Rituals (Cainsville 5)

I burst into a peal of laughter. Beside me, Gabriel snorted, and Seanna's head jerked up, as if this was a sound she'd never heard from her son. When I looked over, he wasn't quite smiling, but his eyes had warmed and he'd relaxed back in the love seat.

"The conviction was recently amended to six," he said. "And Olivia has heard that particular insult before. After the hundredth time, it does start to lose its sting."

He pushed to his feet. Seanna looked up, and something gratifyingly like consternation flashed over her face as she realized exactly how big her son had gotten.

As Gabriel advanced, Seanna steeled herself not to step back.

See? He's not a child anymore. I'd love to see you try shoving him into a cubbyhole now, Seanna. Love to see you try shoving him at all.

"I presume you want something, Seanna?" he said, and there was no edge of warning there, just a matter-of-fact tone, as if she hadn't been gone for fifteen years, but only headed out for cigarettes last week.

He stopped far enough away that he wasn't looming or menacing, letting her look up into his eyes and see no fear to feed on.

"I need--" she began.

"Money?" he finished. "Yes, I'm sure you do." He took out his cell phone. "If I can get your bank account number, I'll transfer you some right now. Before you leave." He paused. "No, you don't have a bank account, do you?"

"I don't trust banks."

"Yes, yes. I don't have checks on me. Olivia, would you mind writing one for Seanna? Ten thousand, please. I'll wire you the money immediately."

"Ten thousand?" Seanna said. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"

His cheek twitched. He'd hoped it would be. I know he did.

But he only said, "I'm offering you ten thousand to leave and allow me to continue with my life. If you walk away without that check, don't expect it to increase."

"I need a place to stay."

"Ten thousand will more than pay for a hotel room."

"I was thinking more of a high-rise condo. Maybe one just north of the Loop."

Another twitch.

She held out her hand. "Just give me the keys, Gabriel. You'll get them back after we've come to an agreement. Until then, I'm sure your girlfriend won't mind you staying here."

"You are not staying--"

"I'll stay wherever I want, Gabriel."

"No, Seanna," said a voice behind her, the gate half open. "You won't."

The gate opened, and Patrick strolled in.

Seanna stared at him--her son's father...looking even younger than her son.

"You," Seanna breathed. "No, it..." A sharp shake of her head before she regrouped, demanding, "Who are you?"

"Really? You've forgotten me? After all the fun times we had together? I've held up pretty good, haven't I? Which is more than I can say for you. Really more than I can say for you." He shuddered.

I shot Patrick a look, but he only tossed me his usual devil-may-care grin.

"Come along, Seanna," he said. "We're going to leave the kids alone."

"You--you can't be--"

"But I am. You know I am. Either that or you're the one going crazy, not Liv. Yes, I was eavesdropping. I do that. I thought I'd let the kids have some fun. Good show, Liv. You seem to have discovered Seanna's fatal flaw. She's a fucking idiot."