Page 14 of Shield and Savior

And the whole car agrees. Rule one—no food in the car—broken. “I’ve got fruit snacks and crackers.” Opening the center console, I toss back the box, which is promptly destroyed like a pack of wolves shredding a bunny. They throw cardboard around the car like body parts. “Don’t leave trash lying around, or we can’t have nice things.”

“Are you afraid Aunt Alana will be mad?”

“No.” Yes. “I don’t like cleaning up after mythical creatures.”

The rest of the trip is uneventful. Selkie is the first drop off. Her handlers are already waiting for her at violin lessons. I throw the car in park and let her out. As a general rule, I hate it when someone opens a car door. The two members of her father’s crew give me a head nod as my first passenger hops out with a sufficiently bored, “Later, Lance.”

The next stop is Maria’s house. I’ve been there hundreds of times. Thiago throws the best Superbowl parties. But now I’m in an official capacity, and there are protocols to follow. Calling ahead, Rich answers on the first ring. “I am two minutes away.”

I like to give Thiago’s guys time to meet us at the gate. “Hey, Fairy, whatcha learning about in school this week?”

“Sight words I’ve got to know, like a million of them.” She sticks the fruit snacks on her fingernails and eats them one by one.

Hmm, Ian might need help with his sight words too. “How about this? If you and Werewolf get fifty sight words right, I’ll take everyone out for ice cream?”

Champ lifts his head, “Wait, me too?”

“Sure, if you help Ian study. Speaking and reading are two different skills.”

We turn on Thiago’s street, and I call again. “In sight at ten, nine, eight…,” I start the countdown when I see the house. Two men walk to the gate and stand with their hands on their holsters. “Seven, six, five.” I slow the car. “Four, three.” The car rolls to a stop. “Two, one.” I hop out and unload Fairy Maria out of her booster seat.

She gives me an extra hug before skipping over to the guards. “Hi guys, like my nails?” She waves her fruit snacks at them, and now I wonder if there’s one on my back.

“Very pretty,” one of them says, grabbing her backpack from me. “Hurry up kiddo, your mom is waiting for you.”

She spins around on her toes. “Bye, Lance, see you tomorrow.”

Once back in the driver’s seat, I watch Champ and Werewolf talking from the rearview mirror. Well, mostly Champ talks, and Werewolf nods along. “Hey, do they let us use these at lunch?” He lifts the Switch. But when Werewolf doesn’t seem to understand, Champ points to the backpack and makes an eating motion with his hands. “Lunch. That’s a word you’ve got to know.”

Werewolf nods, “Lunch.”

“Okay, so we’ll work on sight words for like five minutes, and we’ll keep playing games for the rest of the time.” He points to himself and back at Werewolf and motions eating again. “We’ll eat lunch together from now on.”

This concept Werewolf completely understands and smiles. For a second I don’t recognize the action because I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ian smile. Like ever.

When we arrive at Dimitri’s place, he’s already waiting for us at the front door. They live in an apartment and are still trying to rebuild a life in America. The Four Families help him out, but since he’s not a full member, they’re limiting their assistance until he’s earned it. I think he’s also trying to keep his head low and out of trouble.

Dimitri opens the back door, which drives me a little nuts, and pokes his head into the car. Ian hunches over to make his way to the door.

“How was school today?” Dimitri asks, but his eyebrows raise when he sees his nephew hop out.

Ian says, “Good,” and turns back to Champ, “Bye.”

Champ waves back. “See you tomorrow.”

The backdoor slams, and I almost miss it. “Ya podruzhilsya.”I made a friend. My throat burns. Do not cry. From the side view mirrors, I see Dimitri throw his arm around the kid’s shoulder. Shit, this might be the first time I’ve seen Dimitri smile too.

Do.

Not.

Cry.

Champ and I are a good two miles down the road before he says another word. “That school is so weird. Everyone’s rich and fancy, and they act like they’re so smart, but I did all of that work over the summer with Mom.”

“Well, you’re going back tomorrow.”

He huffs and returns to his game.

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