Page 72 of Never Say Never

"I doubt he knows how to do that," I muttered as I stared at the floors disappearing.

"He said he would try," she pressed. "When is he coming?"

My stomach tightened. "I don't know, princess."

"Why not?" Nyra asked. "Are you and Paul fighting?" A frown tugged at her lips.

"No, nothing like that," I said.

The truth was that we weren't really in an argument, but some weird standoff where neither of us were ready to budge. I didn't know how to explain that to my kids. Instead, I tightened my hold on both their hands.

"Girls, it's time for school. Focus up."

"Yes, Daddy."

Conversation successfully avoided. I thanked every deity in existence as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. We stepped out on the ground floor and I headed for the front desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Washington," Clare, the woman that was often behind the desk, smiled at me. "How are you today?"

"Fine," I said. "I want security sent up to patrol the halls as much as possible."

She frowned. "What's the matter?"

I glanced at the girls. "Go sit on the couch right there, where I can keep an eye on you."

They took off, bouncing and playing on the plush, green couch before I turned back to Clare. "I don't want to upset them, but I've been having some trouble at work."

"Oh no," she said, concern coloring her face. "Is everything all right?"

I half shrugged. "As all right as they can be. I just need security to tighten up on my floor. If you see anyone suspicious, call me. If you hear anything suspicious, call me. If anyone goes up to my unit..."

"Call you," she said. "Should I alert the police?"

"Only if someone enters my unit. I have cameras and an alarm installed up there now, so if I see anything, I'll call them myself. Just keep an eye out and let everyone else know too, please."

She touched her chest and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Washington. I'm so sorry. I'll do my best to make sure that your unit is secure."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

My phone buzzed and I immediately shoved my hand into my pocket. I thanked her again before I searched my texts. Hunter. Disappointment settled on my shoulders, heavy and suffocating.

What the hell were you expecting? Stop thinking about that man!

Most people believed in innocent until proven guilty, but I didn't have the pleasure of thinking that way right now. Not when I had just been shot because of Paul's informant. Thinking about it made my blood boil all over again. Today was the day I was going to confront him. He needed to tell me what the fuck was going on, who his informant was, and I would have a discussion with him whether Paul liked it or not. I couldn't keep operating under the assumption that he was simply doing his job. There was already a mole who possibly worked for one of the families. I had to figure out what was going on before it was too late.

"Girls, let's go," I called as I walked toward them.

"Coming!" they called.

I took their hands once more and gave them each a little squeeze. As we walked out of the building, I couldn't help but to look at them. Navy and Nyra were my whole life. The thought of losing them made bile crawl up my throat and threaten to choke me. I was doing as much as possible to make sure they were safe. Maybe the threats were bullshit or maybe they were true. Either way, I was going to do my job and protect my children. If I looked crazy and nothing happened? So be it. I loved them more than anything.

The sensation of missing something snuck up and scratched at me. Paul was usually there, holding one of their hands while the three of them talked endlessly. I would never forget the relief of them having these in depth conversations about nothing that I sometimes got lost in. Paul never got lost. He talked to them like they were little people, not children, and they loved him for it.

They loved him.

"Ow, Daddy, there's something in my shoe," Nyra said.

"Huh?" I came out of my thinking and saw her rolling her foot around with a frown on her face. "Oh, poor thing. Let me see."