Page 11 of Carlos

That boy was going to need some serious counseling. Steel hadn’t said how old he was, but any age was unacceptable.

“Are you anticipating any backlash?” Carlos asked, getting back to the topic at hand.

“Unlikely,” Ghost replied.

“Keys is working up a new identity for him. He’ll make it look like Ollie has always been here,” Steel explained.

Like Keys had done with Abby, Cassie, and Lila. He’d somehow backdated a wedding certificate to make it seem like Abby and Bulldog had been married for years and had adopted Cassie and Lila from the foster system. As far as paperwork was concerned, Caleb and Georgie were Bulldog’s biologically.

Carlos knew that something similar had been done with Bree’s adoption, but Keys had not been the one to do that work. From what Carlos understood, Angel had a contact through WITSEC who had handled Bree’s new identity.

If Jeff was confused or amazed by anything that was being said, he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

“Which of you is taking him in?” Carlos asked, looking between the four men at the table who had homes and families on property.

Steel shrugged, “We’re letting the ol’ ladies figure that out. Point is, he’s Via Daemonia now.”

Carlos knew better than most that that was not just a statement to Steel. That claim meant something to Steel fundamentally.

The discussion was moved onto how to best protect the town. Steel indicated that he was gathering intel on the Pythons, to try and figure out their plans. Since all of this might be speculation and the Pythons might not decide to come to Mount Grove, it was hard to make any decisions.

“We’re revoking the right to openly wear colors within our borders,” Steel said towards the end of the meeting. “Make sure your deputies know. If they see any cuts but ours, they’re to inform you immediately.”

Carlos nodded once. He was going to need to set a meeting with the others anyway. They were still down a deputy after losing Connelly, and now they were losing Hannigan. With recent budget cuts, Hannigan had not replaced Connelly. Carlos wondered if he had the funding to hire at least one more deputy now. He was fine with his current salary if that was a sacrifice he needed to make to ensure the town’s safety.

He was going to need a secretary too. Belinda, who had been Longhill’s predecessor’s secretary, was still running the front office. Technically, she was the mayor’s secretary too but Snowdon didn’t go to her often for things. Belinda had a tendency to promise things that couldn’t be done in an unreasonable amount of time. Longhill had always laughed it off like Belinda was pulling a joke. Hannigan had tried to fire her on his first day but she still kept showing up.

It had been the only decision Carlos had ever agreed upon with Hannigan prior to him showing his true colors.

Steel invited Carlos and Jeff to lunch at his house. Carlos had been about to decline, needing time alone to process the last hour of his life, but Jeff accepted before he could.

“Never one to turn down a free meal,” the deputy said with a harty laugh.

Bulldog hung back as the others made to depart. He grabbed Carlos’s arm but waited until it was just them in the room to speak.

“You deserve this. There’s no one better for the job.”

Carlos flinched. “Eighteen months ago, I would have agreed with you. Now? I’m not so sure.”

His brother was just barely taller than Carlo’s six-three. While Carlos was clean shaven with closely cropped raven hair, Bulldog had a long full beard and was bald. The brothers’ bodies were similar in build, taking after their Mexican father. Their Italian mother was in their eyes.

“You,” he tapped the side of his fist against Carlos’ chest, “are,” tap, “the,” tap, “best,” tap, “man,” tap, “I know, fratellino.”

Problem was, Carlos wasn’t sure he believed that either.

Zoe should have known that Jenna’s lunch invitation wouldn’t be exclusive to just her and Kyle. The walk from the trailer the VDMC had been allowing her to stay in was pleasant. The August morning was hot but accompanied by a nice mountain breeze.

Kyle ran ahead while Jenna and Zoe walked more casually.

“He’s getting so big,” Jenna said with a trace of awe.

Zoe watched her son play and giggle. He didn’t often have this type of freedom. Her fear kept them indoors more than not. “He’s almost four.”

“Oh,” Jenna put a hand on her arm, “we have to throw him a party, Clara. When’s his birthday?”

Zoe automatically shook her head. “I can’t?—”

Jenna pulled her to a stop. The older woman was about the same height as Zoe. She had reddish-brown hair that only had a few gray strands. Zoe didn’t think she dyed her hair and was just someone who didn’t gray quickly. Her husband was the literal definition of a silver fox.

---