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Instead, part of me wanted to ask how a woman who supposedly stayed out of her son’s illegal business could be so damn sure there were no enemies left waiting in the shadows.

How did she know things had been ‘handled’?

Who had told her?

And why did she sound less like a worried mother repeating what somebody else had assured her and more like a woman who knew for herself?

I almost asked, but something told me Henrietta would tell me whatever she wanted me to know when she was ready, and after six years of receiving nothing but love and protection from that woman, I decided not to push.

Henrietta patted my shoulder. “Now let’s get back inside before my grandson comes out here accusing us of cutting into his Grandma time.”

I laughed. “That’s your grandson for you.”

Henrietta smiled proudly. “And don’t you forget it.”

When we walked back into the suite, Kaidence was sitting cross-legged on the rug, balancing three action figures on his knees.

“Grandma, are we going shopping now?!” he wasted no time asking.

Henrietta smiled, smoothing down her sweater. “We certainly are! Grab your coat, baby.”

Kaidence dropped the action figures instantly, scrambling toward the bedroom. “Can I get a giant monster truck?”

“If they have the one you want in stock, sweetheart,” Henrietta called after him.

“Can I get one of those remote-control cars that drives up walls?”

“Of course, baby. If that’s what you want.”

“Can I get both?”

Henrietta chuckled. “You sure can, handsome.”

I shook my head.

That woman didn’t have a no anywhere in her vocabulary when it came to her grandson.

“Can I get—”

“Kaidence,” I cut in gently, already knowing another request was coming, “put your shoes on before she leaves without you.”

“Grandma wouldn’t leave me,” he said confidently, flashing that mischievous little grin of his. “I’m her favorite grandson.”

Henrietta laughed and reached down to pinch his cheeks lightly. “I sure wouldn’t, handsome. And you’re my only grandson, which makes you even more special to me.” She smoothed a hand over his hair, her expression softening. “You are one of the greatest blessings God ever gave me, baby. There isn’t a thing in this world I wouldn’t do for you. If Grandma could put the whole world in a box and wrap it up with a pretty bow, I’d give you that too.”

Kaidence grinned, clearly pleased with that answer. “Even the moon?”

“Even the moon, my precious grandson.”

I smiled, but something about the way Henrietta held his little face between her hands made my chest tighten. Her smile was still there, but her eyes had grown suspiciously glossy. I knew she was thinking about Caspian. She always got that same expression whenever Kaidence did something that reminded her of her son, which was practically every time he opened his mouth.

Henrietta had spoiled Caspian just as much, even after he was grown, wealthy, and fully capable of taking care of himself. She still cooked his favorite meals and brought them over in containers, despite knowing damn well I cooked for that man too. Sometimes she’d show up with enough food to feed a family of six, claiming she had made too much and didn’t want it to go to waste. I knew better.

That woman didn’t accidentally make six servings of oxtails, macaroni and cheese, and candied yams.

Let’s not talk about the laundry.

If she happened to go by his house during a week I was busy with work and hadn’t got around to washing his clothes, she’d throw them in the machine without a second thought.