She rolls her eyes. It’s condescending. It’s rude. It’s fucking brave. “Don’t start, Danny. I have my own stone-cold killer to handle, thanks.” Her head tilts, and the slow formation of a smile appears. “She is, isn’t she?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I turn and get on my way, only letting my smile loose when my face is out of her view.
“It’s great news,” she says softly.
I stop, my heart sinking. She’s happy for us. Her words were quiet, but there could be no doubting her sincerity. Jesus. I walk back to her and Beau, alarmed, slowly backs away. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I need to do this. I haul her into my chest. The poor thing has no idea what to do with me, her arms hanging limp by her sides. “I’m sorry,” I say, squeezing my eyes closed.
“Don’t make this about me, Danny,” she breathes. “This is about you two, and it’s happy.”
“You need to go fix things with James.”
“He’s not talking to me.”
“Are you surprised?” I pull out, holding her firmly by the tops of her arms. “If Rose had of pulled a stunt like that, I would—”
“What?” she asks, head tilted. “You would what?”
Good fucking question. “I’d put her in a cage.” It’s the first thing that comes to me, and Beau laughs, shrugging me off.
“Okay,” she says, shaking her head. “Go take care of business, Danny. I need to go check on my friend.” She backs away, eyebrows high. “My pregnant friend.”
Fuck, that sounds good. “You do that.” And I need to call Doc back. I walk on but something comes to me. “Wait, Beau,” I call, looking back. “You’ve not talked to James at all?”
“No, I need to cool off.”
I laugh under my breath. She does? James looked like he was one spark away from exploding. So he’s not grilled her? Got any details? “What was Kenny Spittle doing in Walmart?”
“He was at the Minute Key Kiosk.”
I nod, thoughtful. “And when you had him at gunpoint, what did you ask and what did he tell you?”
“He said he was being blackmailed with his father’s life. Get the box or his dad dies.”
Well, that’s a shitter. “So he got the box for . . .”
“Someone.”
“Contact?”
“Text.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yes, that’s it. My interrogation was interrupted.” She smiles sweetly as she lets herself into Rose’s and my room, and I laugh under my breath as I go to the top of the stairs, signaling for Fury and Tank to take up their positions. They’re quick to respond, Fury looking plain terrified. He should. I can’t promise him James isn’t going to shoot him for losing Beau.
“She’s fucking fast, Danny,” he says over an exhale, like he’s been holding his breath since Beau escaped him.
“I’ll try to calm him down,” I say, passing them, receiving a curious, interested eye from Tank. It takes everything in me to maintain a straight face. But he’ll soon need to know that my precious wife just became even more precious. I dial Doc, taking the stairs slowly. “She’s pregnant,” I say quietly, lowering to the bottom step.
“Well, congratulations, Mr. Black. I did suspect, but Rose insisted it wasn’t possible.”
“That’s why I’m calling.” I look left and right, watchful. “She had a really rough birth with Daniel. Hemorrhaged. Transfusions. She was told she couldn’t carry again.”
“An examination would be wise. Perhaps a scan to check her womb. A healthy, plump, juicy womb is a good womb.”
Juicy? I grimace. “And if it’s not?”
“One step at a time. No need to worry over something that might require no worry at all. Now, I’m going to need an ultrasound machine.”
“Let me know how much.” I hang up and stand. And sit straight back down when I get a head rush. “Fuck me,” I breathe, rubbing at my forehead. Overcome. I’m overcome.
“Danny?”
I glance up and find Mum looking worried. “I’m fine.” I take the rail and try again, breathing slowly and discreetly. “Where’s Daniel?”
“Here,” he says, his face in his phone as he comes from the TV room.
“All right?” I ask.
“Yeah, good.”
My shoulders drop and I go to him, plucking his mobile out of his grasp. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
He shrugs. “Sorry, Mister.”
I narrow an eye on him. “Did Esther show you your room?”
“Yeah. How long am I staying?”
I bite my bottom lip. “How long do you want to stay?” I ask, testing the water. This whole situation will be a fuck-load harder if Daniel protests being here.
Another shrug. “I don’t mind. Mom and Dad said it’s up to me.”
They did? Sounds like Derek has had to spew some confessions. “Then let’s play it by ear.” I ruffle his hair, return his phone, and head to my office. “Wanna go out on the water soon?”
He’s suddenly chasing my heels, his phone forgotten. “Damn straight I do. When?”
“Maybe after the weekend.”
“Will Mom come?”
I slow to a stop, thoughtful. “Yeah, but she won’t be going out on the water.”
“Why?”
Because she’s carrying precious cargo. “She’s fed up of losing to us.” I flip him a wink and pick up my feet, making it to my office with Daniel still flanking me. So, of course, I hold back letting myself in, eyeing him. “Scram.”
“What’s in there?” he asks, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Business.”
“Jet skis?”
“The paperwork required to run a jet ski business, yes.”
“Oh.”
“Come on, Daniel,” Esther calls from the end of the corridor, saving me. “You’ve still got some unpacking to do and Mom’s got a surprise for you.”
He trudges off, and I push my way into my office, bracing myself for what I might find. Surprisingly, no blood. Not surprisingly, James with a face like a slapped arse. I close the door quietly and join him by my desk, perching on the edge and casting my eyes around the room. Kenny Spittle is silent and sweating in the chair before us, Otto is hammering away at the keys of his laptop, and Ringo and Goldie are keeping a thoughtful silence by the drinks cabinet. Everyone, mute.
I fold my arms over my chest, purse my lips, wondering if anyone is going to talk anytime soon. I have somewhere I want to be.
Two minutes later, still nothing, and I get bored of waiting. “Why isn’t he dead yet?” I ask but keep my eyes on Kenny Spittle.
“I’m just trying to decide how,” James replies quietly, blindly reaching behind him for my letter opener and inspecting it carefully.
“Do you mind if I ask him a few questions first?”
“Be my guest.” James gets up and starts circling the room, and Kenny Spittle’s wary eyes follow him.
“You were blackmailed into getting a safety deposit box or your father would be killed,” I say, feeling James’s eyes land on me. Yes, try talking to your girlfriend, you stubborn fuck. Kenny Spittle nods jerkily. “Where did you deliver it?”