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“Why?” I look around and it looks neat enough. The toys are cleaned up and laundry is put away. I have my easel up since I wasn’t planning for company, but the place isn’t trashed or anything.
“There are so many people who come in and out of this building,” he groans. “I catch Theo constantly watching the security cameras in your building.”
“His hacking is none of my business,” I say, my cheeks aching as I try not to smile.
“Don’t be silly,” he chuckles. “As long as Theo isn’t caught, I don’t care where he hacks into. He’s obsessing.”
“What do you suggest?” I ask. It’s a one bedroom apartment, and I’ve been trying to decide if I want to buy a house or not. I’m making great money, and I don’t have many bills since my family pays the rent.
I don’t want to spend my life leaning on them to survive though.
“A house in this area. It’s walkable, and you enjoy the neighborhood. I think you should stay here. However, this apartment,” he sighs. Emil is so dramatic.
“I don’t know if I can afford a house,” I tell him gently. “And I won’t accept one as a gift.”
He makes a face at me as I slowly stand.
“I mean it, Emil.” I walk to the sink to clean up, and he moves to lean on the counter to continue the conversation.
“You have twenty thousand dollars in the bank,” he drawls. I’m not surprised he knows that because my finances aren’t a secret from them. I bob my head as I continue to clean up and he blows out a breath. “Noor, that’s very impressive. If you wanted to buy a place yourself, you could do that within the next few months as you continue to sell your art.”
“I had a piece commissioned by a local bookstore. Instead of canvas, they want me to paint the wall. I’m a little nervous about it.”
“If you fuck it up, cover it in white paint and start over. That’s a thing, right?” he asks.
“Yes, yes it is,” I murmur, finishing up. I lean on the counter as I turn to continue talking to him, but he links his arm in mine and maneuvers me to the couch.
“There’s no reason for you to stand,” he says, toeing off his shoes as he sits beside me. Zayn sighs before continuing to sleep and Emil rubs his back in slow movements. “I don’t mean to make light of your concerns, Noor. I think you’ll draw an amazing mural for the bookstore. You have steady work, and you’re already making more money than many other people your age. Celebrate that shit.
“I’m thinking of a house with a yard, a couple of bedrooms, and a place where you can create art, Noor. Theo and Liliana will insist on a safe room. If you have a break in, we’d want you to hide and call the police immediately.”
I think about my father with his shotgun and take a deep breath as I incline my head to show I’m listening.
“Obviously, we’d pay for the safe room,” Emil continues. “Unfortunately, those don’t come standard in homes.”
“Of course not,” I muse, my fingers pressing on my lips to keep from smiling. My grandfather lives in a world I can’t begin to fathom, but he’s right. Bad shit happens to nice people. He simply is in a position where he kills first and asks questions later.
The Devils are lucky he wasn’t left alone with them.
“Don’t think I can’t see you laughing at me,” he mutters. “What do you think? Are you ready to move on from the apartment? Zayn will be crawling before you know it.”
“Who is going to sell a nineteen year old a house?” I ask. “I’m a huge liability, Emil.”
“No seas asi. I’m not going to set you up to fail, mija. I’ll buy the house…” My eyes grow wide as he flicks his free hand at me. “Ah, ah. I wasn’t finished. You can pay me an amount I’ll come up with, and I’ll hold onto it. Actually, we don’t need to go to the bank if we do things this way, because I’ll invest the money myself.”
“I’m not actually paying for the house then,” I say suspiciously. “I smell a loophole.”
“Bah. You’ve been hanging out too long with your dad,” Emil snorts. “Lawyers kill the fun in life.”
CHAPTER
NINE
NOOR
“Emil, that’s not true,” I say, shaking my head.
“It is. Now, I could wait to buy a house, or we could make this your birthday present.”
