Page 24 of Lock 'em Down

I look up. “It’s not that.”

He frowns. “Not gambling? Then, what?”

“I got married.” I practically announce it and the server approaching our table with a board of nachos gasps in surprise.

Damien drops his head and the server places down the board and scurries away.

“Okay,” my team captain breathes out, remaining his cool, calm demeanor. We share that trait. “Okay.” His eyes flick up to meet mine. “What is she hitting you with? Money? A lawsuit? A scandal? Pictures? Just, lay it out for me, man.”

“Nothing,” I admit.

Damien stares at me like I’m an alien. “What do you mean, nothing?”

“She ghosted me, bro.” I snort and grip the back of my neck. “Fuck, I don’t know why it’s bugging me this much. I barely know the woman and yet—she’s straight up ghosting me, and I can’t fucking stand it.”

“Hold up.” Barnes lifts a hand. “Do you, Leif, do you like this woman?”

“I think so,” I admit, surprising the hell out of both of us. “But right now, I just need her to talk to me. And she’s—” The shrill ring of my phone cuts me off.

I pull my cell from my pocket and glance at the screening, frowning when I read Mom’s name. No fucking way.

“Give me a second,” I tell Barnes. “It’s my mom.”

He leans back in his chair and lifts his beer.

“Mom,” I answer, about to tell her it isn’t a good time to talk.

“Leif, how many times do I have to tell you that a fake rock is an awful place to hide a key? I found it in about three seconds. If I can spot it, anyone can,” Mom rambles through the line.

I straighten in my chair trying to play catch up. “Mom, what do you mean? Where are you?”

Mom exhales but the sound is…cheery. “I’m here, Leif! And I must tell you, you’ve done an excellent job with the aesthetic of your place. It could use some tidying but, well, that’s another reason why I’m here, right? Say, when will you be home?” she continues in a singsong voice, as though this is normal.

As though I should have expected her to show up in Knoxville. And, given Jensen’s phone call an hour ago, I should have.

A conversation from weeks ago with my brother Jensen flickers through my mind.

If Mom shows up on your doorstep, run.

Oh, fuck.

I groan.

Across from me, Damien gives me a look.

“I’m just grabbing a bite with my team captain,” I tell my mother. “I’ll be home in a bit. Do you need anything?”

“Oh, no! Don’t worry about me. I’ll make myself at home and see you soon!” She hangs up.

I drop my cell phone to the tabletop.

“What’s going on?” Barnes asks. “Did your family find out? Is your mom?—”

“Here,” I interject. “My mom is here. In Knoxville. At my house. For a surprise visit or an… I don’t know, an ambush.”

Across the table, Barnes’s eyes widen. “Shit, Leif. I think you were right. Mama Bang fucking wins.”

Yeah. Mama Bang always wins.

---