Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

“A sippy cup and some baby spoons. Maybe a bib or two.” He heard a woman’s voice in the background, then Kane seconded whatever she’d said. “Yep. And some more diapers, size three.”

Zy had never shopped for diapers, but he’d figure it out. “You got it.”

And once he dropped everything off, he could use it as an excuse to swing by his place, just two buildings over, and finally grab some lunch. His stomach was beginning to think his throat had been cut.

Twenty minutes later, he’d talked to the pharmacist and had a bottle of liquid ibuprofen. He also bought a decongestant with a dropper and some flavored drinks with electrolytes, along with the other things Kane had requested.

At the apartment complex, he parked near his unit so anyone watching wouldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Not that he had any reason to suspect the dregs of Emilo’s organization were on to them, but after this much arranging, he wasn’t about to get careless and risk fucking everything up.

The community was made up of working people, and most were still punching their clock at this time of day, so it was no surprise Zy didn’t see a single soul, much less one who might be following him.

Quickly, he made his way to Cutter’s former unit. Kane answered the door, looking as if he hadn’t slept in two days—probably because he hadn’t.

Anunfamiliar woman who must be Valeria turned to him with a tight smile, then focused her attention on the crying baby in her arms.

Zy handed all the stuff over to Kane. “You good here?”

But clearly he wasn’t. Zy would bet the guy had about as much experience with babies as he did.

“For now. But I need some sleep.”

Which he couldn’t get with a fussing toddler around.

Fuck. So much for his plans to get back to the office and talk to Tessa. “Why don’t you go to my place for some shut-eye?” Zy handed over his keys and rattled off his building and unit number. “I’ll stay with her.”

Kane set the bag on the nearby hall table, looking relieved as hell. “Thanks. Been a few years since my survival training, and I sucked at sleep deprivation even then.”

“I can’t spare a long time.” Zy glanced at his watch. Already two thirty? “I’ll spell you for a couple of hours. Hopefully, you can all catch up on your sleep tonight.”

Kane said something to Valeria in Spanish. She nodded and sent him a thankful smile, then he was gone.

Zy turned to the woman who had been married to a ruthless criminal. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but Valeria wasn’t it.

She looked painfully young and she was barely over five feet tall. She had ridiculously long lashes, big brown eyes, a slight cleft to her delicate chin, and a wary expression that seemed permanently etched on her face.

“Hola.” He nodded her way.

“Hola.” She bounced her fussing son in her arms to quiet him and sent Zy a suspicious glance.

Of course she didn’t trust him. Not only was he a complete stranger, she’d had a rough existence. After all, if Laila was messed up because Emilo’s men had used her for sex against her will, they might have done the same to Valeria.

He approached slowly with a smile. “Sorry. Hola, gracias, and un cerveza, por favor is the extent of my Spanish.”

She laughed, despite the little dark-haired baby boy in her arms still listless and crying. “It is a good thing my English is better than your Spanish, then.”

“Very much. My name is Zy. I work with Kane.”

“Do you mean Preston? He is nice. Very professional.”

“Yeah, Preston.” It was good to know the new guy was making the right impression.

“He is much better than the very big man who arrived with him.”

“You didn’t like Trees?” Zy frowned.

“I did not like the way he looks at my sister.”

So even Valeria had noticed his buddy’s fascination with Laila. Shit. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Please do. My sister is fragile, and if she thinks he will give her safety, she will cling to him. I would not want him to mistake her desire for security as a desire for anything else.”

Normally, Zy would have no cause to worry about his pal. But any assurances he gave the woman now would be a lie. “Understood. Here are the things you asked for.”

He picked up the bag from the entry table, then deposited it on the counter between them. She took it, sat with her son in her lap, then tore into the ibuprofen, dosing him like a pro. He’d barely swallowed the medicine when she had him back in her arms, against her chest, and she was patting his back. “Thank you. How long before the other man brings my sister here?”

“A few more days. They’re taking a longer road and making sure no one followed. I’m checking in with Trees a few times a day. We’re doing everything we can to make sure no one from your late husband’s organization gets their hands on either of you.”