Page 50 of Wizard's Spitfire
I pull her into my arms and drop a kiss on the top of her head.
“We’ll get through it all together, including navigating finances.”
“Okay, but I can’t promise not to buck along the way.”
“Then I’ll hang on tight for the entire ride.”
Regina makes it out the door before we make it into the house.
“Is it done?”
“We’ll explain everything over lunch. We’re going to load into one of the club’s big SUVs and go car shopping. Then lunch. We’ll tell them as much as we can. Step one is done.”
Charlie
I CAN’T BELIEVE I LETmy family talk me into getting a Lexus G series. I’m never going to be able to afford to pay Wizard back. The insurance money won’t even put a dent in the price tag. Although he negotiated one hell of a cash price.
We’re sitting in the private dining room at Doris’ in downtown. I still have the girls' phones, or they’d be snapping pictures and posting on social media, regardless of the fact that they are essentially playing hooky today.
“Mom, we need our phones or at least one so we can take pics,” Lucia pouted.
“Yeah, we never go anywhere this nice,” Valentina adds.
“No phones. You’re still grounded.”
“What for? Dad sent us to the party,” Francesca says.
“You’re still old enough to know the rules, dad or no. You can have them back on Monday.”
The server comes with drinks, stopping the rest of the conversation. He takes our order. Wizard gets several appetizers. I choose the butcher’s cut with mushroom ragu and heirloom carrots. One of the appetizers my man orders is caviar. The girls wanted to try it.
We wait until all the appetizers arrive. I’m having a glass or ten of wine with my dinner. My amazing boyfriend agreed to forgo alcohol and be the designated driver.
“Has Dad responded to my text yet?” Francesca asks.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. He hasn’t. I know he’s away on business.”
“How do you know?”
“We talked earlier this morning. He’s going to be away for a while.”
“How long?” Valentina asks.
“Who knows?” I say, shrugging.
I hate lying to them, but telling them the truth is not safe. Not until we get Barnes and Petrov behind bars or dead. Honestly, I hope they resist arrest and wind up six feet under.
“I can’t go into all the details right now, but your father has some unsavory friends. He inadvertently brought you girls and your mother to their attention.
“My brothers and I need some time to get protection in place, so you’re going to be ‘sick’ until Monday,” Wizard says.
“What do you mean?” Lucia asks.
“He means there are some terrible men after us. They’re the ones that sent the text, not your father. If Wizard and his brothers hadn’t shown up, you very well may have been kidnapped, or worse,” I say.
“Are you serious?” Valentina asks.
“We are. I’m stopping my investigation work until this is settled and none of us will go out of the compound without security.”