Page 94 of Before and After

“Ollie—”

“You’re staying home.” He crossed his little arms. “I want to stay as well.”

It was very rare for him to throw a tantrum. Actually, a part of me was happy to see it. His therapist had said once he felt safe, he’d test boundaries like any well-adjusted child.

I crouched in front of him. “School’s important, Ollie. You need to learn, play, spend time with your friends. And I’m in charge, so you need to listen when I ask you to do something.”

His militant look wavered.

“You shouldn’t speak like that to your aunt, buddy,” Caden said quietly.

Ollie’s bottom lip wobbled. He sighed. “Sorry, Allie.”

I ruffled his hair. “It’s okay. Let’s get ready, okay?”

He nodded, then cast a glance sideways. “Are you dropping me at school, Caden?”

“You want that?”

The little boy nodded.

“Then let’s get you to school.”

Chapter 24

Caden

“Iwant you monitoring the perimeter of the party. Keep an eye out for any lost kids, anyone who needs help, or any trouble.”

My security team all nodded. Everyone was wearing earpieces and dressed in costumes.

With a sigh, I lifted my pirate hat and sat it on my head. My trousers were black leather, tucked into knee-high boots, and my burgundy jacket reached my knees and was studded with brass buttons. A bronze hook was clipped over my left hand. I’d drawn the line at the long, curly wig.

Gretchen’s lips twitched.

“Don’t start,” I warned.

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

I glared at her. She was dressed as Medusa. She was wearing black pants, fitted black shirt, a long green wig, and a headdress of gold snakes. The makeup on her face was in a snake-skin pattern. She also wore a red sash to indicate that she was hotel staff. Hugh was dressed as a Viking, complete with helmet topped with horns. The rest of the team ranged from superheroes to vampires.

“The Spooktacular has officially began.” Paul’s voice came clearly through my earpiece. He was up in the conference room, manning the monitors and communications. He was pretty gleeful about not having to wear a costume.

“Acknowledged,” I replied.

“And boss, I’m told that Peter Pan and Tinkerbell are waiting for you outside.”

This time, I heard Gretchen chuckle. I fought my own smile. Ollie and Allie had come with Tessa and Ro. Ro had promised to keep an eye on them.

“You all know what you’re doing and where your posts are. Any trouble, just radio.”

We strode out of the hotel. Outside, Tessa had turned the place into a Halloween wonderland.

A low fence ringed the Spooktacular area. Everywhere I looked, I saw hay bales topped with glowing, carved pumpkins and cobwebs. Strings of fairy lights and pumpkin lanterns crisscrossed overhead.

There were kids everywhere. I watched two ghosts and a tiny Mandalorian rush past us, a young father in hot pursuit.

Trick-or-treat stations had been set up, with staff giving away a mountain of candy. There were food vans clustered around, a cobweb-draped bouncy castle, a petting zoo, and even a spooky maze made of hay bales. I shook my head. Tessa was a damned miracle worker.