Page 41 of The Last Call Home (The Timberbridge Brothers #5)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Lilah:You’re going to be an uncle again, Mal!

Mal:I heard.

Cass:Congrats, Uncle Mal. We should get together to celebrate. You know—have sex.

Lilah:How exactly does sex qualify as a celebration of the birth of Mal’s niece?

Cass:Who the fuck knows. I’m horny. Also, I heard your mom’s heading out on a cruise.

Lilah:Not until September. Switching gears—are we excited about the Moon & Maple Festival?

Mal:Is it happening already? Fuck. I hate festivals.

Cass:I love them. They bring in so much money I might retire before sixty.

Lilah:Wait—you’re selling the bar when you turn sixty?

Cass: No, I meant I’m retiring from CQS.

Mal:Like they’ll let you walk away. You’re locked in for life. They always need your expertise for something.

Cass:You tried to quit?

Mal:No. But there’s always some old guy “consulting” on every mission.

Cass:Okay, focus. How do we spend the night together—all of us? I’m tired of sneaking off to the cabin and saying goodbye before sunrise.

Lilah:You two spend nights together at your place.

Mal:We don’t. I head to the bar, spend an hour with him while he closes up, and then I check on you before the bakery opens.

Cass:Yep, it’s tragic. I wish I could convince him to stay—or you.

Lilah:Maybe I’ll tell my mother what’s happening between us.

Mal:No.

Lilah:Wow. That was fast.

Mal:It’s for your safety. You’ve seen what happens to everything the Timberbridge brothers own—or care about. If you recall, I’m one of those brothers. I’m not putting a target on your back—or Cassian’s.

Cass:What he said.

Lilah:Fine, but this is torture.

Mal:We’re working as fast as we can to end it. I promise.