and Zoe as well.”
Blythe rolled her eyes.
“Don’t pretend you weren’t thinking we were giving him instructions on sex, woman. I can read you like a book.”
Another roar of laughter went up, and Blythe shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”
“Where else is he going to learn how to give his partner pleasure? He needs to hear it from us, not read about it on the Internet or learn it from watching porn.”
“Is this an appropriate subject in front of the children?” Blythe demanded, but she was laughing and let Czar kiss her until she was breathless.
“Sex is a part of life, baby. It’s a part of intimacy with their chosen partner. I don’t want them to ever feel shame.”
Breezy didn’t think any of the Torpedo Ink members had inhibitions when it came to sex, but then she’d been around the parties and somehow, she didn’t think Blythe had. Breezy had no inhibitions either, none at all, not when she was with Steele. Watching Czar with Blythe, she doubted if Blythe had many, but she was far more reserved than Bree would ever be.
She watched both kiss the kids good-bye and usher them out of the house. Instantly, the atmosphere changed. Code leapt up and got his laptop, opening it. The others positioned themselves around the table again. She found her heart pounding as they all settled with Czar at the head of the table.
“Bree.” Code addressed her first. “I need to know names and everything else you can tell me about your grandparents. I’ve found Bridges’s birth certificate, but only his mother was listed, not his father. Can you give me any information on them now? I haven’t found any information on his mother since about forty years ago. Did you ever meet either of them?”
Breezy took a deep breath. This was important, although it had been drilled into her never to talk about her father’s parents. “According to my father, my grandmother, Carlotta, detested children. She had my father alone because my grandfather, Boone, was in jail by the time she had him. He was in for armed robbery. Carlotta and Boone were never married. From what I understand, Carlotta beat the crap out of Bridges, and any lover she took was encouraged to do the same. She hated him for messing up her life, and then loved him because he belonged to her. The moment Boone was out, she handed Bridges over to him. Boone was in the Swords club so Bridges grew up in the club.”
“Last names,” Code demanded without looking up.
“Carlotta is the same as Bridges. Simmons. Boone is from a very wealthy family, at least that’s what I was told by Junk. He said Boone terrorizes his family when he’s out of jail and they do anything he says. It’s Abernathy.”
Code’s eyebrows shot up as if he recognized the name, and maybe he did. Breezy had heard enough about the old man that she didn’t want to ever meet him or his family. “Boone was pretty nasty, from what Bridges said, and I only saw him once or twice.”
“Do you know where they live?”
Breezy was horrified. She could feel the color draining out of her face and her heart beat wildly. She tasted fear—no, terror in her mouth.
“Do you really think my father would take Zane to either of them? He detests his mother and father with every breath he takes.” The sound of her voice was thin and wavering.
Immediately, Steele shifted closer to her, as if he could protect her from the idea of Bridges’s father or mother having anything to do with her son. She pressed her hand to her chest and leaned against Steele’s hard strength. She needed him. She didn’t care that he’d hurt her. Or thrown her out. Or crawled out from under naked women. She needed strength and he had it in abundance. She was so dizzy she could barely find air. The room spun and tilted crazily.
“Breathe, baby. We’re going to find him. I promise you that. Code is covering all the bases, that’s all. If we can rule them out, we’ll have two less places to check.”
The absolute confidence in Steele’s voice penetrated the terror. She forced air into her lungs, but she didn’t pull away from him. Did it matter if she was embarrassed later? The only thing that truly mattered was getting Zane back.
“Carlotta is with a man, Jacob Daltry, who owns a plantation house just out of New Orleans.” She gave the Code the