Page 59 of Killer Kiss

Luna crinkled her nose. “Off…O-li… Your name is really hard.”

Ophelia burst into laughter. “You know what? You’re right. It is. You could call me something else. Maybe Lia?” Ophelia smiled softly. “My sister couldn’t say my name when she was your age either, so she called me Lia.”

Luna nodded enthusiastically and pointed at Ophelia’s chest. “You be Lia. I’ll be Luna.” She turned to me and beamed. “And you’ll be Uncle Augie!”

I couldn’t move. Every time she said that it exploded my brain.

Ophelia reached over and took my hand, squeezing it encouragingly. “Talk to her.”

I knew she was right. I probably only had a minute with her, and every part of me desperately wanted to form a connection with her. Something that would get me through the rest of her life that I had to watch from afar.

I cleared my throat. “Did your grandma tell you to call me Uncle Augie?” I asked her, sure that Willa next door was the only way this girl had recognized me and been able to put a name to my face.

But Luna proudly shook her head. “Nope! My daddy taught me.”

I was so shocked a stiff breeze could have knocked me over.

I blamed that shock for not noticing the two people storming through the center until the woman’s hands circled Luna’s waist and yanked her up off the ground. “Get away from my daughter.”

I stumbled back from the fence, Ophelia and I both pushing up to full height to go eye to eye with my brother and sister-in-law.

“Shit,” Ophelia whispered, then spoke louder when I didn’t say anything. “Sorry. We didn’t…”

But Banjo’s and Lacey’s gazes were furious, and both directed squarely at me. Ophelia’s words trailed away, and she stepped back, realizing this was my fight.

Lacey turned and gave Luna to one of the center staff who was hovering around nervously.

“Take Luna inside,” she snapped at the woman.

“Of course. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see her over here. We’ll phone the police.”

“No need,” I called to her. “We’re leaving.” I faced my brother and his partner. “Look, I’m sorry—”

“You’re sorry?” Banjo barked at me. “What the hell is wrong with you, Augie? This is her daycare. You can’t just come here and lurk around like some fucking child molester and talk to our daughter through the damn fence!”

I shook my head, wanting to explain that this wasn’t why I’d come here. That I wouldn’t have dared to go near Luna’s daycare without their permission if she hadn’t yelled out to me. What was I supposed to do?

Ophelia squeezed my hand again. “He wasn’t—”

I cut her off. It was clear from the fury on Banjo’s and Lacey’s faces that no amount of explaining was going to make this situation better. I didn’t want Ophelia defending me. I deserved every ounce of Lacey’s wrath.

“We’re leaving. I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Banjo’s expression softened, but Lacey wasn’t having any of it.

“Just stop it, Augie. Stop all of it. The showing up in places we’ll be. The changing my flat tire. The leaving gifts. None of that will ever excuse the things you did to us. Do you understand me? Nothing excuses the fact that you’re a piece of shit who never deserved to call Banjo brother. You sure as hell will never call my daughter your niece. When I say go to Hell, Augie, I mean it. Go to Hell and burn there.”

She spun on her heel, hurrying through the center to where her daughter watched from behind glass windows, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears.

Tears that were my fault.

Every word Lacey had said was true.

Banjo just shook his head sadly. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”

“Nothing,” I managed to get out, my voice so cracked and broken it surprised me I could still form words. “She’s right. Go be with your daughter.”

Banjo gave a sad, short nod and walked away.

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