Page 76 of Tangled with the Tight End

“No…. Not this time. I didn’t have any with me.” Sloane laughs again. “But I managed to hook me a whale without it.” Her voice trails off as Truman shuts off the device.

“That’s bullshit. Those charges won’t stick.” She lurches toward me with her fist raised, and Truman steps to the side as she breaks free from the officer’s grip. “Fucking asshole.” Her palm hits my face with a resounding smack as she hits me with her full weight, knocking me off balance.

Truman and the officer grab her from either side.

I grin as my last deed is complete. “Let’s add assault to the list. And you have charges in Colorado pending for breaking and entering, trespassing, and–”

“Fuck you.” She thrashes against them as she attempts to get away.

“Ma’am.” The officer gives her a stern warning, which she blatantly ignores by elbowing him in the gut and stomping on his foot. The room erupts as officers come from all directions until she’s restrained and unable to move. “You’re under arrest for assaulting a law enforcement officer. You have the right to remain silent….” He hitches her upright and shoves her toward a holding cell.

I turn toward Truman. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He slings his arm around my shoulders. “All in a good day’s work. Let’s get out of here.”

“You’re on.”

forty-one

NORAH

A Few Days Later

Havanaand I are making Gino a snack in the kitchen when I glance at the clock above the stove. 3 o’clock. Gabriel’s practice should be done, and once again, I’m sending up a quick prayer that everything went well. I trust him about his knee, but I don’t trust everyone else around him.

I grab some yellow crackers and place them on the blue plastic plate while Havana cuts the cucumber slices and cheddar cheese. Gabriel has a meal service that brings him food, but we haven’t decided whether that will change when I’m here. I envision the trays of smoked beef ribs and vegetables prepped for the oven in the refrigerator.

There are some perks to having someone else cook for once. I can focus on Gabriel and Gino rather than cooking and cleaning.

“You’re much different from Ms. Sloane.”

“Yeah?” I tilt my head and study the older Hispanic woman who previously worked for Sloane’s ex-boyfriend and raised Gino for the past two years.

“Yes.” Her eyes are hard as she slices off a piece of cucumber. “She was rude and dismissive of both the staff and Mr. Gino.”My heart aches for Gabriel’s son. Her jaw flexes. “I’ll never understand a woman like that. Always shifting to the next best thing without regard for others.”

“Well, I’m not sure how this Finn was better than Gabriel and Gino.” The woman needed her head examined.

She glances over at me. “Money.”

“Bitch,” I growl under my breath. What a bitch. I inhale and count to five. Don’t think about her. She got what she deserved. At this moment, she’s in jail for assaulting both Gabriel and a law enforcement officer. She’s right where she belongs.

“That….” Havana smiles as her eyes lose some of their hardened glint. “Is a true statement. I’m glad Mr. Gabriel called me. Mr. Gino is such a sweet boy, and I missed him.”

I place my hand on her forearm. “Thank you for loving him when you didn’t have to.”

She presses her lips together for a second. “Same to you.”

Tears fill my eyes, and I blink them back. “I hope I’m good enough for him.” I inhale to steady my breath. “Especially with going back and forth–”

“Don’t fret, dear. He knows you care about him. Even if you leave him for a few days. Kids are smart. They know when people care and when they don’t. Here….” She hands the plate to me. “The snack is done.”

As I leave the kitchen and walk into the living room, her words fill my head. I pray she’s right because I don’t want to cause Gino anymore sadness.

He glances up from the toy car he’s driving between the rugs and furniture legs. “Watch.”

“Of course, I’ll watch.” I settle on the sofa, letting the buttery-leather cushions suck me in and nearly whimper at the soft comfort.

Gino takes the car and vrooms around the table leg, through the chair legs, and back out from under the table. “I fast.” His eyes dance with joy.

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