Page 70 of The Devil's Reward
It’s an innocent question, but it still feels like a trap. I simply answer, “Sure, she was pretty. Not as pretty as you, of course.”
“Mom always says how pretty I am,” Macy says with a shrug. “But I’m just a kid. Mom’s the pretty one.”
“Your mom is very pretty,” I agree. I finish brushing her hair, and then I start to section it out, just like Sam taught me. Though Macy’s hair isn’t anywhere near as long, and is softer than Sam’s ever was.
“Are you going to be my new Dad?” Macy asks me suddenly. Now I freeze. Uh oh. I am not prepared for this kind of conversation. “It’s okay if you are,” Macy continues, like she doesn’t even notice that I’m having a bit of a crisis moment. “My dad died, so he’s not around, and he died when I was a baby, so I didn’t meet him. Grandma and Auntie Peyton say Mom needs someone, that she’s lonely by herself. I don’t want Mom to be lonely.”
“Your Mom has you, so I don’t think she’s completely lonely,” I say weakly as I quickly finish her braid. “I don’t know what the future holds for your Mom and I, Macy. But I like her, and I want to get to know her more. And I also like you, which means I want to get to know you too. But if you’re not happy with me seeing your Mom, then all you have to do is tell her.”
She shakes her head and turns to look up at me. “No, I like you. You’re nice, and you’re nice to Mom. Does that mean you’ll be having sleepovers all the time?”
Shit. I amreally notcomfortable with this conversation. “I hope to come over and visit as much as your Mom lets me,” I say after a moment. “Does it bother you if I have a sleepover?”
She shakes her head. “Maddie sleeps over and it’s fun. But you can’t have my teddy bear. That’s mine,”she tells me with a warning frown.
I chuckle. “Mr. Teddy Bear is safe from me,” I promise. “Now, I have to go see my friends, okay, so are you going to be alright down here by yourself?”
“I do it all the time,” she says carelessly. “But can you get me some cereal first? I’m hungry.”
“I’ll get it,” a soft voice behind me says, and I turn my head to see Quinn standing at the bottom of the stairs, a soft smile on her face. She doesn’t look mad to see me down here with Macy, so I have to assume she’s okay with it.
“Hi, Mom!” Macy says with a wide smile as she jumps up and runs to hug her. “Shadow did my braid for me. And he did it right!” She sounds awe-struck.
“I see that,” Quinn says as I stand and set the brush down on the sofa. “How about you go and get the cereal and the milk okay? I need to say goodbye to Shadow.”
“Okay. Bye, Shadow,” Macy says cheerfully before she heads into the pantry.
Quinn moves towards me. “Will you let me know how they are after you see them?” she asks softly when I reach for her and pull her in close. “Let them know I’m thinking of them?”
“I will,” I promise. I glance at the pantry door and see that Macy is still in it, so I press my luck and lean down to give Quinn a kiss. She sighs softly, kissing me back, but I pull away when I hear Macy coming back, happily humming something under her breath. “I’ll text or call later depending on how things go, okay?”
“Okay,” she says with a nod and steps back. “And thank you, Shadow, for being so good with Macy.”
I stare down at her for a moment. “She’s a good kid, Quinn. You’ve done a really good job with her.”
“Even when she asks you embarrassing questions?”
I smile. “Even then. You can’t know if you don’t ask. I’m going to the hospital, but if you need me, call me, okay?” She nods. I glance over to where Macy is in the kitchen and see her back is turned, so I kiss Quinn again, needing just one more taste of her. When I pull away, her face is flushed a bright pink, but I see the light of desire in her eyes too.
“You know that kissing gives you cooties, right?” Macy asks suddenly, making Quinn jump back, startled, her face turning from pink to red in an instant.
I look at Macy, who is looking at me with narrowed eyes and hands on her little hips. The sass of this girl makes me want to grin, but I manage to keep my face expressionless. “Maybe I like cooties,” I return.
“Gross,” Macy says with disgust. “I’m never kissing boys. They’re icky.”
“Exactly right,” I agree. “You just keep remembering that until you’re fifty and you’ll be all good.” Quinn laughs softly and I wink at her. “Alright, I need to go. I’ll see you ladies later, okay?”
“Bye,” Macy says, uncaring as she looks at her mother expectantly, waiting for her breakfast to be served.
“Bye, Shadow,” Quinn says, moving towards the kitchen.
I turn and head out the door to my bike. I wish I could stay longer, have breakfast with them, have a little bit more time, but I’ve been away long enough and I have a mole to catch. It’s time to put on the pressure because after last night, his time on Earth is limited.
When I reach the hospital, most of the brothers are gone. Crypt stands at attention outside the door of Izzy and Kaleb’s room, and he gives me a quick nod before he returns his attention to the hallway leading in. Simon Lincoln seems to have gotten a couple of semi-private rooms.
I walk over to where Sniper is talking quietly to Viper. Viper gives me a quick once over, then nods when he sees I’m alright. “What we got?” I ask quietly.
Sniper and Viper exchange a look. “We haven’t said anything to the boys about the tracks back to the clubhouse,” Sniper says in a low voice, careful that no one can overhear. “No one saw the person behind the wheel.”
