“I’d like to say I’m here just because, but that’s not the case,” I admit.
He sighs. “What did she do now?”
His dejected tone makes my heart ache. She put him through hell and back from the minute she got pregnant and didn’t know who that father was. “Drug trafficking.”
“How many months?” he asks.
“We’re thinking years.”
His eyes grow round and he leans forward. “Explain.”
“She had kilos on her, Shadow. They caught her not far from the border.”
“Fuck,” he hisses.
“We got B, I’ll take him. She won’t go to trial for a few more weeks, but considering her priors and the hard-on the county has for the Kings, we’re planning for the worst.”
“Where is he now?” he asks. His jaw turns to stone, and his nostrils flare.
“At home. I’m in the process of moving in.”
“Gave up that sweet place on the north?”
“Yeah, family first.” I shrug.
“Hmmm.”
The doubt in his voice makes my stomach tighten. “You think I’d turn my back on my family?” I ask. My voice shakes, and I curse my inability to mask my emotions.
“No, I think this isn’t your job. We both know you’re more of a mother to my boy than she’s ever been. A better man would tell you to go back to your old life, but there’s no one else I’d trust with him. I got six more months in here if I keep my nose clean. I need you to do this for me.”
“It wasn’t even a question in my mind,” I say.
“Maybe it should’ve been.”
I arch an eyebrow. “I don’t understand.”
“Nothing else to do but think inside. When I get out…we’ll be talking,” he says.
I want to press him for more, but his face clouds ov
er and I know he’s in stoic mode. “I…if you’re okay with the arrangements, there’s some papers I need you to sign.” I remove the papers from the inner pocket of my jacket and slide them across the desk.
The guard moves over to oversee his use of the pen I carefully sit down on the table between us.
I cleared the document signing ahead of time. After all the time I spent in and out of prison visiting people, I could write an etiquette book. Once the paper is signed, the guard takes the pen and I slip the papers back into my pocket.
“Other than the latest Calla cluster fuck, how’ve you been?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I ask.
“Why? Every day is the same for me. I’m just biding my time until I get out.”
“Working, helping Pops and Mom out with Bolt. The usual,” I answer.
“Hmm. What does ole Jamie have to say? Is he onboard for you taking over my son?”
“He doesn’t have any say. We’re on a hiatus.”