Page 59 of Whiskey's Redemption

Her eyes blaze wide for a split second. She’s hiding something huge.

“What if we guess it? You’re not really telling anything if we figure it out,” Risen suggests. His cop skills of interrogation are coming in handy. Hopefully it works, because I’m at a loss.

“Well, if you guessed it, and I didn’t state it aloud, then I’m not telling you. But, you have to promise not one of you comes with me.” Circe is visibly afraid we’ll figure it out, and even more afraid that we’ll follow. Dammit, now I definitely want to know.

Pulling up a chair, China is excited. “Okay, this will be kind of like charades, I guess. Or…ohh! Hot potato.”

“China,” Risen sighs, exasperated.

Waving him off, and turning her full attention to Circe, she concentrates. “Okay, so Crown’s aren’t allowed to go, and it has something to do with Whiskey.” Turning to me, she asks, “What did you do to piss her off? Why won’t she call you and tell you herself?”

“When did this become about me? I didn’t do anything to her. It’s not like she was pissed off when she left.”

“So, she wasn’t mad. But why not call you?”

Chicks. “I haven’t called her and she hasn’t called me. So what?”

Turning her attention back to Circe, she asks another question. “Is she mad at Whiskey?”

Looking skyward, trying to keep her mouth shut, Circe bites down on her lip.

“Fine. No speaking. Okay, I’ll keep trying. So she’s not mad at him, but he’s done something.” Sitting quietly for a moment, tapping her fingers on her chin, China is enjoying this way too much.

“James, I didn’t know you two were even hooking up. When did that happen?” Wyatt asks me.

“We met at Indy, and we’d seen each other a few times in the hospital in passing, so we went to lunch. We hooked up once. Nothing crazy happened. Nothing like yourcrazykink shit you’re in to.”

Smirking, Wyatt grins and winks at Circe.

“Not now, Ghostman. Not now,” China huffs. Jumping up from her chair, she dances around like her hair’s on fire. She’s giddy. “I figured it out! I figured it out!”

Risen laughs and slaps her on the ass. “Well share with the rest of the room. Don’t hold out, woman.”

“Not here, man. That’s my baby sister,” I tell him.

Raising his hands in defeat, Risen laughs deep. Fucker. Like I needed that vision.

Moving over to Circe and hugging her tight, China whispers in her ear. Circe’s eyes bug out before she nods.

“Yes! I am the best at this game.” Spinning back toward me, China looks like the cat that ate the canary. “You are gonna besopissed. And happy. Damn happy. Butsopissed.” Slapping me on the arm, she smiles, laughs, then says, “Dad.”

I’m stunned to silence, taking in what she just said. Wyatt takes a seat on the bed. Circe puts her head in her hands, and Risen blinks, like, fifty times.

“What did you say?”

“There’s about to be another Crown!” Smiling, she sits down on the edge of the bed, crosses her legs, and says, “Now, how about someone tell me why we were meeting here?”

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