Stuff. Yeah, that’s how I’d describe killing a cartel and researching James’ alien shit.
Shay glanced between the girl and the bounty hunter. They hadn’t told Alison about his alien background, but given her soul-sight, she might already have some idea. That secret wasn’t Shay’s to share, though. James would tell Alison when the time was right.
He shrugged. “Sorry I’ve been busy, kid. Things have been cleaned up for now, though. Gonna relax for a few days. Maybe even a few weeks.”
“Me, too,” Shay offered. “Not the relaxing for a few weeks thing, just sorry I’ve been busy.”
Alison smiled. “The important thing is that you’re both here now, and no bad guys are coming after Dad.”
James snorted. “There will always be bad guys coming for me. That’s just my life.”
Shay elbowed him and shot him a glare. “Don’t be a dick.”
He shrugged. “But no bad guys right now, and not the Harriken. Don’t even know if there are any left.”
Alison set her fork down. “I’m not naïve. I get that you’re never going to be as safe as some guy working in the office. I know that you can’t give up your work, but just be careful, Dad. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I’m always careful. If it’s a serious bounty, I take proper precautions. It’s not like I’m gonna drive to some city for barbeque and then go after some high-level bounty half-assed prepared. You don’t have to worry about me, kid.”
Shay snickered.
“Well, good.” Alison nodded as if satisfied with the answer, or maybe the soul energy she saw. The girl looked at Shay and James for a moment, a bright smile on her face. “Anything else you want to tell me about?”
Shit, does she know we’re together? I guess it’s not a secret or anything, but I don’t really want to talk about it, either. It’s just kind of weird. If we say anything, she’ll be able to tell we’re lying. A teen who can see lies—perfect. Why couldn’t I have had that power when I was her age?
James grunted. “Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you.”
Alison’s smile grew. “Oh?”
Seriously, James? You’re just gonna come out and say it?
“Yeah,” James continued. “The lawyer I’ve got working on the adoption says sh…things are finally moving along again. According to him, the process will be completed by the end of the summer. He can’t see anything else that would hold it up.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. I already call myself ‘Alison Brownstone,’ but I want it to be official, so everyone in the country and the world knows.”
Shay lifted her coffee mug to her face to hide her relief at the direction of the conversation. Discussing adoption was safe, and wouldn’t lead to any awkward conversations about where Shay was sleeping some nights.
James frowned. “Sorry it’s taking so long. It’s my fault for not being normal.”
Well, that and the fact that we killed her father. Shay resisted saying that aloud. Whatever changes to her perspective on life in recent months, she didn’t regret helping to kill Alison’s biological father. The bastard had sold his own wife to be tortured by gangsters and had only been stopped from doing the same to his daughter by James. The only regret Shay had was that he hadn’t suffered more.
Alison giggled. “It’s a big legal thing, Dad. It’s not really taking that long, and the important thing is that it’ll happen eventually.” She turned toward Shay with a smile on her face, but her eyes as unfocused as always. “Someday I hope you can be my mom and not just my aunt. Shay Brownstone is a cool name, too.”
James grunted. Shay twitched. Alison knew. She had to know.
Had James told her? Then again, would he even think to? Maybe she just saw it. Did people in relationships have some sort of weird soul energy signatures?
Shay shrugged and forced a smile. “You never know what the future’s gonna bring, Alison. But enough about us! Why don’t you catch us up on what’s going on at school?”
“Sure! Izzie said something hilarious the other day…”
Shay settled in to listen, something at the edge of her mind poking her and not allowing her to embrace the comfort of the situation.
Something else is going on here. This family shit shouldn’t freak me out so much, especially since the idea sounds so nice.
Shay bit down a laugh. Living a life focused on her instincts had made her recent forays into introspection uncomfortable, but that discomfort didn’t change some of the truths she’d uncovered.
I’m freaked out at the idea of being happy and having friends and family who care for me. Who knew?
Shay lifted her fork and eyed the moist-looking chocolate cake. Her chicken-fried steak had left little room in her stomach, but she still wanted a bite or two. Not that she was worried. Given how much she worked out, she could down chocolate cake at every meal and not gain an ounce.
Her phone vibrated, and she set down the fork. A frown creased her features. The call was from Peyton.
I just want some cake, but then again, he wouldn’t call me on a visit to Alison for random bullshit.
Is this about the gnome? I told him I didn’t need to know all the details, and I doubt he found that gnome already. It might take us months to locate that little prick.
“Problem?” James inquired.
Shay shook her head. “I don’t think so, or at least nothing important. I just have to take a call. I’ll be right back.”
James nodded, and Alison smiled.
The tomb raider didn’t answer until she was out of the restaurant and around the corner. She leaned against the rough brick of the wall and brought the phone to her ear.
“This better be important,” Shay barked into the phone. “I’m trying to do fam… I can’t always visit Alison, you know, so when I’m off the clock, I want to be
