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“Told him we had a callout, minor case, Cap and Eric and I could take care of it,” Mace explained further. “He thinks you and the women are still in the casita with Nancy, and I asked if he could look after the kids so my woman could have some time with her friends from out of town.”
Well, Javi would jump all over that.
Mace was done with our conversation, clearly, because he jutted his strong chin at the door.
And then he said one word, “Go.”
It was now or never.
I turned and was about to hit the doorbell, but since we’d all huddled on the street, then semi-huddled under the portico, it wasn’t surprising the door opened before my finger connected with the button.
And Austin Atherton was there, Julia clinging to his arm.
She looked terrified to see me.
He looked braced.
They both looked wrecked.
What happened that morning had visibly affected them, just as much, if not more, than it had Javi. And in the ensuing time, it hadn’t let go.
Austin’s eyes flicked beyond me, and yeah, okay, my ambush was a bit more in-your-face than his (right, more than a bit, thanks to the Hottie Squad), but whatever.
I decided it was time to get this done, even for Austin and Julia.
“I’d like to introduce you to Javi’s family,” I said.
Austin flinched and Julia’s lip quivered.
“Now,” I went on softly, “I don’t want to be cruel. We’ll make this quick.” I looked to Julia. “He’s going to contact you.”
She brightened immediately.
Austin grunted in surprise.
“And when you agree to meet him,” I continued, “and as your relationship grows with your brother, no matter how much you’ll want to coax him to let your dad in, you are going to tamp down that instinct.”
Julia went pale(r).
“If you can’t do that,” I carried on, “you will find reasons not to see him. The same goes for Cath.”
“I—” she began.
“I’ll warn you now, this isn’t a negotiation,” I stated.
Oh my God!
Look at me!
I could be a bad-A!
She shut her mouth.
See?
Bad-A!
“She’ll do it,” Austin said.