Page 37 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

The Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Naomi had fallen asleep on the way back home, and Burke hated to wake her. He got the feeling that she hadn’t slept well, either, maybe not in days, but she hadn’t complained.

Instead, she’d been amazing. A couple of times he’d thought she’d actually get Cresswell talking, but whoever owned him had truly scared him into silence.

Burke would watch over Cresswell’s kids anyway.

No child should be held accountable for their father’s misdeeds.

He’d pay a visit to Cresswell’s wife before the day was out.

After he’d gotten Naomi back to his house where she could rest. The visit to the prison had been both emotionally traumatic and physically draining for her.

And for me, on her behalf. He might even take a nap himself.

But not with Naomi. Because his mind had already gone there. Holding her back in the prison when she’d had that panic attack…it had felt right.

He gently shook her shoulder. “Naomi, we’re here. Wake up.”

She jerked a little, then relaxed when she realized it was him, a smile tipping her lips. Which made him feel ten feet tall.

“Sorry,” she said. “I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

“You worked hard today.”

“Well, at least Eleanor Jackson talked to me.”

“Cresswell wanted to. We might try again later.”

She released her seat belt. “I’m surprised he’s still alive, to be honest. Why would his former associates risk his talking someday? How do they know that he hasn’t? Just because he hasn’t talked to the DA doesn’t mean he hasn’t talked to anyone.”

The thought had crossed Burke’s mind many times. “I think he hasn’t. He was too afraid for his kids.”

“You’re going to offer them protection anyway, aren’t you?”

He frowned. “Should I be alarmed that you find me so easy to read?”

She shrugged, an elegant movement. “You’re not that difficult. You’re a protector. Just ask anyone currently staying in your house.”

Kaleb’s words came back, hitting him hard. Their children were in danger because of choices Burke had made. At least partially. “I’m no knight in shining armor.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You rode in to save me.”

Her words left him stunned, but in a good way. He was a protector. He’d always known that about himself. But to have her say so was…nice.

He followed her to the door, opening it to the amazing aroma of garlic and onions. He sniffed. And sausage.

“Oh my God,” Naomi groaned quietly. “We forgot to eat lunch.”

He had to clear his throat because the sound of that groan made him want things that were best left alone. “Let’s see who’s cooking.”

They followed their noses to the kitchen, where Eleanor was holding court. Naomi’s mother and Jace were cutting vegetables and Elijah was at the sink with Everett, washing pots and pans.

Ruthanne looked up when they entered the kitchen. “Oh, good. You’re back. Eleanor and I are giving the boys a cooking lesson.”

Eleanor sniffed. “Boys need to cook, too. Shouldn’t be only a woman’s job. Right, boys?”

Jace bobbed his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Elijah echoed. He gave Everett a slight nudge with his elbow. “Right, Ev?”

Everett looked uncomfortable. “Right. Of course.”

Eleanor glanced at Naomi. “This one’s yours?”

“He is.” Naomi smiled at Everett. It was a sad little smile as she clearly didn’t expect anything back. But he gave her a measured nod and her smile became radiant.

Burke thought that she settled for too little. She deserves so much more.

But it was a step in the right direction, so he gave Everett a nod of his own.

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed at the exchange, but she said nothing. Crafty old woman probably had it all figured out.

“You have a nice kitchen, Burke Broussard,” she said. “It is a real pleasure cooking in it.”

“Thank you. My mother designed this space. She was an amazing cook.”

“We found some of her cookbooks,” Jace said, then winced. “Was it okay that we looked? They were on the shelf in the living room.”

“It’s fine, Jace.” The boy still needed reassurance. Being Val’s adopted son had made him so much more confident, but a lifetime of abuse wasn’t resolved so quickly. Burke knew that from experience. “My mother would have been so pleased that someone was using them.”

He led Naomi to the kitchen table, gently pushed her into a chair, then set about making her a cup of tea. He’d watched her at breakfast, so he knew what she liked.

“Well?” Molly stood in the kitchen doorway. “Did he tell you anything?”

Naomi shook her head wearily. “Almost, but he stopped himself. Never said a word.”

“He never said anything out loud,” Burke said, “but he confirmed—wordlessly—that he’d also been threatened with harm to his family. He also knows who Gaffney is working with, but he wouldn’t tell us who.”

“Maybe if you protected his kids, too…” Jace ventured cautiously, then shook his head. “Sorry.”

Burke squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “It’s a good suggestion, Jace.

And we offered, but he said no.” He’d call on Mrs.Cresswell later tonight.

