Page 38 of Ruin

“Perfect.” She winks.

I grab a cup, pour her some coffee, and hand it to her. No need to ask Aunt Elle if she wants one. Her blood type is caffeine.

“Where’s Gigi?” she asks.

“Upstairs, getting dressed. She insisted on dressing herself,” I tell Aunt Elle.

She raises her brows. “Should be interesting.”

Gigi’s style can be a little flamboyant when she’s allowed to dress herself.

“I’m actually looking forward to seeing what she wears.” I chuckle.

“You ready for today?”

“Nope.”

“It’s going to be fine, Cam.”

“I don’t know.” I sigh.

“Cam, he screwed you over, and I hate him for it. But, if you believe he knew nothing about you being pregnant, then I believe him. And, after thinking about it, it does make sense. Family is important to Zeus. Fidelity, not so much. But his family is everything to him. He would do anything for those brothers and that sister of his. Gigi’s his blood. He’s not going to hurt her.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I’m always right.” She grins, drains her coffee, and puts her cup down in the sink. “I’m heading into the station. But I can wait to leave if you want me to hang around until Zeus arrives.”

“No, you head off. I’ll be fine.”

I hear the telltale thud of Gigi coming down the stairs. For a dancer who’s light on her feet, she sure is like an elephant on those steps.

“Mommy?” she calls.

“Kitchen,” I call back.

With a smile on my face, I watch her through the open doorway as she wanders toward me.

She’s wearing black leggings with skulls on them, which were part of last year’s Halloween costume. A gray My Little Pony T-shirt, denim jacket, and her brown fur-lined boots. And, to finish the ensemble, a bright blue tutu, which was part of her costume from her last dance recital.

She actually looks cool as hell.

“Well, look at you, Gigi girl,” Aunt Elle says when she enters the kitchen.

“You wike my clothes, Granny Elle?”

Aunt Elle picks her up and kisses her cheek. “I love them. You look beautiful.” She lowers Gigi to her feet. “Right, Granny Elle’s going to work. You have a good time today, Gigi girl.”

Aunt Elle stops and kisses me on the cheek. “Breathe,” she whispers to me. “It will be fine. And, remember, I know how to dispose of a body without it ever being found.”

I meet her twinkling eyes and chuckle. “Love you,” I tell her.

“Love you, too. And love my Gigi girl.” She blows Gigi a kiss and then walks out of the kitchen.

I turn to Gigi as Aunt Elle leaves. “You want me to do your hair?” I ask Gigi.

“No. Want to wear it down.”

“Have you brushed it?” I already know the answer to that question.