“Shut yergub, listen,” I say. Brody shuts his mouth and listens.
After I attempt to share how a hacker exploits bugs and uses alterations, Brody stops rubbing his beard. Eyes narrowed in determination, he suggests, “Okay, we smoke him out the good auld fashion way.”
Camdyn piggybacks off his statement. “What are his hobbies? That’s how we find him, then kill him. Case closed.”
“I can’t just kill him!” I grit.Thearseholescrewed with my application. I need to make sure he can’t frame me before his final breath.But because I’ve wasted oxygen explaining so much, I dinna feel like sharing this now. At the panel, I squash our discussion by ordering three cheeseburgers and fries.
As I’m maneuvering up a few paces, Brody snorts. “Aye, Chevelle got toye.”
“Thefeckis wrong with being a standup citizen?” I demand, leaning my elbow on the windowsill to scowl at him.
“One,ye put a lad in a cement block and let him plummet to the ocean floor. Two, andye may have forgotten, there’s the other manyamurdered. So, ye’re nae standup citizen, Leith.”
“Lost my heid for a second. Won’t happen again.”
“Three, ye’re a MacKenzie,” Brody says.
“I’m more than just a MacKenzie.”
“Nae, ye can do all yer technology stuff, get into Yates’ heid. In the end, ye’re a bloodyfeckin’MacKenzie, Leith. Handling our ownshiteis what we do. But because Da viewsye as the poster boy in the family, I dinna mind if we continue to oblige him. I’m yer bigbrathair. Ye and me will get this done.”
Chapter 34
Chevelle
I have a recurringnight terror where Leith has left Mia and me to shack up with Erika McFarland at our old place. I confront him while hoisting our daughter in my arms. The dream ends like a petty daytime talk show where I fight her over him. It casts a shadow over my entire day. I feel like I’m moving through sludge. Every gesture and attempt comes with great effort. I’ve showered and dressed, but the saying “woke up on the wrong side of the bed” applies to my day.
Before Leith left for Silicon Valley, I clung tight to him, and then Mia attached herself to his leg. Neither of us was willing to let go. My eccentric little daughter and I seem to be holding on to him for dear life. He promised to be home soon.
Ironically, his version of soon had always been Friday until I went out with Justice, and I almost broke my phone. I consider taking a hammer to my iPhone while meandering toward Mia’s bedroom.
I lean against the doorframe, watching Camdyn seated wide-legged at Mia’s tiny teatime table. Due to my side profile of his tattooed arm, Camdyn resembles the dangerous, destructive heartthrob on a teenie bopper television show until he smiles at her. His tone is warm and affectionate while thanking her for a rose-pink play cup.
Noticing me, Mia waves. “Hi, Mommy; bye, Mommy.”
“Good morning.” Camdyn lifts his chin, then returns his attention to Mia. “Woah, little minion, is that any way to talk to your Mom?”
Mia pouts, stumbling over her attempt at an explanation of how our weekdays transpire.
“Yes, little girl. We have a routine,” I murmur. “Last week, we took a break since your uncle was onvacationfrom school. Clearly, you’ll be smarter than him by the time he returns.”
He rolls his vibrant blue eyes. “I’ll have you know that my 4.3 GPA precedes me. Tell me about this routine. I’m willing to do anything to get me out of these tiny chairs. Next, I’ll be in makeup.”
“Aw, Uncle Cam.”
“What? That face paint stuff itches. Just being honest.” He pops up from the chair, stretching out. “I can help today. Chevelle, you look like—”
“I dare you to say it.”
Lifting a brow, he mutters, “Dare me to state facts?”
“Cam, don’t make me call Nan.”
He gives a look that implies he hasn’t been afraid of his mom in years. “Listen, this should be my last suspension. I have a feeling I’ll be turning over a new leaf soon enough. But this doesn’t look like your day.”
I sigh heavily. The weight on my shoulders lifts, only to settle in more substantial than before. I gesture to the reading nook in the corner where there are bean bags and a toddler-sized bookshelf. “Cam, we have flashcards with sight words that I go over with her. Followed by reading time, then playdough.”
As my role has become obsolete with an uncle around, I head back to my bedroom and glance at my new cellphone. A missed call from Ophelia Kelly would be awesome right about now.