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I raised my hands in a defensive gesture.

“I swear to God, I didn’t touch her last night other than to kiss her.

” I’d blurted out the information without intending to, but honestly, the kid had this whole intimidation thing down.

Or it could be I knew how important it was to earn Caleb’s trust. Not just for my sake in winning over Violet, but for Caleb’s sake.

He’d never feel safe if he didn’t trust me.

If he didn’t feel safe, Violet wouldn’t either.

His gaze narrowed. “You kissed her. My mother.” His voice was cold and deadly.

“Are you sure you’re twelve?” I suddenly realized I’d taken a step backward, retreating when I hadn’t intended to.

He said nothing, so I scrubbed a hand over my face, opening the door further so Caleb could come inside my bedroom and we could talk without disturbing Violet.

“Yeah. I kissed her. But only because she kissed me. I was kissing her back.” Again, Caleb just stared at me.

“OK, I’d have kissed her anyway if I’d known she wanted me to.

” Still nothing. “If I say I liked it, are you going to hire someone to kick my ass?”

“You saying you don’t think I can beat you on my own?” Finally, the kid spoke. And yeah, he sounded as angry as I’d first thought.

“No. I’m saying you’d want someone you knew could kill me because Violet wouldn’t approve of you killing me.” I smirked because we both knew it was true. Not because she liked me or anything. She’d be against her son killing anyone. Regardless of if they needed killing or not.

Caleb’s expression didn’t change. “Who said she’d ever find out?”

Fuck.

Yeah. Mic drop moment.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, running my hand through my hair. This kid was something else entirely. “Look, I get it. You’re protective of your mom. But I’m not your dad. I would never hurt her.”

“Heard that before,” Caleb said flatly, his gaze boring into me, probably trying to see into my soul. “Men make promises they’re unable to keep.”

I stepped closer to him, keeping my voice low but firm. “I’m not asking you to trust me blindly, Caleb. I’m asking you to watch me. Judge me by what I do, not what I say. Your mom deserves someone who treats her right, and I intend to be that man.”

Something flickered in Caleb’s eyes. Maybe uncertainty, maybe grudging respect. It was hard to tell.

“Knight called,” I continued, changing the subject. “He’s got information about your situation. I need to go see him.”

“I’m coming with you,” Caleb said immediately. Not a request.

I considered arguing but thought better of it. “Fine. But you stay close to me, and if I tell you to do something, you do it without question. Got it?”

He nodded once, a sharp jerk of his head.

“We should leave your mom a note,” I said, glancing toward her bedroom door. “I don’t want her to wake up and panic.”

“Already done,” Caleb said. “I left one on the kitchen counter. Told her we were checking out the compound.”

I sighed. “I realize you’re pushing me and I’m fine with you testing the boundaries. But there are some things you don’t get to decide. Hell, there are some things I don’t get to decide, and this is my home.”

Caleb gave me a patient look. Like he was bored with the whole conversation. “Look.” Caleb sighed. “I get what you’re saying. I just don’t give a fuck. If it involves my mom, I’m going to be there. End of story. Someone doesn’t like it, they can tell me to my face.”

“Yeah. I don’t think you’re really twelve.”

Caleb followed me to Knight’s office. The door, which was always open, was now closed. A quick check of the handle revealed it was locked too. “Fucking grumpy bastard,” I muttered before knocking. “Knight! It’s me! Open up!”

There was a long enough pause I knew he was making a point. When he opened the door, his glare was unmistakable.

I sighed. “I apologize for being rude on the phone.” Sometimes it was best to admit you were wrong. “I didn’t want to wake Violet.” It was a low blow, but I couldn’t let the bastard think he’d won the war instead of just the battle.

He rolled his eyes but stepped back and let me and Caleb inside his office. Instead of talking to me, he offered Caleb a seat in front of his desk before perching on the edge himself.

“I’ve filed the paperwork that officially finalizes the divorce between your mother and father.

She’s free, but she got nothing from him in the way of monetary value.

” Knight got down to business, but he completely ignored me.

Yeah, he wasn’t giving up on the war just yet.

“I have everything ready that will free you from him as well, but I hadn’t talked to you about it. ”

“Mom told Riot I should have a choice.” Caleb didn’t flinch at the news. Any of it.

Knight shrugged. “Didn’t realize that, but I wouldn’t have done anything permanent without checking with you first. You’re old enough, and severing legal ties with a parent isn’t a trivial matter.”

That seemed to surprise Caleb. I wasn’t sure why, but he clearly wasn’t expecting Knight to ask his opinion on something like this.

“I figured you’d do what Mom and Riot thought was best no matter what I wanted.” He glanced at me.

Two things struck me at Caleb’s statement.

First, he was clearly shocked Knight was taking his feelings in the matter into consideration and wasn’t doing anything until he had the answers he was looking for.

Second, Caleb included me in what he thought the decision-making process would be. That surprised the shit outta me.

Knight waved his concerns away. “Doesn’t matter what they want.

This decision affects you in very intimate ways.

Cutting someone’s father out of their life isn’t something I’d ever do if the person was able to make that decision rationally.

You’re clearly in possession of your faculties, so it’s your choice. ”

“Then my choice is to never see that son of a bitch again.”

Caleb’s fierce assertion was all Knight needed. “Consider it done.”

