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He nodded again and brought the garage door down once Burke was back outside. When he came into the living room, his expression was grim.
She stood, crossing the room to him. “I wasn’t keeping this from you.”
“I know.” Anguished, he looked over to Elijah, who still slept. “I have to take care of a phone call. I’ll be up in my office.” He headed up the stairs and, a moment later, his office door closed, leaving her heavy-hearted. She slowly turned to find Jace watching her.
“Did Corey do something new?” he asked.
“No. This is different. Rick apparently gave some other assholes ideas.”
Jace looked away, but not before she saw tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
She sat on the arm of his chair, lifting his chin with a finger. “Stop,” she said when he’d finally met her gaze. “You didn’t mean to do anything wrong. You’ve done a lot of stuff right. I’m going to get Elijah up to bed, then I’ll help you make up the sofa, okay?”
“I can’t sleep,” he said miserably. “Corey tried to kill me. Everyone is after Elijah. Everything is awful.”
She brushed her hand over his hair. “It seems so. But I’ve been in that everything-is-awful place quite a few times and... it passes. Don’t get me wrong—whatever is awful may always be awful. Your brothers have done some awful things. That will never change. But how much it hurts you will lessen over time.”
“Promise?” he whispered brokenly.
“I promise.” With a lot of therapy, of course. She’d make sure he had access to a good counselor when this was over. “Now, I’m going to put Elijah to bed and then I’m going to get some work done. Why don’t you find a movie you’ve seen before? A really dumb one. That way if your mind wanders and you don’t pay attention, it won’t matter.”
He wiped at his eyes, looking so much younger than fifteen. “Did you do that? When everything was awful?”
“I did. Talladega Nights is my go-to comfort flick.”
The corners of his mouth twitched up. “I like that one. Can you help me search for it?”
“I absolutely can. Sit tight.” She crouched next to Elijah, still sleeping on the sofa. “Elijah? You need to sleep in your bed, baby.”
He didn’t move, so she tried a move she’d used on Sylvi when she’d fallen asleep on the sofa, so many years before. Getting Elijah to his feet, she put her arm around his waist. He was probably light enough that she could carry him, but she wasn’t going to risk it on the stairs unless he remained dead weight.
“March,” she commanded. “One, two, one, two.” Elijah staggered forward, awake enough to move his feet, but nothing more. Gradually she got him upstairs, Czar at her heels.
She tucked Elijah in, kissing the top of his head. “Sleep, honey.”
She was surprised when he grabbed at her sleeve. “Sing?”
“Of course.” She started the lullaby, keeping it quiet, knowing that Kaj was doing business in his office next door. By the time she’d made it through the first verse, Elijah was asleep again and Czar was snuggled at his side. She kissed Elijah’s forehead, then dropped another kiss on Czar’s head. “Keep him safe, big guy.”
Taking the monitor receiver with her, she headed back downstairs, found Talladega Nights on one of Kaj’s streaming services, and made Jace some popcorn in the microwave.
Finally, she returned to her laptop, finding the link Antoine had sent her. There were lines and lines of entries—police reports for each of the dates that Corey had left his brothers alone with no food.
Sorting through the data would be mindless busywork she could do with half her brain while the other half listened for any new threats.
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 9:15 P.M.
Kaj closed his office door behind him, dropping into his chair just in time because his knees were too weak to hold him up. More threats against Elijah.
Because of me. Because of my job. A job Elijah hadn’t chosen. Danger his son had not asked for.
He stared at the flip phone in his hand. Another new worry. “Palm tree” was the code he and Bella had agreed she should use if she ever needed him ASAP, so this was serious.
He blinked hard then shook his head, trying to reset his brain. He needed to think. Unless he recused himself from Bella Butler’s case, she was still his responsibility. That she’d used “palm tree” so close to the start of Doyle’s trial could not be anything good.
He found the only number in the contact list and hit send. A moment later she answered.
