Page 6 of Prodigal Son

He tested the door, found it unlocked, and let himself in.

The bell jangled, and Albie lifted his head. There was a brief flicker of emotion, and then his face went carefully blank. “There you are,” he greeted. One corner of his mouth twitched up in a grin. “You look like you’ve already seen Eden.”

“I have.” Fox climbed onto the stool and felt tension he hadn’t known he was carrying give way in his spine, slumping forward to rest his elbows on the desk. “Saw the video.”

Albie dropped his attention back to his sketch; it was a sofa, with elaborate wooden legs, very old fashioned. “Dad looks good.”

“Oh yeah. Some blokes really let themselves go. But not him.”

“Still light on his feet too.”

“Mmhm.”

“I’ve half a mind to let your girl bring him in. But I thought I’d let you have the final say.”

Fox snorted. “Phillip’s the oldest. Let him have the say.”

“Yeah, but you’re the favorite.” He glanced up through his lashes, gaze pointed.

“Yeah, yeah.” Fox grimaced. Just because it was true didn’t mean he wanted to be reminded of it. “Some consolation that is.”

Albie set his pencil down and pushed his glasses up into his hair; the nose pieces had left little red dents in his skin. “Look. I’ve got no love for the asshole.”

Fox made an agreeing sound.

“But I’m not keen on him getting locked up for no reason.”

“You sure about that? Can’t make any more bastards when you’re locked up.”

Albie smirked. “True. But I’m surprised Eden told us about him. She could have just taken him in.”

“Well.” He tilted his head to the side, considering. “She’s all about justice. Honor. All that shit. She wants to make sure this company’s on the up-and-up.”

“Right,” Albie said. “It’s got nothing to do with youat all.”

Fox gave him alook.

It didn’t work. “Maybe she still likes you,” Albie said.

As iflikewas a suitable word.

“Probably she doesn’t.”

He shrugged. “Ask her and find out.”

“Yeah? When was the last time you asked anyone that?”

“I’m a bachelor.”

“And what am I?”

“An asshole.”

“Guess I walked into that one.”

~*~

At various times in his life, Devin had been impossible to find. According to Albie’s mother, he’d ghosted off to France for a little while there. It was disconcerting to Fox that he was so easily accessed now, his name on a buzzer in a semi-decent complex full of young families and retired olds.

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