Page 69 of Once A Crime Lord

“Yes!” all three of them said at once.

Happy for the company, she headed to the kitchen, and they all trailed after her.

“When did you leave the hospital?” she asked.

“Around ten last night. We stopped here on our way to work,” Janice said.

Their level of commitment was unheard of. “You stayed there until ten? Didn’t you get there at six in the morning?”

“Yes, but the hospital staff and patients were all frazzled,” Alice said. “Everyone’s scared and confused. We couldn’t leave.”

She swallowed her guilt as she handed out cups of steaming coffee. Janice and Marcus talked about some business function coming up while Alice bobbed around the kitchen with an ecstatic Nora. Alice looked paler than normal but still happy. How the heck could she look this awake after dealing with a crisis?

“What’s your next project?” she asked.

Alice’s eyes lit up. “I’m teaming up with a dog shelter and a school to have a play day.”

Her heart lightened. “That sounds fun. I want to help.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Marcus’s head turn in her direction, but she ignored him. Marcus had never been one to hover around her like Blade, but it seemed this shooting had shaken him.

“It’s going to be great,” Alice said. “We’re inviting parents to join as well. We’re hoping to get a bunch of adoptions out of this.”

An image of kids running with dogs in a field lightened the heavy weight on her chest. She would like nothing more than to be a part of it, but once again, she would have to sit out not only for her own safety, but for others as well.

Beau came through the doggy door and planted himself at Alice’s feet, staring up at Nora.

“I see Beau’s bonded with Nora,” Alice said.

“He’s obsessed with her.”

“Why shouldn’t he be? She’s adorable!”

Alice baby talked to Beau who wasn’t impressed. His ears twitched in her direction, but his tail didn’t wag. Alice didn’t seem to mind Beau’s subtle rejection.

“I’m so happy Beau found a home with you and Mr. Pyre. If I didn’t work so much, I’d get a pet myself. One day I will.”

“Well, good morning,” Janice drawled.

She turned and saw Carmen dressed in a red silk robe and Hello Kitty slippers. Her eyes were bleary from sleep, and she appeared to be confused by the company. She didn’t blame her. The last time they had this much people in the house was during Nora’s baby shower. It had been a hollow tomb ever since.

“What’s going on?” Carmen asked and made a beeline for the coffee pot.

“We stopped by to make sure you and Lyla are okay after yesterday,” Janice said and then examined her red nails. “Although I thought I saw you leave with Kody Singer before everything went haywire.”

“Yeah.” Carmen yawned and noticed Marcus for the first time. “What are you doing here?”

“Good morning, Carmen,” Marcus said politely.

“She’s not a morning person,” she said and shot Carmen a chiding look.

“Well, I’m off.” Marcus set his cup in the sink and kissed her temple. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Marcus,” she said as he stopped by Nora and then headed out.

“You made Marcus her godfather?” Alice asked.

“Yes. Marcus and Blade.”

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