and the other kids they would share, and have a goddamn happy life. Phillip Garrett would only laugh before he tried to shit on all that.
“Making what? A lot less than the two million a year plus bonuses and perks I offered you before you left the Middle East.”
Zy sneered. “I tried working for Daddy. It didn’t end well. I don’t need the money, and I’m not coming back to Cali. Anything else before I hang up?”
“I don’t like having this enmity between us.”
Wow. That was his dad’s form of an apology. Talk about way too little way too late. “We’ve all made our choices, and I sleep just fine at night with mine.”
“Your mother would probably appreciate hearing your voice. She’s rented a house in Sonoma. I’m sure she loves it there since it’s so close to all the wine she uses to self-medicate.”
And who do you think drove her to that? “I’m in a crisis right now, but I’ll reach out to her as soon as I can.”
“You don’t have to keep risking your life for people who can barely pay you.”
“You just never fucking understand. Not everything is about money. You’ve said before that you can’t figure out what makes me tick? There you go. Once you get that, maybe we’ll see eye to eye. Until then, I don’t have time for this insult-fest. Congratulations on your divorce.”
“Chase, don’t you—”
Zy hung up before his father could finish the sentence. What else could they possibly have to say?
Shoving the unpleasant conversation aside, he gulped down his now lukewarm coffee, killed the lights, and headed out to run errands. A few phone calls and a few stops later, he managed to get everything set up in the temporary safe house, and Kane promised that he’d text when he, Valeria, and the baby got settled. Tomorrow, they’d figure out their next steps with the late drug kingpin’s estranged wife and how the hell to keep her safe until the bosses could return and resume the mission.
When he finished everything, it was nearly one thirty in the morning. Zy would have loved to return to Tessa’s place, undress, crawl into bed with her, then slip inside her body until she wrapped her legs around him and came for him. But she deserved her rest, and he suspected she needed more time and space to consider his proposition.
But tomorrow…he’d begin the first official phase of Operation Mrs. Garrett. Hopefully by then, he’d have a ring in his pocket and he’d be finding all kinds of creative ways to persuade her to say yes.
Tessa rolled over as her alarm clock played a vaguely familiar ballad. The electronic digits told her it was time to start the day. Damn it, she’d been sleeping so well…but she would have slept better beside Zy.
Well, if he’d let her sleep at all.
With a little smile, she stretched and reached for her phone to see if he’d left a message. Nothing, but that didn’t surprise her much. Whatever he’d been working on last night had seemed both important and involved, and he probably hadn’t wanted to wake her up.
As much as she’d love to hear his voice, she resisted the urge to call. She’d see him in the office soon, and if she got on the phone with him, she wouldn’t pull herself together for work on time. Hallie might be happy for the extra sleep. The child hadn’t stirred all night, but they had a schedule to maintain. Sundays were for lazy mornings. It was only Wednesday.
She slid out of bed and showered, put on a light touch of makeup, then hopped into her slacks and a warm sweater. She was zipping up her boots when she frowned. Hallie was still asleep? By now she was usually either fussing or making noises in her crib as she played. Poor baby must have been really worn-out last night.
Tessa gathered her phone and her purse, got all of her baby’s things together for daycare, so she’d only have to change and dress the girl before tucking her into her car for their short drive. As soon as she’d wrangled everything, she started the teapot and shoved a piece of bread in the toaster. If Hallie was going to give her a few extra minutes to eat, Tessa intended to take advantage of it.
Five minutes later, she wiped her mouth and cleaned up her mess, tossed Hallie’s things into the car, then headed into her daughter’s room with a smile.
Instantly,