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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

David

Over the past two weeks, we'd settled into a nice routine similar to the one we had before the house blew up. Kassandra was busier than ever now that Dani, Gage's girlfriend, was finally finishing his house. He was one of the first people to grab a house in New Mexico, but from what Kassandra told me, he’d never bothered to decorate it.

Since Kassandra was the one to originally design and pick out the features for the houses, she was excited to help Dani bring it to life. The two of them were constantly video-chatting about ideas and it wasn't just Dani who wanted her help. All of the women were asking for her input on ways to spruce up their homes.

I think it helped that I explained what happened to Dani in Pennsylvania, and why she needed to keep so busy. Kassandra was eager to do her part, and I was pleased to see that even Addison was warming up to her.

Now if only I could figure out what the hell Michael was into before his death, everything would be perfect.

The two-week deadline passed with no one coming to collect the money requested. I had no idea what it meant. It wasn't typical behavior for a loan shark. John wasn't making any progress, so it was time to bring in the big guns.

"Well, hey there, Black. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

Addison was right. Bree was entirely too perky for a pregnant woman. I know I didn't have any personal experience with pregnancy, but I could've sworn people complained that the first and third trimesters were the worst.

"I need your help."

"Of course you do, because I'm the best. Tell Maddox your problems."

I shook my head.

I updated her on Michael and the shit he was into before he took his life, in addition to everything we’d found out so far, or lack thereof. I told her everything that happened since the house blew up.

Bree huffed. "I know this is a Boston problem, but why the heck did you wait so long to call me in? I know John is competent but I'm so much better. I would’ve noticed a loop in the feed before the house blew to smithereens."

A fact I knew well, considering she had to help me the last time I had a major problem in Boston.

"You were helping Gage and I didn't want to overwork you now that you're pregnant. You were already doing a small task for me."

"David, I would middle name you if I knew it, Black. Women have been working while pregnant for decades. We don't suddenly become helpless just because we are growing another human."

"I didn't say you did," I tried to fix my blunder. "I just didn't want to add more stress to your plate."

"Work is not stressful!" she yelled. "You want to know what is stressful?" I kept my mouth firmly shut. There was no way I was even going to attempt to say anything while she was worked up. "People like you and Chance telling me what I can and can't do now that I'm carrying a baby. Don't you think I know my body and my mind? Don't you think I know what I can handle? I assure you I can ."

"Spitfire, I just want to take care of you," Chance tried to soothe on their end, but the sound of her slapping his hands away came clear as day through the phone.

"You want to take care of me? Then let me work in peace. I'm sure Black can find something for you to do so you can leave me alone."

Shit! I didn't want to be in the middle of their marital spat.

"Uh . . . maybe calling you was a bad idea."

"Nope! Don't you dare hang up on me, David Black! You wanted my help and now you're going to get it."

I never thought I would be afraid of a pixie of a woman, but Bree scared the shit out of me. She took revenge to a whole new level, and with her hormones all over the place, there was no telling what she would do to me the next time I was in New Mexico.

"I appreciate it. Just let me know when you have something. In the meantime, I'll call Daniel and see what I can do about keeping Chance busy."

"Thank you. My pregnant arse appreciates it."

I hung up the phone and immediately texted Daniel that he better find something for Chance to do or else. I didn't know what I meant by the “or else” but I would find something. There was no way I was unleashing Bree on my Phantom team.

I walked back inside the house and found Kassandra in the kitchen, baking. It was a Saturday afternoon. Mikey was in the living room watching a movie with Brittany and Nate was upstairs in his room with one of his friends. It sucked that they couldn't go anywhere, but I was worried with the lack of information we were able to find. Until I had something concrete to work with, it was better if people came here to hang out.

"Whatcha making?"

She was mixing some kind of batter together in a bowl. From first glance I didn't know if it was cookies or maybe bread. I was ashamed to admit I wouldn't know the difference anyway since baking wasn't one of my specialties. I cooked. That was the extent of what I knew how to do in the kitchen.

"Snickerdoodle cookies."

"Yummy."

"How did your conversation go?"

"I got yelled at."

Kassandra sputtered. "I'm sorry, what? Who yelled at you?"

"My technical analyst from the New Mexico office. In her defense, she's pregnant and I offended her. Not intentionally, but I did nonetheless."

"What did you say to her?"

"She's better at her job than John is. That's not me being mean, but Bree is in a class all of her own. She was busy with another assignment when I came here, so I didn't want to overload her after just finding out she was pregnant."

"Ahhh . . ." Kassandra nodded her head with a small smile. "She laid into you about not being useless just because she was pregnant."

"It was stupid, I know, but I was trying to be considerate."

She chuckled. "As someone who was in her shoes not once but twice, I can tell you with absolute certainty that we just want to be treated like we're normal. Yes, we are carrying a baby but that doesn't mean we're suddenly made of glass."

"Yeah, well, I know that now. I assure you she gave me a proper dressing-down. I won't be making the same mistake twice."

"As long as you learned your lesson, that's all that matters."

"Believe me I did."

I walked around to the other side of the kitchen island and placed my hands on Kassandra's hips. I buried my face in her neck until she squealed with laughter.

"Gross! Keep your filthy hands off my mother." Mikey fake gagged. I lifted my head just in time to see the smirk on his face.

"Don't think I missed you sneaking kisses on the couch with Brittany before I went outside to make my phone call."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Mikey grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge before leaving us alone again.

"Have I told you how great it is that you get along so well with my kids?"

"They’re great boys and they love you. They would've been happy with anyone who showed you the respect you deserved."

I was just happy I was the lucky son of a bitch who snatched her up before anyone else could see how amazing she was.

"Nope, it's all you."

I smiled so hard. It was great she felt that way because I wasn't letting her go. She was stuck with me.