“Like Germany or Japan?”
He looks up, excitement replacing the disappointment on his young face.
“I need you to stay here and take care of your mother. She needs you.”
He mulls this over but doesn’t speak.
“Plus, you have school, and your game against North Lake is Saturday. The team needs you.”
“But you won’t be there.”
I open my mouth to tell him I’ll try to make it, but I know that’s going to be impossible with the job lined up.
“Not that one, but hopefully I’ll make it to the tournament after. You guys are going to blow that out of the water, and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Yeah. We’re gonna kill it.”
“That means you have to stay out of trouble.” I give him a pointed look. “No fights or problems at school, no hanging out with kids that will get you in trouble. Your mom needs you.”
“I won’t get into any trouble,” he assures me.
I want to wrap my arms around him for a hug, but I don’t know if we’re there yet.
“Anything we need to talk about before I head to the airport?”
He shakes his head. “Will you call me?”
“I will.” My heart grows a little with his request. “Alright, buddy. I gotta catch my plane.”
I look him over one last time, committing him to memory, knowing I’m going to start missing him before I even board my flight, before turning around to leave the office.
“Hey, Dad?” I turn to look at him, my heart caught in my throat, because he’s never called me that before. “Be safe, okay?”
“I w-will.” The last word lodges in my throat, and I take a chance, walking up to him and wrapping my arms around him.
I’m the happiest man on the planet when he squeezes me back.
***
“I wouldn’t have asked if we didn’t need you,” Deacon says as we walk toward the IT office. “I looked for a third-party translator but Gallen was the only one available and—”
“That guys a complete dick,” I mutter.
“Exactly. I swore I’d never use him again, but I want you to know I legitimately considered it before calling you. I know you’re working through a lot of shit, and it was a hard call to make.”
“It’s fine, but I’d like to get started so I can get back.”
Would now be a good time to have the conversation about severing my ties to the company?
Leaving Alex and Tinley back in Texas isn’t something I can deal with doing over and over and over. Even if it’s for a week or so at a time while I work, they just aren’t in a place where I feel like they’re both safe and emotionally ready to be alone.
And then I wonder if I’m being an asshole by thinking she needs my help. I settle on the fact that she deserves my help.
“We’re looking at maybe a week, ten days?” Deacon says as he gives a warning knock on Wren’s closed office door.
“We knock now?” I ask with a smile, already hearing the damn bird squawking on the other side.
“Unless you want to use bleach on your eyes, I’d suggest it,” he mutters.
“You could fire him or write him up for inappropriate behavior at work. He shouldn’t be in there looking at porn and stroking his dick.”
“It’s more like he’s bossing Whitney around on a live feed. Last week, I forgot to knock, and I can tell you seeing what I saw made me want to go to church.”
“Are you telling him about the maid costume or the Pokémon butt plug?”
I huff out a laugh at Quinten as he walks up and slaps me on the back.
“Hey, man. Glad you’re back.”
I give him a quick nod.
“Pokémon?” I ask, not a hundred percent sure I really want to know.
“I’ll never see Pikachu the same again,” Deacon mutters before turning the doorknob.
“Your choice, babe, but you know how I’ll respond either way.”
“Oh, God!” I hear Whitney hiss before the screen of one of Wren’s computers goes black.
Wren chuckles like we all didn’t just see a flash of his naked woman.
“See?” Deacon hisses.
“You should fire him,” I say as Wren spins around in his office chair to smile at us.
“I fucking wish,” Deacon says, but he doesn’t mean it.
Wren Nelson is the heartbeat of the team. Without him, nothing works. I honestly feel sorry for any company needing information in real time that doesn’t have someone even half as resourceful as this guy.
“Did you see her tits?” Puff screams from his perch on the other side of the room. “Oh hey, Amigo!”
I give the bird a slight wave, trying not to grin. The stupid thing entertained my kid when he was zombie-like, so I’m kind of warming up to him.
“Where’s your spawn?”
Now I glare at the bird.
“What did I tell you about taking care of personal business during company time?” Deacon asks Wren, ignoring the bird as best he can.
“Get him, boss man.” That demand from the bird doesn’t even deter Deacon.
Wren shrugs. “I was on personal time two nights ago when—”
“Oh, God, Wren! Just like that!” Puff squeals in a high-pitched voice before dropping it a couple of octaves. “Yeah, bitch. Come all over Daddy’s cock like a good little girl.”
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. Quinten chuckles behind me. I’d think Deacon was unfazed if it weren’t for the tick in his jaw.
Wren points to his bird. “When I had to stop what I was doing to get that information that you needed.”
“It took twenty minutes for you to call me back,” Deacon growls, the words being pushed through clamped teeth.
“And that altered my evening schedule. Round three is just as important as the first two.”
“Round three?” Quinten grumbles. “How does the computer nerd get all the action?”
“Have you seen his cock?” Puff Daddy snaps in defense of his owner. “Hmm? Have you?”
Wren winks at Quinten before turning his attention back to Deacon. “Anything else?”
“Maybe you should turn your computer monitors so people can’t see them when they walk in,” our boss suggests.
“I’d need a bigger office.”
“This room was built to your specifications,” Deacon reminds him.
Wren shrugs. “Wait until I tell you to come in then.”
I clamp a hand on Deacon’s shoulder before he can cross the room. “Can we discuss this case?”
Chapter 26
Tinley
“We can break some windows,” Alex offers as he grabs the strap of his backpack. “I can pull all the doors down after school.”
I laugh because it’s better than crying in front of my son. I count it as a win that I’ve been able to keep my tears on my pillowcase after he goes to bed instead of needing to walk out of the room to cry.
“It’s already too late for that. The house has been sold. The new owner is coming today.”
“I don’t want you here alone with some strange man.”
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him, taking a little pride in the protective young man I’ve raised.