Series: Sean Moriarty
Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 113805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
The kitchen is brand spanking new, all clean and stainless steel. No coffee stains on the counters, no errant spoon left in the sink. The fridge has the little food I need to survive, nothing else.
The basement holds my home gym, it’s used frequently, but it still looks like I’ve only existed here.
Cold and empty has been more comforting to me in my years than warm and inviting. When you’re a nomad for a crime family, attachments do not last long in this world.
Will bringing Eden and her child here be something I regret?
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial James.
“Dude, I was almost in bed,” James yawns into the phone.
Checking my watch, I frown before I remember he’s one of the married men now. One of the domesticated, who’s enjoying homelife.
“My apologies, I forget you’re no longer out in the clubs at this time,” I say with a small laugh.
“Jude, those days are so far past me. Ten o’clock comes around and I’m on the couch watching Who’s Your Sugar Daddy with Sophia,” James says with another yawn.
“Yes, well…” I say, and for the life of me I have absolutely no clue what he’s talking about. “I need your assistance in a small matter.”
“I gotta get dressed and shit?” James asks, and I can hear Sophia grumping loudly in the background.
“No. I need you to start the eviction process on one of your tenets.”
He blurts out, “What?”
And I can tell that was not what he expected me to ask.
“They’re residing in one of the units in your Princeton Park community.”
“One, I don’t do evictions, that’s for the property managers to do. Two, those are my halfway houses. I don’t allow evictions there,” James says with a growl.
Hmm, I didn’t know that.
“What do you mean halfway house?”
“That’s where I allow people to move in so they can find a better life, asshole,” James snaps. “We don’t evict the moms and shit from there. They need the help.”
“Well, I’ll be,” I say and look down at the photo in my hands. “You have a heart after all, James.”
The phone disconnects before I can say anything else.
Shit.
I really don’t want to play the ace card that’s up my sleeve right now. Simon will ask too many damn questions.
Dialing Johnathan, I wait through three rings before he picks it up.
“Jude,” he says.
“Johnathan, I have a favor to ask,” I say and wince at the wording I just used.
Favors are dangerous things that should never be used lightly.
There’s a long pause and I can hear him moving around in the background before he asks, “What is it?”
“Well, it’s more of a favor I need to ask of your lovely wife,” I say then wince again.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Lovely wife?
He’s going to shoot me.
“My wife?” Johnathan asks, and I can almost hear the gears in his head grinding to a halt.
“Yes,” I say and wait.
I can hear him moving around again. “Does it involve danger, guns, or her leaving the house right now?”
“No, no, and perhaps tomorrow.”
“Beth, baby, Jude needs a favor from us. I’m putting you on speakerphone.”
“Of her, Johnathan. Of her.” I try to cover my ass.
A favor owed to Johnathan is an easy opening for trouble.
Johnathan laughs. “We’ll see, asshole.”
“Jude?” Beth comes on the line. “How can I help?”
Shit.
How do I say this?
“I need help,” I say clearly, no need to beat around the bush. “My wife and child are due to arrive within the next few days. My house—”
“Your what?!” Johnathan explodes out at me. “Did you order a mail order bride?”
“What?” I ask in confusion. “Why in the world would I do that?”
“Johnathan!” Beth shouts at him. “Give him a chance to explain?”
“Fine,” After a few attempted starts, he asks, “When did you get a wife and child?”
“Well…” I answer. “Tonight actually.”
“Ah, fuck,” Johnathan groans. “Are they tied up in your basement?”
“Johnathan!” Beth growls out at him, and I can just picture her annoyance.
“No, of course not. I wouldn’t tie a child up in my basement,” I say and still can’t understand why he’s thinking these things. “Let me start from the beginning.”
“I think you should,” Johnathan says. “Wait, you didn’t say you wouldn’t tie a woman up in your basement.”
“Anyways,” I say, ignoring the statement. “I was at the strip club we bought…”
“Oh Jude, honey,” Beth groans. “They don’t really like you. I know they act like—”
“What?” I say in confusion again then realize what she meant. “Oh no, not like that. She’s a waitress.”
“So how the hell is she your wife? How they hell do you have a child?” Johnathan mutters through the phone.
“Well, you remember when Lily and Lucifer met?” I ask.
“What the fuck is it with you men and kidnapping your women?” Beth says, and this time Johnathan remains silent.
She does have a point, I guess.