Page 43 of Sinful Deception

“I missed you too. Daddy said you weresuperbusy at work because the mayor was keeping you away. And Aunty Minka said that’s ‘cause the mayor is a no-good scoundrel who steals people and doesn’t say sorry.”

Fifi narrows her eyes and glares at my sheepish wife. “Really?”

“I was doing the best I could with the information I had! And it was way better than other things I could have said.”

“Are you gonna come to my mommy’s party on Friday, Miss Fifi?” Mia cups Seraphina’s cheeks and forces her back until they’re almost nose to nose. “Did you know she died? I haven’t seen you, so I didn’t get to tell you yet.”

Oh dear.

Her eyes glitter with devastation, but she tries on the bravest smile she’s got. “Yeah, honey. I know about your mommy. I’m so sorry this has happened to you.”

“She’s not sick anymore.” She sniffles and wipes beneath her nose with the sleeve of her top. “I’ll miss her, Miss Fifi, ‘cause she’s gone and can’t come see me anymore. But it’s cool that she’s all better now. Being sick is no fun.”

“That’s right.” She blinks the tears from her eyes and works with all her might to firm her trembling jaw. “I think it’s wonderful that your mommy is feeling all better now.”

“Sera…” Fletch’s voice crackles with months and months of pent-up anxiety. Sorrow. Regret. “I don’t… I’m not sure…” He swallows and draws a long breath. “I’m so sorry for everything. I swear I am.”

“I heard you.” Finally, she glances over and rewards him with her full attention, but without even a hint of bitterness or scorn. “I called the station, because I was looking for you. Then, I called Callen to check if Mayet was in the office. She said the chief was hosting a meeting with the homicide detectives, which is how I knew you would be here. Mia will need a new dress for this…” Awkward, she clears her throat. “Thing.”

“Party!” Mia offers. “It’s a bit like a birthday party for Mommy. But the opposite. So we can tell her we love her and stuff. She’ll be able to hear from Heaven.”

“Party.” Fifi nods. “She’ll need a new dress. I’ll understand completely if you think it’s a bad idea, but if you’re open to it, I’d like to take her shopping. Minka and Aubree could come too, so you know Mia is with people you trust.”

“Well, hang on a sec,” Minka grumbles. “At no point did I offer to go shopping.”

“Babe.” Chuckling, I snag her hand and yank her my way until she crashes against my side. “Shush.”

“Aubree will come,” Fifi tries again. “She’ll have her in her sights the whole time, and I promise to?—”

“You can take her shopping.” He rubs his cheek, though there’s nothing there to clean up. “Tomorrow, probably. If that works for you.”

“It does.” She looks down at the girl who happily bounces in her arms. “My schedule is flexible, and thescoundrelmayor is supportive of whatever I need to do over the next few days. Family comes first.” A wistful smile rolls across her lips. “He said family will always come first, and his former assistant will fill in when I can’t be there.”

“Assistant!” Minka exclaims. “See! That’s what I said! And yet I was made out to be the monster.”

“I’mhisassistant. With promising prospects for career growth amongst the city’s elite. I was notyourassistant, ever. The details matter.”

“The city’s elite,” she rolls her eyes. “Woman, you’re currently standing with the city’s elite. Don’t let that scoundrel convince you otherwise.”

The bags under Minka’s eyes grow smaller the further we move away from January eleventh. Her sleep improves, even while organizing a funeral and helping our friend through some really shitty days. She pulls strings and rank to have Jada’s body released for burial, and while Fletch seems content to float along and allow these things to be planned around him, I keep an eye on everyone else. Because I’ll be damned if I let anyone I care about run themselves into the ground for this.

“I need you and Micah to come to Copeland,” I tell Felix the evening after our meeting in Minka’s office, the phone pressed to my ear and my ass making a dent in the couch cushions where my brother rests his head each night. Jesus, help me. I’m actuallyinvitingFelix to my side of the country. “Fletch needs us to be pallbearers, and I promised him all of us would help.”

“You promised my time and physical presence without even asking?” He tsks and taps his fingers against his desk. “I’m a busy man, Archer. You think I can drop everything, fuel up a plane, and just come be your bitch boy?”

“Don’t worry about it, then. I’ll have Frank step in for you.”

“No, wait!” He shouts before I hang up.I wasn’t gonna.“I was kidding. We’ll be there, but only if you let us stay at your place that night.”

“Hotels are more comfortable.”

“Hotels don’t have all five brothers in the same room. You, Tim, and Cato will already be there. I’ll bring Micah and make it a complete set. Fletch will be pretty fucked by the end of the day, and so will his cute kid, so they’ll head home and sleep. That means we can get drunk and hunt down the motherfucker who hurt the woman we’re burying.”

“You wouldn’t have liked her.”

“Doesn’t matter.”Tap. Tap. Tap. “She means something to Mia and Fletch, so she means something to me.”

“Hunting down a killer, unless you’re a cop, is against the law.”

---