“Dad’s gonna be pissed,” Caleb stated. I swear to God, the kid could have been one of the patched members of Kiss of Death the way he adapted to the situation at hand. He hadn’t flinched no matter what we threw at him, however unintentional. “What happens next?”

“That’s part of the reason I called Riot. Your dad’s hired some really nasty people to come after your mother.”

“Kill him,” Caleb said without pause. “If he’s dead he can’t pay anyone. If there’s no money, there’s no danger. Problem solved.”

Knight gave me a look. I shrugged. If he was looking for a clue as to how to deal with this kid he was going to have to look at someone else. I had no fucking clue.

“That’s certainly one option,” Knight said carefully. “Maybe we could look for another deterrent?”

“I want him gone,” Caleb insisted, his voice steel. “He’ll never stop otherwise.”

I stepped forward, finally inserting myself into the conversation. “We need to think strategically, Caleb. Killing your father might solve one problem but create ten more.”

Knight nodded. “Riot’s right. Your father has connections -- financial, political, and criminal.

First rule of being in a club like Kiss of Death is to never kill if it can be avoided.

Why? It makes people look. Especially someone like your father.

The more connected someone is, the more questions people ask and the more they demand answers. ”

“So, what then?” Caleb demanded, frustration evident in his tense shoulders. “We just wait for him to try again? Maybe succeed the next time?”

I placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “No. We make it impossible for him to come after you. We make the cost too high.”

Knight tapped a few keys on his computer. “I’ve been digging into Harrington’s business. There are… irregularities.” A smirk crossed his face. “Significant ones. Your father appears to be under investigation already. Has been for months, and probably has no clue.”

Caleb’s eyes widened. “By whom?”

“Seems your father’s business dealings have attracted federal attention,” Knight replied. “FBI, DEA, and IRS. The unholy trinity.”

“Can we use that?” I asked.

Knight’s smile was cold. “Oh, I think we can do better than that. In fact, if we play our cards right, there’s every possibility Doug Harrington’s unspoken associates will do him in.”

It was hard to tell what Caleb was feeling, but I thought there was a sense of frustration. This was a kid who had some big feelings, and I couldn’t read him for shit.

“Knight.” I gave him a wary look. “Is this something you want to discuss now?”

“What?” Knight asked, not looking confused in the least. “Killin’ the kid’s father?” He shrugged. “The way I figure it, the kid’s got just as much a right as anyone other than maybe your woman to decide what happens to the bastard.”

“Mom would never condone this.” Caleb’s expression still didn’t change, but I could tell how he felt about it. “So you don’t say anything to her.”

That got my attention. “Uh, maybe this isn’t the best conversation to be having?” I gave Knight a hard look.

“If I’m not keeping this from you, Caleb, I’m not keeping it from your mother. You both get to have a say in this.”

“Are we really fuckin’ talkin’ about this?” I felt like someone had to be the voice of reason here.

Knight shrugged. “Honestly, it’s probably all moot.

Harrington has been laundering money through several businesses for years.

He’s also been skimming from his bosses, which is never a good idea, but especially not with the people he’s working for.

In any case, the Feds have been building a case for months.

If they don’t get him the cartel will, since that’s who he’s been working for. ”

“Can we use that to keep him away from us?” Caleb’s voice had lost some of its hardness, replaced by genuine curiosity.

“That’s the beauty of it,” Knight said with a satisfied smirk.

“We don’t have to do anything illegal ourselves.

We just need to make sure the right information reaches the right people.

” He glanced up at me before turning his attention back to Caleb.

“Both the Feds and your father’s associates would be very interested in certain files I’ve uncovered. ”

“So either the Feds get him or the cartel does.” Caleb looked thoughtful. “It’ll take the Feds forever.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Knight crossed his arms over his chest. “Either way, all we have to do is sit tight and wait.”

“Except I’m sure my dad will find a reason to drag Mom back to court. Any time she goes outside this compound, she’ll be at risk.”

Knight stared at Caleb for a long moment. Then he looked at me. “You sure this kid’s twelve?”

“Twelve?” I snorted. “Heard he was gonna be forty his next birthday.”

“I will totally tell my mom you guys ganged up on me.” The smirk on Caleb’s face would have made me laugh out loud if I hadn’t been slightly wary of the kid. “I’m not stupid. I’m also not about to let anything happen to my mom. No matter what has to be done.”

“Give me a few days, Caleb.” Knight moved from the edge of his desk to the bank of computer screens behind him. “No matter what happens, I promise your mom will be safe.”

I wasn’t sure Knight’s promise satisfied Caleb, but he didn’t raise any more objections.

“How long before I’m not legally Doug Harrington’s son?” The sudden change of topic was welcome as far as I’m concerned.

“Give me twenty-four hours. I’ll have to contact a couple of people, but I swear to you, Caleb, when I’m done, Harrington will think every signature of his connected with your mom’s divorce or your parental custody change might actually be legit. Even though he knows he didn’t sign anything.”

“Won’t people be able to tell it’s not his signature?”

Knight gave Caleb an evil grin. “Nope. In fact, if he contests anything, there will be a string of experts already consulted who will swear his signature is spot-on.”

That seemed to satisfy Caleb. The kid stood and held out his hand to Knight who immediately stood and took it. “Thanks. Now. You’ve just got one more thing to do.”

“What’s that?” I could tell Knight couldn’t wait to hear what Caleb had to say.

“I want you to legally make Riot and Mom married.”