Page 13 of Vail

“You could have brought them with you.” Cat itched to meet Jordan and see Hartley again.

“It’s not the right time. The dust should settle first. Besides, if I brought them with me today, I would feel the need to make sure everyone was happy.”

Cat cocked an eyebrow. It was light brown, her natural color, compared to her soft pink hair, which fell over her shoulders. “You know better than that. This is my house. There’s no people-pleasing in here. We’re honest and straight to the point. Hart already knows this about me, but Jordan doesn’t. Hey, when you finally bring them over, don’t tell him so I can see the look on his face when I say what I feel.” She grinned and meant it. Cat would love to get a rise out of my partner. Jordan wouldn’t appreciate it though.

“Stop picking fights before they even visit.”

She adjusted Ivy to smooth her fingers along her face. “This child is like a furnace. I’m sweating. Shelly, do you want to hold her?” I still couldn’t believe my sister had nicknamed Sheldon. When she first said it, I waited for the fallout. Sheldon with his quiet danger and soft words. Although, he got this wistful look on his face and told us that was what his mom used to call him. Cat apologized, not knowing the full backstory. She didn’t want to get overly personal and dig into his life. At least not yet. Given the chance, she would.

“As generous as that offer is, I’m going to have to pass,” he said from where he stood, looking out the front window.

“You don’t like babies?”

“I don’t like any children.”

I turned to face him. “I don’t mind them if they aren’t mine. Spoiling my niece and nephew and then leaving is the best of both worlds.”

“For you. After the shit I’ve been through… Nope.” I grimaced, forgetting how awful Sheldon’s childhood was. I could understand why he didn’t want kids.

Cat opened her mouth, but I lifted my foot and nudged her with it. Once I had her attention, I shook my head. She stopped for now. Sheldon didn’t see us, too busy making sure no one attacked us in the winter wonderland outside.

“Any word on dickbag?” Cat asked instead.

Sheldon peered at her over his shoulder. “Is that one word or two?”

“Not a clue, but if you need me to get more creative, all you have to do is ask. I can think up thousands of horrible names to call that motherfucker.”

He tsked. “Such language in front of your daughter.”

“She’s a baby and asleep. If her first word is dickbag, you can say I told you so.”

“Deal. To answer your question, no. It’s like he fell off the face of the earth. We have eyes and ears everywhere. Mr. Altair started calling in favors, but no one can seem to locate him.”

Chills spread out over my skin and not in a good way. Somewhere out there, Gil was dead or plotting. I went with my gut since leaving him and it told me he was alive, especially after trying to frame Jordan like he had. Gil was biding his time until he could strike. The more days that passed, the more he could amass. Weapons weren’t his go-to. No, he’d hit me where it hurt the worst. If I was down, he could swoop in when I didn’t see him coming. What would hurt me was going after those I loved.

Cat insisted she didn’t need protection. Gil was an asshole, but I couldn’t see him harming children. With Hartley and Jordan in my life, they were who he’d target. He’d already got Jordan locked up. Everything that happened was done on purpose. We didn’t get to see the photos of Gil’s home, but Lana said it was a clear path to Jordan.

Fucking Gil. Why couldn’t he crawl away and die somewhere? Yes, I could give Jordan the okay to have Gil killed. I didn’t want that. Jordan’s hands had to remain clean when it came to Gil. I didn’t ask for a lot. That was a hard rule though. Obviously, Jordan would be the person of interest if Gil turned up dead.

“Hey,” Cat said, her turn to nudge me with her foot. “They’re going to find him and when they do, he’s going to wish he was dead.”

“You know how I feel.”

“I do and don’t give a shit. I will do anything for you, but in this, nature should take its course. And by nature, I mean Jordan and his weapon of choice.”

“I like your sister, Vail,” Sheldon said.

Cat answered before I could, “I’m taken. Since babies aren’t your thing, I doubt you’re over there lusting after me.”

“I’m gay, Cat. While I appreciate your beauty and attitude, you don’t do it for me.”

“Good to know. Does that mean you have a thing for Ollie? Not that I know if he’s into you, but you two would make a cute pair.”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure anyone has ever called me cute. Ollie’s my best friend and nothing more. We went there once, and it nearly ended our friendship. We’re not meant to be together like that.” His last sentence was quiet, barely able to be heard.

My sister, never one to let anyone feel unloved in her house, got to her feet with Ivy in her arms and walked to Sheldon. “I don’t care that you work for Jordan or what other bad things you do. There’s someone out there for you. Now, take this baby before I take off my shirt. I’m sweating to death.” She held a still sleeping Ivy out to Sheldon who backed up until he ran into the small table Cat had near the door, catching it before it toppled over.

“No babies. I already told you that.”

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