I roll my eyes and start to bite my tongue. I walk a few paces away from them and cock my head to Brody. At first, he regards me like a worrisome flea. After a grunt, he strolls over.
There’s a flash of a smile on Justice’s face when I hide myself behind his larger frame. I look up at him, finger-wagging. “We need to get a few things straight here.”
“Wit?”
“You have feelings for Justice.”
Silence.
“Whatever, Brody. Hurt her—”
“Wit? Ye’ll fight me? Ye’ve been in my ear for years now. But,” his hands rest on top of his head, “I’ll try not to hurt—”
“No,” I snarl. Clearing my throat, I lower my voice again. “Justice doesn’t deserve the bad guy. That’s all I’m trying to say. Please don’t be that guy around her.”
“We’ve not even feck—grrr . . .” He wriggles his tensed jaw. “Okay. Ye win. Ye’re clan. I can compromise. I’ll not be the bad lad, Chevelle.”
I’m not afforded a second to scrutinize Brody. Mia falls out of the doorway.
“That could be yer room,” Leith’s saying as she scampers down the porch steps.
“Mommy!” She runs along the cracked path toward me, flying into my arms. The tables have turned. I’m receiving the premium treatment Leith usually benefits from.
“What’s wrong, honey?” I run a thumb over her trembling chin.
“Dad told me all my pretty stuff is gone. My princess bed!” Hot tears wash along Mia’s cheeks as I hold her to my neck.
“Baby, let’s go get some Fruit Loops.”
Mia pouts. “Fru-fruit loops?”
“Yes, honey. Uncle Brody and Auntie Justice are going to watch you for a little while. They have lots and lots of Fruit Loops.”
“Okay . . .” Mia manages to stammer.
Leith grabs the coveted box of cereal from the trunk of the Chevelle SS and hands it to Brody. “Chevelle and I need to go to the police department. I have all the documents needed to show we were vacationing out of the country when our home went up in flames.”
Justice takes Mia from my arms. In a high-pitched voice, she exclaims, “Let’s go eat Fruit Loops, sweetie! Tell me the type of toys you want to decorate this room of yours.”
“Toys? Sure,” Mia exclaims as Leith and I watch them start along the path. “Auntie Justice, show me your room too, okay? Mommy says you live with us, here. We decorate your room, too. Daddy’s rich. Daddy will buy us anything!”
Brody interjects. “Leith will nae buy Auntie Justice—”
“Brody!” Justice groans.
Standing at the end of the driveway, I watch as the front door closes. “Sounds like she’s back.” Chew his head off, girl.
“What?” Leith regards me with a raised brow.
“Justice. It’s nothing.”
“My brathair’s attracted to yer friend.” Leith engulfs my hands with his own. “Ye will give him a chance. If not for me, for her. Justice looks at him, ye know.”
“Brody’s fine as hell. Of course, she looks at him.” I’ve darted halfway around the Chevelle SS when Leith reaches me. He spins me around, pinning me to the door.
His tensed jaw is bound with envy. “Say it again.”
Your brother is fine as hell, but I hate him. “No,” I laugh. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Too bad. I’ve yet to start teaching ye.”
“Hello, I complimented your brother. I dubbed him Bitch Ass Brody for the first two years of our marriage. This is an improvement.”
“Ye still refer to him as such on occasion, hen. And I detest that. Yer mouth is too bonny for it.” He opens the passenger door for me. On guard, I grin while sliding inside.
When Leith rounds the car to get in, I speak. “Back to business. How are we so sure we’ll be in the clear? We could be headed straight to jail.”
“I took a move outta Yate’s playbook.”
“Who?”
“Douglas, hen.” He gestures. “The arsehole who I hacked into wee, unidentifiable pieces, Chevelle. I was feckin’ dedicated.”
“Skip the graphics, please,” I say, snipping each word.
“Wit? Nobody’s finding him. Besides, I tapped into the database used for the fire department. The investigation at our home was unofficially closed as a gas leak, pending a discussion with the homeowners.”
“That was quick thinking, your telling Hilda to watch the house, Leith. But you must’ve almost given her a heart attack when you said Mia didn’t go with us.”
“Had to,” Leith replies, reversing the car. “She may have recalled seeing someone the day of the fire. So, hen, ye won’t slip up on us?”