Or maybe tomorrow morning. He’d ask Naomi if she wanted to go with him, because Mrs.Cresswell might be more inclined to talk to another woman.

He was pretty sure Naomi would say yes. “We’ll keep digging for answers. Don’t worry.”

Molly took the chair beside Naomi. “How are you?” she asked. “I should have gone with Burke and not made you face the prison again. I wasn’t thinking. This case has short-circuited my brain.”

“I needed to go,” Naomi said. “It wasn’t easy, I’m not gonna lie. But I wasn’t alone, so that made it easier.”

Ruthanne gave Burke a look of intense gratitude that squeezed his heart. “Thank you,” she mouthed.

He gave her a wink and poured hot water into Naomi’s teacup, sliding it in front of her, then leaned against the refrigerator, basking in the activity. His house had been too quiet with just him all these years. This was the way it should always be.

Except not because an asshole was trying to take their children.

He wondered how Braden and Trent were doing.

He’d sent a message to Juliette when he’d woken that morning, asking if they were okay.

It had taken her over an hour to reply. She’d been picking up Kaleb from the airport, she’d said when she finally replied.

They were fine, and the bodyguard Kaleb had hired was camped out in her living room watching over the boys.

He and Kaleb needed to talk. There had been such animosity in Kaleb’s voice the day before. Most of it was well-earned, Burke thought, but the bit about not working in the business had surprised him. He hadn’t realized that Kaleb was so angry with him.

He needed to fix this. So he drew up his courage and typed a text to Kaleb. Can we talk?

Kaleb might not answer, and Burke wasn’t going to watch his phone for an hour like he’d done that morning with Juliette. He put his phone away and looked up, catching Molly watching him.

Her eyes were as calm as usual, but something was off.

“What?” he asked quietly.

“We need a meeting. Naomi, too.”

Naomi’s eyes went wide, her cup of tea halfway to her lips. “Okay?”

Molly smiled at Naomi. “It’s nothing we can’t fix. Bring your tea and come with me. Miss Eleanor, when should we be back down for whatever smells so darn good?”

“It needs a few hours to stew.”

“A few hours?” Jace whined. “But I’m hungry now.”

Elijah snickered. “I’ll make us an omelet. That’ll tide you over.”

“Can you make one for Naomi and me, too?” Burke asked. “We didn’t eat lunch.”

Jace was already fetching the eggs from the refrigerator. “Yes, sir.”

Burke got up to follow Molly and Naomi, nodding to Lucien, who stood guard by the front door, then picked Harper up from the sofa, where she sat watching a movie with Chelsea. He blew a raspberry on Harper’s cheek, making her giggle.

It was a precious sound.

“How’s my girl?” he asked, once he’d settled her back on the sofa.

“Okay.” Then she shook her head. “Nightmares last night.”

He hated that. Hated that someone else had tried to hurt this child when she’d finally gotten to the place where she could sleep.

Then she shrugged. “But at least it wasn’t Gramma and Grampa. I was afraid they’d take me from my mom, but they can’t get to me in here.”

He’d almost forgotten about Harper’s grandparents fighting for custody. When the couple got word about last night—and they would—it would give them even more ammunition with the courts.

Yet another reason to bring down Gaffney and whoever was working with him. He made himself smile at the child. “Silver lining, huh?”

“Yeah. And your TV is bigger than ours.”

“Priorities. Try to be good. I’ll see you in a bit.” He headed up the stairs to his study, finding it already packed with people.

Val was awake, as was Harrison. Both were up and moving, pacing the floor. Antoine was sitting at Burke’s desk, his laptops set up in a semicircle before him. Molly still appeared calm—unless you really knew her.

He sat next to Naomi on the small sofa. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve been checking financials all morning,” Antoine said. “Winnifred Timms, John Gaffney, Jimmy Haywood.”

Startled, Naomi stared at Antoine. “Jimmy’s financials? Why?”

“Because I’m not as kind as you are,” Antoine said dryly. “I was irked that your ex testified against you and I wondered why he’d say the things he said.”

“I was stunned when he said that he’d witnessed me using drugs. I’ve never done illegal drugs. I don’t even like to take over-the-counter painkillers.”

“Didn’t that make you angry?” Molly asked, because she looked angry.

“Of course it did. But Jimmy lied about so many things. I mean, at first, I reeled at his lies in court, but later, when I could think again, it made sense. I figured he was laying it on thick to make sure I went to prison so he could get full custody of Everett.” She looked at Antoine. “What did you find in his financials?”