Total pages in book: 227
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
I inhale, looking over my shoulder to the police. That’s why they’re here. They know who Daniel’s father is. They’re not here to question Daniel. This is hearsay bullshit, not worthy of police intervention. But because Daniel is The Brit’s son?
How long has Principal Tucker known?
“And what part did Barney play in this?” Lennox asks.
“He did nothing,” Daniel cries.
He’s wrong. Barney’s associated with The Brit’s son, making him guilty too. “I’ll be taking Daniel home now,” I say, standing, mortified and disappointed. I’m not waiting around to be thrown out. No. We had planned on Maggie to come here, too as they have an amazing kindergarten. Not now. We’ll be banished forever, not just because of Daniel’s silly, weightless threats, but because of who we are. The Brit’s family.
I collect my idiot son from the chair and lead him out by his elbow. “I cannot believe what you’ve done.”
“I didn’t do anything, Mom, I said it.”
And he gives me cheek? “Why the hell would you even say that?” I squeeze his arm a little, just so he can appreciate just how pissed off I am. “You’ve just thrown away so many opportunities, opportunities we fought hard for so you can have the best of everything.” I walk him outside where Tank is waiting, “Get in the car.” Daniel trudges toward Tank, looking up at him, probably hoping to get some sympathy. My dark look tells Tank to back off, stalling his huge hand from giving Daniel’s hair a ruffle. Instead, he opens the back door for him, looks over his head, and Daniel slips in without a word. “Fucking hell,” I curse.
Beau joins me, but she doesn’t try to make me feel better, she just gives me a small, sympathetic smile.
“He’s grounded forever,” I bark, looking down at my cell, wondering why the hell Danny hasn’t called me back. Doesn’t he know there’s an emergency?
“Rose,” Lennox calls, coming out of the door, Barney in his grasp.
I can’t face him. I bet he’s all kinds of horrified. I’m sure Principal Tucker has—out of a duty of care, I suppose—told Lennox who my husband is and what he does. What he used to do. God damn it, he might not have killed anyone in the past few months, but that’s only because there’s no one left to fucking kill. He still launders money and runs guns.
Good lord. No one left to kill? I look at the school. Principal Tucker may be in grave danger right now.
“Rose, wait.”
I don’t, hurrying to the car.
“Rose!”
For God’s sake. I swing around and collide with Lennox, and pain radiates through my chest. Fuck, my boobs. I cry out, and Lennox, alarmed, makes a grab for my arm to steady me. But he misses my arm and scuffs my breast. “Fuck!”
“Fuck,” he parrots. “Shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine,” I assure him, wincing, feeling the need to shield them, hold them. “Look, I’m sorry Barney’s been caught up in this whole mess. I don’t know why Daniel would—”
“Come on, Rose.” Lennox laughs. “Do you think I don’t know who your husband is?”
I still, my eyes wide, my skin a certain shade of telling. “What?”
He rolls his eyes. “Daniel’s a great kid. I wouldn’t take a friend away from Barney. The boy’s lost too much.”
His mom. He means his mom. “Really?”
“Really.” He frowns and looks down at my chest, then proceeds to scan the floor. “Did I make you spill a drink?”
Confused, I look down, seeing two huge wet patches on my silk blouse. Oh my God, this day gets worse. “I better get Daniel home.” And myself, where my leaking boobs are safe from public eyes.
Realization dawns on Lennox and he becomes unbearably embarrassed, unable to look at me. “Will you let me know if you plan on enforcing consequences?”
I nod and go to the car, my eyes brimming, emotion creeping up on me. Unreasonable? I don’t think so. I must be the stupidest woman alive to think our lives could ever be normal.
6
DANNY
* * *
I hit my phone on the steering wheel, trying to get some service. “What the fuck is going on with this thing?” I snap. Then quickly apologize for my bad language when I remember who’s riding with me today.
I cast my eyes over to the back seat. Silence. It’s fucking golden. I’ve been sitting outside the club for half an hour, scared to move, scared to wake her up, because who the hell knows when she might decide to give us some peace again? What I do know is, it won’t be tonight. Little thing seems to love burning the midnight oil. And the one-a.m. oil. And the two-a.m. oil. And the three . . .
I sigh and rest my head back, closing my eyes, sinking farther down in my seat. Peace. Quiet. The only sound is the cars passing. When she sleeps, we should sleep. That’s what Doc said.