Page 6 of Keeping Katie
Grady:I’d die before I let anything happen to them.
I mean that with my entire soul. I would do anything to keep them safe. Hell, I’ve taken a bullet trying to protect them. I’d do it again, too. They’re my family just as much as the mafia.
Before I close my messenger app, I delete several messages that Sharleen sent over the past few hours. The woman isn’t giving up, no matter how much I ignore her calls and texts.
Chloe and Cali are waiting for me in the foyer. As soon as I enter, they go quiet.
Narrowing my gaze, I look between them. “What are you two plotting?”
They look at each other with doll-like innocent eyes before they turn back to me.
“We’re not plotting anything, silly. Sheesh. So paranoid. You ready to go?” Chloe asks, skipping toward the front door.
Cullen has the Escalade out front and stands at the rear door, holding it open for us. Once the girls are loaded into the back, I get into the passenger seat and grab the bottle of Jameson from the side compartment.
“You probably need that to deal with those two,” Cullen says as he shifts into drive.
“Aye. I have no clue what I’ve gotten myself into. Suppose I’ll find out when we get there,” I reply.
The women chatter non-stop in the back while we pass through the city streets toward the address Chloe gave us.
We’re only a few minutes away when Chloe leans forward and taps me on the shoulder. “Oh, can we stop and get a coffee first? The shop I used to work at is just two blocks away. I’m dying for a praline latte.”
Jesus Christ. “Do you really think caffeine this late in the day is a good idea?”
She shrugs. “I’ll get decaf. I mostly just want it because it’s so yummy. Please, Grady? It’s right on the way.”
I glance toward Cullen who smirks as he keeps his eyes on the road. Bastard. He’s not going to help me out at all with them.
“Fine. Where is it?”
Two turns later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of a plaza with several stores, including the coffee shop at the end named Twisted Bean. Kind of a clever name, actually.
Cullen stops right in front of the storefront, not bothering to find a parking space. We don’t live by the rules. Wherever we go, we do what we want, and the people around us adjust whether they like it or not.
As soon as I step out into the dreary, overcast weather, the back door swings open and Cali hops out. Clenching my jaw, I step in front of her, blocking her between the door and the car.
“Are you supposed to freely get out of a car?” I raise an eyebrow and wait.
Cali swallows as she looks up at me. It’s rare that I truly get stern with any of the girls, but when it comes to their safety, I don’t fuck around. I will put her ass right back into the car and make Cullen drive us home if she gives me any sass about it.
“Sorry, Grady,” she murmurs. “I was excited and forgot.”
I keep her pinned with my gaze. “What are you so excited about? It’s just coffee. Do it again, and our outing will end early. Understand?”
She bobs her head and bites her lip, her eyes downcast. “Yes, sir.”
Aw, fuck. I didn’t mean to make her feel bad.
Using my index finger, I hook it under her chin to tip her head back. “I only want to keep you girls safe. Okay? Believe it or not, I love you brats.”
She beams at me again and throws her arms around my neck. “I know. We love you, too.”
When I finally move out of her way, she steps to the side, and I hold out my hand to help Chloe out of the car. She’s not as used to seeing my stern side. She’s also not as sassy as Cali, so she doesn’t say anything other than a quick thank you as she slides out. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze before I let go, and she shoots me a sweet smile that melts me inside.
As we enter the shop, a bell overhead rings. I look around, taking in our surroundings like I always do. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a ton of light, making it warm and welcoming. It’s also larger than I expected. The space is slightly narrow but long, with bathrooms at the very back. There’s lots of seating, both tables and chairs and couches set up in clusters. Soft music plays in the background. This is a coffee shop I could enjoy coming to—unlike those wildly busy corporate ones that overcharge and don’t even fill the entire cup.
“Welcome to Twisted Bean!” My cock jumps as the sweet, melodic voice floats through the air and hits me like a brick to the head. Goosebumps cover my skin, and I can’t breathe. My gaze darts around the space again, desperately looking for the woman who spoke, but I can’t find her. I stride forward, searching in panic.