Page 20 of Reckless Love

I can’t tell what they’re saying, but it looks as though Stephen’s explaining something to him. Stephen’s scowl and foul mood I noted from the second-floor window are completely gone now. Whether that’s due to Landon’s presence or whatever Stephen was mad about has been resolved, I don’t know.

“That’s a lot of people,” Landon says when he comes into the house, Stephen and Datu on his heels. “So loud!”

With the door open, their chanting is more obvious. For a beat, I try to listen, but I can’t make out what they’re saying.

“We’ll need to leave earlier,” Stephen says. “We’ll have to go slow wading through the crowd. I told Kiara and her crew to meet us at the school. No point in her fighting through that just to go through again. We’ll drop off Landon.”

“I get to ride with you?” Landon asks, and his awed tone makes me stifle a smile.

“You do, buddy. Just for today. Wheels up in ten. Eat in the car,” Stephen says.

When we leave, Stephen and Datu are sitting in the front. Stephen is driving, and he meets Landon’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “People are probably going to shout at the car. They might hit the car. They might throw things at the car. But you’re safe, okay, buddy? Anyone who tries to get to you has to come through me.”

Landon sets his jaw and nods. “And you’re really good at your job.”

“There’s no one better,” Stephen says in a matter-of-fact tone. “We’ll get you to school safe and sound.”

When the gates swing back, the car creeps through the crowd, and Landon tucks himself under my arm as people slap the car and yell into the tinted windows.

“I don’t know what they think they’re going to accomplish,” I say. “Raul’s not even here.”

“You didn’t hear their chant?” Stephen asks, meeting my gaze in the rearview briefly before returning his focus to the crowd in front.

“No,” I say.

“Part of it was ‘Help us, Ava,’ so they aren’t here for your husband,” Stephen says.

“Harassing me isn’t going to make me want to help.”

“I know that,” Stephen says with a wry smile, “but they obviously don’t. Peer pressure’s always made you want to do the opposite thing.”

The admission that he knows me, knows how I’ll respond, causes warmth to spread across my body.

“If they want to waste their time,” I say, “who am I to stop them?”

“As long as they stay behind the gates,” Stephen says, “they can do and say what they want.”

I leave work early so we can pick up Landon after school and just take one car through the crowd of protesters. If it’s possible, there are even more. Raul has a lot of workers at The Nile, but I’m still surprised at the volume.

“Is your sister in this crowd?” I ask Stephen as we inch through.

“I hope not,” he says with a grimace.

“Ugh,” Landon says. “A sister? I don’t want a sister.”

“She’s not so bad,” Stephen says. “You’d want a brother?”

“Maybe,” Landon says, cuddling closer to me as another person bangs on the car. “Can I get a brother?” Landon gazes up at me.

“One healthy, happy kid is all I need,” I say, keeping my voice light but loud enough to combat the chaos we’re driving through. It’s not the first time the idea of a sibling has come up. Having another baby with Raul is out of the question.

“I’m hungry,” Landon says, and I’m grateful he’s moved on so quickly.

“Spaghetti tonight,” I say, remembering the menu the chef and I agreed on for the time Raul is gone.

“I love spaghetti. Do you love spaghetti, Stephen?” Landon asks, rubbing his tummy.

“I do,” Stephen agrees.