“Can I check that my brother will be okay without me?” I ask, picking up the empty basket.
“Of course. He’s welcome as well if you want him to come.”
“No,” I reply, a little too sternly, and she nods as if she gets it.
Walking out, I stop short when I almost run into Keir. I give him a nod and sidestep him as I continue down the hall. He’s never home before I leave. This is the first time I’ve seen him since I’ve been here.
When I return, I hear them talking and am hesitant to walk back into the room, but then Wren calls my name so I do. Both sets of eyes fall to me as I reach for her. She giggles as I pick her up, and I turn to face them. “I’ll just put her to bed.”
“Thank you, Chanel,” Sailor says and stands, giving kisses to Wren before I take to her room. When we get there, she crawls right into her single bed. Her room is amazing; it’s full of pink unicorns and clouds hanging from the ceiling. The kind of room I dreamt of having as a kid.
“Kisses,” Wren hums, making a grabby motion with her hand. I lean down and kiss her cheek and wish her goodnight before I turn on her night light and leave. I adore that little girl.
As I descend the stairs, I hear them speaking.
“Chanel.” Keir’s voice is strong as he calls my name. I find them sitting in the living room next to each other. “My wife mentioned she asked you to come away with us this weekend.”
I nod, and Sailor gives me a soft smile from next to her husband.
“I don’t need to tell you that no matter what you hear or see this weekend, you do not speak of it.”
“Yes, of course. I would never.”
“Good.” He nods and helps his wife up from the couch. “And have you disclosed to her what your previous job was?” Sailor is now standing next to him and looks confused as her gaze bounces between us.
“I haven’t.”
“It’s best you do.” Wren calls out for Keir, and he nods before he makes his way up the stairs to go to her.
“You don’t have to tell me what you did, it’s not like you were a prostitute or anything.” She half laughs, but when I stay silent her eyes go wide. “Well, umm, okay, I really didn’t think that one through now, did I?”
“If it’s an issue…” I let it hang and look toward the door, already making peace with the fact that I’ll be right back to doing that job again by the look on her face.
“No, no, of course not. I guess I’m just shocked. You just look so…” she pauses, trying to find the right word “… normal.”
“Most of us are,” I answer, not knowing how to take that comment.
“Sorry, that was rude of me. I mean, I’ve seen the boys hire prostitutes, and you just don’t seem to fit what I’ve seen, is all.”
“Will it be an issue?”
“Of course not. Though, I do wish you’d told me so I didn’t sound like a fool just then.” She laughs, and I feel relief flooding through me. “I don’t judge what you did. Gosh, if I judged, I wouldn’t be married to that man upstairs now, would I?” She lets out another laugh, and I guess she’s right on that count. It would take a lot to be married to a mafia boss. “Anyway, did you speak to your brother? I’m happy for you to text me if that’s easier.”
I pull my cell out and see Merci has messaged back—I checked with her, not my brother.
“Yep. Should I be ready by a specific time tomorrow?” I ask her. “Or do you want to give me the address and I can find my way there?”
“Oh, no. No, we’ll pick you up. Joey knows where you live.”
“Thanks again, Sailor.” I grab my purse hanging on the rack and leave, but just as I reach the stairs, the door opens and Keir steps out until he’s standing right in front of me.
“I hired you to piss him off,” he states. Well, okay, I wasn’t expecting that. “But you’ve become helpful to Sailor. So, if he gives you shit, let me know.” He retreats back up the stairs. “Be ready at six,” he barks at me before shutting the door. I leave, walking out the front door at his words.
“Hello, sugar.” I spin around to find Lucas sitting in the dark at the front of Keir and Sailor’s house. He looks up the stairs where I stand and places his hands in his pockets. “Trains are down.”
“I’ll walk.”
“Get in my car.” Without waiting for my response, he strides back to his car with the air of certainty that I’ll listen to him, pissing me off even more. It’s been nice not seeing him, but did I really expect that to last long?