Page 56 of Absinthe Minded

“Thanks, Ma.” I smiled, though I had my doubts the munchkins would eat it.

“It was no trouble. I wish I could stay and visit, but I have to get your father to Baton Rouge for a doctor appointment. Is everyone feeling better?”

“Yeah, it must have been a twenty-four-hour virus. Maggie and Chloe are fine.”

“Good. Poor Chloe missing her recital.”

“I promised her we would hold a private performance. Could we do it at the gala?”

“She could dance at the wedding.”

“Very funny.”

“I’ll inform the event planners my granddaughter will be dancing.”

“Could you find her a pink costume with wings?”

“Consider it done.” She patted my cheek and headed for the door.

“Drive safe, Ma.” Following her, I grinned to keep the mood light and launched a verbal hand grenade. “When will you call off the custody hearing?”

“When will you set a date?”

It was too fucking early in the morning for this. “Weddings take time to plan…”

She gave me the same look she’d given me when I was a kid trying to lie my way out of a beating. “I love you, but I’m not dropping the case until the two of you are married.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The hearing is tomorrow. It takes longer than that to get a marriage license.”

“Your lack of planning isn’t my fault.” She smirked. “And there will be no running off to Vegas.”

“You should know, I plan to testify on Maggie’s behalf.”

“We’ll see what your father has to say about that.” Evelyn headed for her car.

Cursing under my breath, I waved to my father.

He motioned for me to come to the car.

My mother, the good mafia wife, backtracked into the house. “I’ll watch the kids.”

Joe rolled down his window. “There’s a little matter of a loose-lipped, and sticky-fingered employee I’d like you to take care of.”

I hung my head. “Pops, I—”

“It’s not like you have to get your hands dirty. It’s a call and a car ride.” He set his jaw. “You need to be there. Power only holds when our enemies know we are strong.”

A call to arrange someone’s execution, and a car ride to witness the murder. “I have a family to consider. What happens to them if I go away?”

He barked out a laugh. “We take care of our own. End of story. Get it done.”

My nod cost me a piece of my soul. I could only imagine what the actual deed would rob from me. I passed my mother on the way back inside but couldn’t meet her gaze.

Sweet sounds of a waking baby came through the monitor. I snuck into my room to grab her before Ella realized she had a wet diaper and woke the rest of the house. “Hey, sweet pea.”

Ella answered with an ear-piercing scream that turned her face from red to a strange shade of blue.

Not now, honey. Please not now.I held her to my shoulder. “Shit. Shhh. Shhh. Shhh. It’s okay, little one.”

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