Page 69 of Rough Hard Fierce (Chicago Underground 1-3)
Shelly had once said that to me too—anything. Maybe Andrew was part of my army, after all. An unexpected ally.
“Thank you,” I told him and meant it. His debt to me wasn’t so great that I couldn’t still feel gratitude.
He dropped a twenty on the table and walked away, murmuring. “Bye, Alice.”
The nickname stung. He used to call me that, back when we were kids. Alice in Wonderland, he’d say. I’d protest, because she was dumb and I wasn’t. He’d proved me right, of course. I just hadn’t known the only mirror I’d fall into would be him.
I tucked the money he’d given me in my purse and left the diner, vowing not to go out to eat again for a year. It was a nice gift he’d given me, letting Bailey and me walk away. Or rather, doing the walking away himself. Sure, it’d been a problem that he’d started, first by that and second by coming in and threatening me, but I could still appreciate what it meant for him to sign those papers. Or maybe I was just a sentimental dumbass.
I drove home, struggling to tamp down my elation. No need to tempt fate by getting hopeful.
“Colin called while you were out,” Shelly said as soon as I walked through the back door.
“Hey, baby girl,” I said to Bailey, picking her up and nuzzling her tummy. Then to Shelly, “Damn, what did you say?”
She looked apologetic. “I said you were out jogging.”
I shot her an exasperated glance as I dislodged Bailey’s fist from my hair. “I don’t jog.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It was all I could think of.”
I still hadn’t been sure I would keep my visit with Andrew from Colin, but this would make telling the truth more awkward. Still, my worry over Colin couldn’t conceal my thrill over the result.
“So tell me what happened,” she said.
My voice muffled from beneath Bailey’s clinging arms, I said, “It’s over. He said he’s going to sign away his parental rights and leave us alone.”
“Just like that?”
“Yep,” I said.
She collapsed on the other end of the sofa, still managing to do it with grace. After a moment she said, “Then you didn’t really need Colin.”
Hell, I hadn’t even thought of that, but it wasn’t true. He provided financial support, physical protection, and stability. He cared for me and, I thought, even for Bailey, rounding out our little family. And, though it now seemed a small thing in light of his contributions, “He got the lawyer who’s doing the custody paperwork.”
She seemed to hear what I’d left unsaid, though, because she weighed it thoughtfully. “Will you stay here?”
“I want to.”
She nodded. “I’ll go now, but I think I’ll be seeing you soon.” With that cryptic note and a wink, she went out the back.
Left holding a wriggly Bailey, I laughed aloud at Andrew’s assessment of Shelly as my soldier. She may help me—a lot—but I had no illusions that she took orders from me.
Chapter Ten
Bailey was fed and—hallelujah—sleeping. I was halfway asleep too, but this laundry wouldn’t fold itself. It was a load of linens, though. No Colin underwear tonight. I stifled the urge to giggle. It really was getting late.
A soft scratching came from the front door. I tensed. More shuffling. The break-in at my apartment flashed through my mind. Worse things than random junkie burglars lurked as well. It could be something mixed up with Philip’s business. Plus, threats could come with badges and warrants.
I tiptoed over to the window and peeked around the side. I had a clear view of the front of the door. Nothing.
That was worse.
This was the part in the scary movie where the girl did something stupid while the audience groaned. She would open the door and let the bad guy in. No, she’d open the door, and it would turn out the bad guy was already in the house. Shit, I was scaring myself. I could suddenly understand her compulsion to find out. Knowing had to be better than sitting here pissing myself.
I opened the door a crack—chain firmly in place—and the orange cat squeezed through the gap and into the house.
I sighed in relief. “Stupid cat.”
