Page 16 of Laying Low

“She’s okay?”Reg asked as he emerged into the long shadows of early evening in September.

“Yeah.Dean and Marcus waved their badges around, and Dean pretty much made his contempt known.”Connor made to spit and then seemed to remember he was in his own kitchen.“Assholes.Begging your boys’ pardon.”

“No, sir,” said the irrepressible Ilia.“We’re right on board with that.”

Connor grinned at the boy and ruffled his hair.“You’re somethin’.”He winked at Reynaldo.“He’s somethin’ to keep in line—you got your hands full.”

Reynaldo smiled shyly, and then an unmistakable, highly welcome aroma hit both boys.

“Sir?”Ilia said, almost transported.“Is thatpizzaI smell?”

“Why yes it is.We made a show of going off for some take and bake, and now it’s baking, and we thought it might be time for you boys to come out.”

“I am all for this,” Reynaldo said, nodding.

“Well, I’ve got two pizzas here for you boys,” Connor said, before giving Anthony and Reg meaningful looks.“And the grown-ups are gonna go meet in the house.”

“That’s not right!”Reynaldo protested.“I mean, you’re going to be discussing our fate, right?”

Reg grimaced.“Yes,” he said, without apology, “but we’re also discussing all the illegal things my family is going to do to keep you safe.This way you have plausible deniability if we all get caught.”

“Too late,” Ilia said.“We already know about the computer equipment—”

“But not what my brothers and I are going to do with it,” Reg told him.Then, because he knew it wasn’t fair and the kids had a right to determine their own future, he said, “Look—let us talk about it, figure out how to contact your mother and your aunt, and then I’ll present you with options.We’re not trying to take control away from you—we’re trying to come up with some ideas that don’t suck, and it’s easier when justbeing in the room with usisn’t another crime for you guys.Do you understand?”

The boys nodded glumly, and Anthony spoke up.

“Listen, guys, you already know we’re not turning you over to anybody’s killer family, and we just spent hours hiding from ICE.Can you at least trust us to keep you safe?”

This time, the nods were a little less glum, and as Connor went to get the first pizza out of the oven, Reynaldo gave them an apologetic smile.“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely.

“I’m sorrier,” Reg said.“You guys have beensobrave today.And irritating.But mostly brave.”

Ilia grinned at him.“You arewaymore interesting than I ever imagined,” he said.“Come on, Rey, let’s set the table and ask if the dog can come in.I can hear her scratching, and I want to feed her pizza crust so she can fart.”

“That’s so gross!”Reynaldo exclaimed, with more than a touch of admiration.

“Good luck, Connor!”Anthony called, and then grabbed Reg’s hand.“Come on.I’m trying to show some self-control, but it’s really turning my key that there are other pizzas in the main house.”

Reg nodded, because he’d managed to keep the boys out of the wrapped supplies, because keeping the vermin out was a pain in the ass, but he’d been getting damned hungry down in the tunnel as well.

Together they exited out the back door, letting Catherine in (and rubbing her silky ears as they walked by) and then out into the stillness of sunset.

“It’s the one time the wind dies down,” Reg said, his footsteps slowing as the air grew close.On the one hand, it was still warm enough to make him sweat, but on the other hand, the quiet from the almost incessant wind that blew through the Central Valley was a luxury.

“I know,” Anthony said, and for a moment he seemed content to let their strides sync as they skirted the fence that marked the pool before continuing on to the main house.

But as they were passing it, one stray breeze breathed over them, and Anthony stopped.

Reg turned toward him to see what was up and was suddenly arrested by the sober expression on Anthony’s long, handsome face.

“What?”he asked, confused.

“This.”And then Anthony closed the distance between them quickly and placed a quiet, gentle kiss on Reg’s lips.

Reg made a soft sound of need and found himself leaning forward as Anthony pulled away.

“Wha—”