replied, causing James to frown. “Why? Do you become a pumpkin at the stroke of seven?”

“You’re a real piece of work today,” James said. “You know that, right?”

“I think you’re all pieces of work,” Maverick announced. He sat on the floor next to the driver’s side of the car, a tablet perched on his lap. He plugged the contraption into the car’s guidance system an hour before and hadn’t stopped staring at his screen ever since. James had almost forgotten he was there. “I think your mother is a saint for putting up with you.”

“I like him, too,” Rose said, handing Maverick a glass of lemonade. “He’s very wise.”

“I am,” Maverick agreed. “I’m handsome, too.”

“You would be with a haircut,” Rose said, turning away from Maverick seconds before he shot her a dirty look. “What’s wrong, James? You look upset.”

“I’m not upset,” James clarified. “I’m just … Mandy should’ve been home an hour ago.”

“So?” Maverick made a face. “Does she get lost if she’s not careful? Is it because she’s blonde? While we’re on the subject, is she a real blonde?”

“I’ll shoot you if you ever ask that question again,” James warned, shifting his attention to the driveway. The garage door was open – mainly because it was too hot to work otherwise – and the driveway was littered with the vehicles. The one he didn’t see belonged to his wife. “I need to call her.”

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Rose said. “She’s probably on her way home.”

“I know,” James said. “It’s just … she’s a trouble magnet. I’ll just call her really quickly and … .”

“She’s probably gossiping with Ally,” Jake muttered.

“I heard that,” James snapped, extending a finger. “I’m not going through that again. She did not tell Ally.”

“She didn’t tell Ally what?” Grady asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jake snapped.

“Oh, now I’m dying to know,” Grady said. “What’s going on? Did you punch that Vince dude and then try to hide it from Ally? If so, I applaud you. That guy is a douche.”

“Is this the Vince that Ally dated like five years ago?” Rose asked.

James nodded. “He’s an ass.”