Page 35 of Mitch

Chapter Fourteen

Mitch wasn’t feeling especiallytalkative on the drive back from Gloucester—the meeting with James Colchester, seventeenth Duke of Crossley and chief legal counsel to the Monarch, hadn’t wielded the information they wanted. Now he had to tell Jack who wouldn’t be a happy camper.

Thankfully, Decker wasn’t much of a talker and left him to his thoughts, most of which involved Autumn. The woman had gotten under his skin far quicker than he’d known, burrowing deep and laying down roots in his heart. Maggie had done the same with her dribbly smiles, and the way she laid her head on his shoulder snuggling close when she was tired.

Mitch hadn’t known that such a simple act of trust could mean so much, but those two females had become his queens, and he’d treat them as such. Protect them with his life because they were his now. It had happened fast, but he’d always known his own mind.

His mother was a strong woman, who had faced every single obstacle thrown in her path with fortitude and dignity. He hated that some of those obstacles had been caused by him, he hadn’t realised until he was older how much she’d sacrificed so he’d have a good life.

Moving to a predominantly white, middle-class area had been hard for her. Leaving her friends and everything she knew to start a new life, a new job, had been her gift to him. One he’d always be grateful for, and maybe one day he could repay that. He smiled to himself as he thought of her reaction to Autumn and Maggie. She’d be beside herself with joy when she met them. She was always on at him to give her grandbabies, lamenting she was the only one of her friends without them.

Decker opened the car door as they stopped at Eidolon. “You get on home to Autumn. I can talk to Jack about how the meeting went.”

Mitch raised his eyebrows, his eyes going wide. “You sure, mate?”

Decker fiddled with his cuff. “Yes. I have to talk to him about something else anyway.”

Mitch nodded. “Cheers, Deck.”

Mitch watched Deck walk inside before reversing the car and heading home. Waggs had taken Autumn and Maggie home around five, and he was eager to hear about her first day at work. He hit dial on the steering wheel and waited for his mum to pick up the call. He knew she’d still be up even though it was after nine in the evening, years waiting for him and his step-father to finish a shift meant her habit was ingrained.

“Why are you calling me so late?”

His lips twitched into a grin at her greeting; she always tried to hide her pleasure at hearing from him under her bravado. “Hey, Ma.”

“Is everything okay? You don’t normally call at this time.”

“Can’t a boy call his mum just to say hi?”

“Well, of course he can, but you ain’t. I can hear it in your voice. You got something to say.”

Mitch’s grin grew wider as her accent grew more profound; he’d always loved the sound. “I actually do have some news.”

“Well, don’t keep me waiting, boy. Are you coming home? Is that it?”

He knew she hated him living so far away even though it was only a few hours, but she’d have a fit if she knew what he did. At least she thought he lived away because he had an excellent, safe job with a security firm here.

A chuckle erupted from his throat as a happy feeling clawed its way out of his chest. “No, Ma, I’m not moving back home, but I did meet someone.”

“Oh, praise the Lord, my prayers have been answered.”

Warmth spread through his chest at the relief in her voice; he hadn’t known how much she’d worried about it before.

“What is she like? Is she pretty? Of course she is, my boy is a handsome devil. What does she do? She’d better not be a stripper. I won’t have a cheap trollop in my home.”

“Ma, will you be quiet and let me tell you about her?”

“Don’t you sass me, boy, I’ll tan your hide for you.”

“Ma,” he said, a little more firmly.

“Fine, speak.” He heard the smile in her voice even over the irritated words.

“Her name is Autumn. She’s a widow and has a baby girl called Maggie, who is six months old and adorable.”

“Oh, that poor girl. A baby you say. Does she want more children?”

Mitch shook his head. “I don’t know, we haven’t discussed it yet. It’s still early days.”