Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,67
and he’d work his way through them ‘til he found ‘em. He let ‘em go on the condition they went to the police station at that moment to turn themselves in and tell the police everything they knew and saw.”
Riley looked at Roman. “If they do as they were told, we should be hearing from Talie’s legal team here shortly.”
Roman was too overwhelmed to even speak. He just nodded.
“Anything else?” Riley asked.
“Lazarus said he’d be home once he’s sure that everything there is quiet and nothing’s going to follow him home. He said he’d see us soon.”
“Alright, good. And you? You good, Lucas?” Riley asked.
“Oh, yeah. I been on the road since about six. I’m headed that way,” Lucas answered.
“We’ll see you when you get here. Drive safe,” Riley said.
“See ya’ll,” Lucas answered.
“Bye!” Roman finally managed to say.
Riley ended the call and looked at Roman. “I think we’re gonna get your woman back sooner than we thought.”
Roman grinned. “I just don’t even know how to act, what to say. I’m going to give Lazarus the biggest hug and kiss once he gets back here!”
Riley laughed, and patted Roman on the back. “Somehow, I don’t think he’ll receive that in the spirit it’s meant.”
Both males walked back into the kitchen and Maia looked up at them. “Well?” she asked.
“Shouldn’t be long. We just have to sit back and let the wheels Laz put in motion take us to the other side,” Riley said.
“That’s great!” Maia said.
They sat down and finished their breakfast.
Once Roman was done, he picked up his plate and Darcie’s and took them to the kitchen to wash and put away. “You about ready, Darcie?” Roman asked.
“I thought I’d take the girls to school this morning,” Maia said. “We decided that we’d have a girls’ morning and sing all the way to school.”
Roman dried their dishes and put them back in the cabinet before turning to look at Darcie. “Is that what you want to do?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. If it’s okay,” Darcie said.
“It’s fine,” Roman said.
“Then I’m driving! Let’s go, girls!” Maia said, as she got up and headed toward the front of the house. “I’m getting my purse, ya’ll get your backpacks. Doddy, you got Sebastian?”
“Yup!” Riley answered.
“I’ll clean up the kitchen and put away the leftover breakfast while you take them to school,” Roman called out.
“You could learn a thing or two from that male, Riley!” Maia teased.
Darcie picked up her bag and ran over to where Roman was clearing the table. “Bye, Daddy! I love you.”
Roman put the dishes he was holding down and picked her up. He kissed her cheek and hugged her tight. “Love you, too. You be a good girl and have fun today.”
“I will,” Darcie said as Roman put her down.
“I’ll get you in the pickup line,” Roman said.
“Come on, Darcie!” Cristie said, leaving the kitchen.
“Okay!” she answered as she followed Cristie out of the kitchen. “I’ll be in the pickup line, Daddy!”
“Roman being a daddy!” Riley said. “You’re a damn good daddy, Roman.”
“It’s easy. All you have to do is love ‘em, and be proud of ‘em and let ‘em know that you’ll always be there, and be nice to ‘em. I don’t see why people have so much trouble with it.”
“You’d think everybody would figure it out,” Riley said.
“Yep.”
“I’m gonna bathe this little ruffian,” Riley said, lifting a happily full Sebastian from his high chair. “There’s a reason we don’t bathe him before breakfast,” Riley said laughing.
“Boy likes his vittles,” Roman said, grinning at the sight of Riley tickling Sebastian as he walked out of the room with him.
“I’m gonna finish up here,” Roman said.
“Alright. I’ll be right back,” Riley answered.
~~~
Lazarus was jamming out as he swept the floor. The front door was still locked, preventing any early day drinkers from walking in before he was ready for them, and he had the tunes turned up high. Motown was pouring from the speakers mounted strategically around the barroom instead of the usual heavy rock the bar was known for. He knew that Patch was in the back washing all the produce — limes, lemons, oranges, stalks of celery and the like that would complement any drink someone ordered, and turned at the sound of a throat clearing, expecting Patch to be standing there.
“I owe you an apology,” Candy said, standing uncomfortably a few feet away from him, already dressed in the apron she was supposed to wear when working, yet rarely did.