Page 147 of Steel Queen

I chuckled.

“Make sure Civella doesn’t come running here tonight,” said Noah. “Tell him to pick her up in the afternoon or something.”

“I don’t know what he’ll do,” I said. “Depends on how much he cares for his niece.”

After dinner, Irene sat happily on Noah’s lap, looking like a doll. Caleb and Corey flanked him, entertaining her with toys they’d bought on their way back from shopping.

I looked at the small slip of paper on which Irene wrote down her uncle’s phone number. It was different than the one Mallory gave me to connect with him.

Going to a quiet corner, I dialed the number.

“Hello?” Nick answered before the second ring.

“Mr. Civella?”

“Who is this?” he spat out.

“It’s me. Azalea Amhurst.”

“Azalea? How did you get this number to contact me?” he asked in a confused voice.

“Irene gave it to me.”

“Irene’s with you?” he suddenly barked. “You fucking bitch! I wouldn’t let you have what you want, so you go ahead and kidnap my niece! How dare you harm one of my own? I’m going to fucking—”

“Mr. Civella!” I shouted over him. “I did not kidnap your niece. Will you stop cursing and let me explain what happened?”

“Where is she?” he demanded angrily. “Let me speak to her right now or I’m going to fucking kill you.”

“Stop cursing in such foul language, Mr. Civella or you’ll scare the poor baby.”

His heavy breathing sounded on the phone.

“She’s safe,” I said. “But before I let you talk to her, I need to tell you some things.”

“No, Azalea,” he replied through clenched teeth. “I will talk to her before listening to another word from your mouth.”

I walked across the room and handed the phone to Irene. “Your uncle wants to talk to you. He’s very worried. Can you tell him you’re safe with us?”

Irene looked at the phone as if it was the most annoying thing in the world.

“Hello,” she answered in a sullen voice.

After a pause, she spoke up again.

“I don’t know where Samantha is,” she answered in the same sullen voice. “I’m busy right now, Uncle Nick. Can we talk tomorrow?”

Nick’s panicked-stricken voice leaked out of the phone as she smiled up at Noah.

“You don’t have to come over now,” Irene said in a dramatic, exasperated voice. “It’s already so late. We’ve all eaten our dinner and we’ll be going to bed soon. Why don’t you come tomorrow evening? I can leave after having tea with Azalea, Noah, Corey, and Caleb.”

After a moment’s pause, she said, “No, Uncle. I don’t want to come home right away.” Moving the phone away from her ear, she disconnected it.

“Did you just hang up on him?” Caleb asked, looking amused.

“Yes,” said Irene. “He was fussing and shouting too much.”

Corey and Caleb cackled.

---