Page 52 of Gifts

Levi jogs down the stairs with bags strung over both shoulders and more in his hands. His face is tight and I can’t tell if it’s fear or anger.

“Get that to your Jeep—we’re going to Keelie’s. I don’t know what this is about, but if someone is targeting me and knows about her, I’m not leaving her to that. We’re staying with her for the time being.”

“Does she know this?”

“She will soon enough.” I look to Crew. “Can you handle this? I need to get Emma out of here and Keelie home to her kids.”

“Go. We’ve got this covered. I’ll have new motion detectors installed outside on the perimeter by tonight and the cameras are still working,” Crew says.

I pick up my bags and turn to my son. “Let’s get them out of here. I’m gonna have to call your mom—I’m not looking forward to that.”

*****

I pull into Keelie’s drive, and just like always, the animals do their thing. Grady’s Escalade and Crew’s old truck are parked in the front, but just like I instructed, no one’s outside but Ozzie. He’s standing guard in the front of the house like I asked.

“Where are the kids?” Keelie’s been busy on her phone the whole drive here, but now her voice is sharp with an edge of anxiety that makes me want to rip my steering wheel off. “And who’s he?”

I reach over and take her hand as I pull into her driveway. “I told Maya to keep them inside for now, they’re good. That’s Ozzie. He’s training under us. He’s been with us for months so I know he’s solid. The kids are fine, Keelie.”

She pulls her hand from mine. “Why is he here? And why wouldn’t my kids be fine?”

I throw my truck in park and look to Emma in the backseat. “Go on in. Maya’s here and I’m sure she’s got the kids with her. You can help, but don’t say a word about what happened today in front of Knox and Saylor.”

Emma doesn’t make a move and hugs her middle. “Where are we going to stay?”

Levi has pulled up and is already unloading bags from the back of his Jeep.

Keelie looks to Levi and then back to me. “What’s going on?”

I keep my eyes on Emma. “It’s a big house—we’re staying here. Go on inside with Maya. I’ll get the bags.”

Keelie’s eyes go big, but she waits for Emma to trudge out of the truck and slam the door before she exclaims, “You’re staying here?”

I start to grab my shit. “Yes.”

Her voice rises. “You’re not staying here!”

I look to her and sigh. “I’m not leaving you and your kids alone after what happened.”

“We’ll be fine. We’ve been fine alone for a long time,” she insists.

“Maybe,” I agree. “But you’ve also never been shot at, that I know of.”

Sarcasm seeps through her anger. “No, Asa. Unlike your chosen profession, being a mom, a lobbyist, and a counselor has been pretty mundane. Today was a first for me.”

I lean in to cup her cheek and lower my voice, but still lay it out the way it’s gonna be, because there’s no fucking way I’m leaving them alone. “I’m sorry, baby. You don’t know how sorry I am. I need to figure out who shot at you and why. People are working on that as we sit here arguing, but until I know you’re not a target because of me, there’s no way I’m leaving you alone. Now, get in the house and go see your kids.”

She doesn’t move a muscle. Fuck, she’s got an iron cage built around her. “I could be a target because of you?”

I feel myself become rigid at her words, hating it could be true even though it doesn’t add up. Especially when I told her I’d taken all the precautions to prevent that from happening. I don’t answer, which must be answer enough.

She jerks her face out of my hand and reaches for her door, muttering, “Fucking great.”

I watch her stalk through the garage still in her heels, my shirt swallowing her with her short skirt peeking out the bottom. I shake my head and think it’s too late to leave her be, not that I want to. No fucking way will I leave her now.

*****

Keelie