Page 16 of Shield and Savior

I was debt free and had no attachments…until a few weeks ago.

“Um yeah. My mom had all those shirts and costumes made for us. We all got Mickey ears. Dad and Donnie would open and close the park, while Mom and I focused on Drew. Joey bounced between both of us.”

“Can I have this as my Christmas card?”

“I guess seeing Joey as an actual human being is hard to imagine.” His dad and mom died when he was young. He stayed with Nonna, but Dad raised him in the family business. Joey had a knack for business and building, just like his dad. Or that’s whatMYdad would say.

I don’t remember Uncle Tommy. He was the black sheep of the family. He was legit, no dirty money went through his construction business. I’m not sure if that’s what got him killed or not. I don’t know if Joey even knows.

Once Drew is in bed, Lance leans against the fridge, watching me. “There are a few things I need to know that are not in your case file.”

Uh oh, here it comes. “Why did I leave my family?”

Lance glances at the tile floor. “You don’t have to tell me anything you aren’t comfortable with, but I do need to know as much as you’re willing to give me. I can’t protect you with only half of the information.” His eyes meet mine. “Besides, criminal underworld aside, your family is pretty great.”

Time to test out the new breakfast barstools because I know this story requires me to sit. “I ran before they could send me away. I was young and scared. And Drew’s father was being super creepy. It was one time, and he was all, ‘You’re mine forever.’ And I wanted nothing to do with him. So I took off. Spent time with my mom’s family.

“When Drew was born, I reached out to Mom. No one said come home, so I didn’t. Donnie and Joey sent money, Mom called every day. Drew was three when Dad started calling too. But I got the impression they were doing it because Nonna was forcing them.

“Drew and I settled into our own routine. But about a month ago, Mike, my ex, showed up at my door. He’s all, ‘I want to be a part of my son’s life, blah blah blah.’”

Lance’s expression is hard to read. Is he being all judgy? Angry at me? Or worse, does he feel bad for me?

“He was fine when we met back in high school, but once we had sex, he got all clingy and possessive. But you know, people grow and mature. So, I decided to give him a second chance. That was a mistake.” Remembering the change in his voice, the thick darkness when he started yelling, makes me shiver.

“We went out to dinner, but I kept him away from Drew. I didn’t want Mike near my son until he passed the red flag tests. He failed. He started saying shit like, ‘It’s all your family’s fault we aren’t together.’ And when I told him, ‘No, I took off on my own,’ that’s when he got mad.”

The pain in my ribs awakens, like it knows I’m thinking about it. When my hand drifts toward my ribs, all the golden flecks in Lance’s eyes vanish into darkness.

“Anyway, things got rough. When it was over, I called Waverly, who ratted me out to my family. Hours later, Donnie and Joey were at my place, demanding I come home. And poof, I’m here.”

Lance is silent for longer than I’m comfortable with. “And your ex didn’t have any contact with you for ten years? Why now?”

I shake my head and rub my arms as a phantom breeze swirls through my kitchen. “I’m trying to figure that out.”

“How do you feel about Waverly telling your family?”

“Waverly hated that I was so far away. She’d been looking for an excuse for me to come home for a while. I guess she saw the opportunity and took it. I can’t fault her for that.”

Lance rubs his chin, “Sounds like everyone has your best interest in mind. Except you.”

Well, I could’ve done without that last statement. The stress of the past few days sucker punches me, exhaustion clings like one of those blanket coat things. “I should go to bed.”

He nods. “Stand with me while I do a sweep of Champ’s room, and I’ll do yours and be out of your hair.”

My back aches, and my shoulders feel stiffer than Joey’s socks in high school. I plop on the couch, “So you’re here all night?”

Lance looks up from working on the pile of boxes delivered this morning. “Pretty much.”

“Where are you going to be?”

“Hallway, outside, after I do a sweep of the area.”

“What?”

“I’m sure you don’t want some strange man staying in the same place as your son while you’re both sleeping,” he shrugs. “My job is to make sure you feel safe. And if that’s even the tiniest concern in your mind, it’s completely worth it.”

Hmm. Lots of people have given me creepy vibes—men my dad worked with, customers at The Waffle House—but no red flags from Lance. Weird, he passed the red flag test without me being aware I gave it.

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