Tessa nodded his way. “I’m happy she’s okay, too. And that Ruby’s smart as hell.” She looked to the teen. “You know we might still be at the police station if you hadn’t recorded everything those men said.”
Vanessa held her good arm in the air. “Ruby rocks.”
Ruby grinned. “Well, I was hanging out in the bedroom because it’s where the best Wi-Fi is. I was actually about to leave because the power went out. I had my hand on the door when I realized that asshole was bringing Vanessa in, and she was in trouble. That was when I texted MaeBe.”
“We were already on our way,” MaeBe admitted. “But it was good to know what we were up against and that we were going to the right place. Though I do remember telling you to hide.”
Ruby shook her head. “They were going to kill Vanessa. I couldn’t hide. I turned on the recorder on my phone and taped everything they said, but I couldn’t hide.”
“Of course, you couldn’t.” His mom handed Ruby her hot chocolate. “You were brave. You were a hero, darling.”
Ruby accepted it with a smile. “Vanessa was calm the whole time. And she gave me a chance to get away. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”
Michael knew. Junior would have let his rage lead him. He would have killed Vanessa.
“Next time pick up the gun,” Kyle advised.
“There will be no next time,” Michael replied. “I’m not letting her out of my sight ever again.”
“Hey, you never know. It’s always good advice. If a killer drops his gun, pick it up,” Kyle said. He looked MaeBe’s way. “We should get this one home. She’s got school tomorrow, and I’m sure she doesn’t want to miss it.”
Ruby frowned. “Yes, I do.”
“After all the news reports?” MaeBe asked. “They’re all saying you’re a hero who took out an assassin. You’re going to be a star at your school.”
Ruby’s lips turned up in a savage grin. “Yeah, all the bullies should beware.”
Ten minutes later, he was escorting his guests out. He hugged Tessa and promised her everything was all right before she left with David. Kyle was escorting MaeBe and Ruby home.
The big guy shook Michael’s hand as the ladies headed for the elevator. “It could be a coincidence, you know.”
Michael knew exactly what Kyle was talking about. It had bugged him since the moment he’d found out the hired guns didn’t know a thing about the John Smith who’d attacked Vanessa that day at the café. “Or Junior could have hired someone else. No one but the reporters we called knew where she was that day.”
“And that part of Dallas is pretty safe,” Kyle agreed. “I don’t know. I’ll look into it. I’ve got this feeling that we’re missing something.”
He held a hand out. “I appreciate it. And why don’t you skip the bank and let me loan you the money for the car?”
Kyle shook his hand. “Absolutely not. I’m good. Honestly, something’s weird about that, too. A month ago I got approved for a credit card with far higher standards than that car loan. Weird things are happening around me. All of them annoying. Bad karma or something.”
“You think someone’s fucking with you?”
Kyle shrugged. “I don’t know who would want to. The only person who ever hated me that much is dead.”
“You sure about that?”
“I killed her.” Kyle said the words in a flat tone. “She was part of my past. The worst part, and killing her was necessary. It was in the line of duty. Killing her saved a lot of people. And the shit that’s been happening to me, well, it’s all little crap. Like I said it’s annoying, but it adds up, you know.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
Michael knew he wasn’t talking about the annoying stuff. “I won’t say anything. Your past is yours to deal with any way you need to.”
Kyle’s lips turned up in a ghost of a smile. “Everyone is giving me time, but I don’t know I’ll ever be ready to share that whole story. It’s not a good one.”
“You survived.” He’d had this lesson reinforced. “That’s all that matters to the people you love.”
“Kyle, the elevator’s here,” MaeBe called out.
That smile of Kyle’s became a radiant thing. “I’m coming.” He shook Michael’s hand again. “Take care of your girl.”
“And you take care of yours.” No matter what Kyle said, MaeBe was the center of his life.
Kyle nodded and strode down the hall.
Michael closed the door.
“Darling, I think Vanessa needs to go to bed.” His mother had set herself up in the guest room. She was staying on until she was sure Vanessa was all right. “Take her and I’ll clean up out here.”
He stared down at his mother, the woman who’d taken such good care of him all these years. “Thank you, Mom.”