Page 24 of One Kill

“Rounded for me, please,” is Hallie’s answer, and by the look of her nails right now, I’m guessing it’s what she usually gets done. Fuck me. When I was thirteen, my dad would have kicked my ass if I had come home with manicured nails.

I decided to ignore this whole process and just enjoy this time with my daughter while I hand over the reins to Sophie and her wooden stick pushing back on my cuticles. Does it hurt? Not really, but it definitely doesn’t feel good.

“So, tell me something. What does your dad do for work?” I’m watching her every move, every tick, making sure I don’t get any other version than the truth to my questions.

“I don’t know, something about distribution of something or other at the port. I think he’s like an accountant or something? He works a lot with numbers on his computer but only goes to the office in the mornings while I’m at school.” One of her shoulders rises in a shrug, clearly not having any more information for me.

“So he’s got time to take care of you. Smart.” I can’t help but wonder if he’s, in any way, associated with the Irish mob. After all, we were raised and bathed in it over here and I can’t imagine them just looking the other way, especially if they know Hallie is mine. I’m going to need to find out for sure because if my suspicions are correct, it’s going to complicate things.

“Yeah, I guess he’s doing his best, you know?” Her tentative side-eye tells me there’s more to that comment.

“I’m sure he is.” I’m waiting for the rest of her concerns to hit me in the gut and she doesn’t disappoint.

“There are just things he can’t help me with, you know?” I think I’m supposed to be understanding something here, and when Carrie starts humming at Hallie like she gets it, I want to throat-punch her too.

“Daddies do not like Red Ribbongate.”

What the actual fuck is this chick talking about? Also, why? Why is she even talking?

My glare is so potent, she visibly recoils and snaps her mouth shut.

“You’re going to have to spell it out, Hals, I’m not following here.” I hate being the last to understand.

Hallie leans in and whispers softly, “I got my first period a few months ago and, well, I freaked out. Then he freaked out. Then we spent two hours watching videos.”

I freeze, the image of Murphy and Hallie looking up shit on the internet to—I’m hoping and supposing—help her use a tampon or a sanitary pad flashes through my mind on a reel. My second reaction is to laugh outright. In front of me, Sophie gasps and, swear to fucking Jesus and the saints, one hand clutches onto her nonexistent pearls.

“Relax. Your mind went way dark there.” Also, mind your own fucking business.

“But you’re here now so everything is perfect. It was my birthday wish and it’s come true.”

“Aww.” I was about to have feelings, right there in my chest again, but Carrie Whothefuckaskedyou interrupts with her little show of emotions.

“Yeah, I’ve never been happier.” I hear Hallie cooing just as I bring my mouth closer to Carrie’s station, forgetting that I’m in a public place surrounded by daytime people who have no fucking clue what happens to their kind in the middle of the night.

“I know how to bury bodies so no one can find them. Interrupt us again and I’ll show you.”

This time, both Sophie and Carrie gasp, their hands frozen, their mouths doing weird fish-like movements, and I realize I may have given them a little too much of myself.

“True crime TV, amiright?” I grin like it’s all just a joke, Hallie giggling beside me, not fazed in the least while the girls clear their throats and pretend I didn’t just threaten to kill and bury them the next time they open their mouths.

I’m pretty sure this was my first and last manicure and I’m not really sorry about it. Next time, we’ll have a girls’ day my way.

Chapter Twelve

J

“Ohmygod!Thatwaswild.Bridget is gonna be so pissed when I show her these pics.” Hallie scrolls back and forth over the images I’ve just taken of her sitting on my bike, her silver, glittery phone case sparkling in her small hands when the beams from passing headlights flash over it.

I chuckle, warmth radiating through me at her beautiful little smile that I put there. Me. I made her smile this big. It’s a sensation I’m not used to, but damn if I don’t like making this girl happy.

“Come on, Kid, your dad’s probably inside wearing the carpet down.”

“Nah, he’s been peeking through the curtains since we pulled up.”Of course he has.She begins skipping up the short path toward her front door, which opens as soon as she places a foot on the porch step.

The security light above the entrance shines brightly in the evening sky, highlighting the breathtaking man now standing there with our precious daughter in his arms. He places a kiss on the top of her head before she unfurls herself from him and turns to face me.

“You coming in for coffee, Mom?”

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