I pressed my body to his, got close to his face, looked into his beautiful eyes and made a big mistake.

“It’s not my place to say but, I’m guessing, I was Caitlin, I had a brother like you I wouldn’t have gone through what I went through. I would have known a good life, a happy life, a lucky life. I bet you protected her from your father. I bet you kept her safe. She was lucky, until the end, to have you.”

“Quiet Stel a.”

“It’s true.”

“You don’t know what the f**k you’re talkin’ about.”

“I bet I do,” I whispered.

His hands came to my biceps, his fingers curled around and they did it so tightly, they hurt.

“Quiet,” he growled.

I nodded but I didn’t wince and I didn’t move away, even as his fingers bit deep into my flesh.

We stared at each other, his face tight, I hoped mine was open.

But he didn’t give me anything.

Not even a little thing.

He was closed.

He was gone.

Shit!

Then the door opened.

I looked around Mace as he twisted toward the door.

We saw Vance swing in. His eyes took in the destroyed phone then skimmed across us both but locked on Mace.

Then Vance said, “We got trouble.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Social Call

Stella

I fol owed Mace and Vance into the reception area. I nearly ran into Mace’s back because he stopped dead the minute he hit the room. I stepped around him and stared.

Preston Mason was sitting, legs crossed, calm as you please, on the couch.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Jerky George, the DA, was standing just inside the door next to a somewhat unattractive older woman with a pinched face and bags around the ankles of her hose.

Vance had spirited me into the offices for my lunch with Mace. Shirleen hadn’t been around when I arrived but now she was there. She wasn’t seated behind the reception desk. She was standing and she was looking pissed off.

“You’re jokin’,” Shirleen snapped in the direction of the older woman.

“What the f**k are you doin’ here?” Mace asked and with a quick glance I saw he was talking to his father.

“Mace,” Vance said low.

Preston Mason was staring at me.

“I thought we had an arrangement,” Preston asked me.

“Erm…” I mumbled.

Effing hel !

Caught!

“I asked you what you’re doin’ here,” Mace repeated.

Preston’s eyes moved from me to his son, his hands came from where they were resting in his lap and he flicked them out to his sides, cool and calm.

“I came to talk to you. But I’ve been delighted to have the opportunity to watch this drama unfold.” Preston motioned between Shirleen, George and pinch-faced lady.

That’s when, belatedly, I felt a chil crawl up my spine.

“Shirleen, you okay?” I asked hesitantly.

“No… I… am… not,” Shirleen answered.

Oh dear.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Perhaps, Miz Jackson, we can go somewhere private,” the pinch-faced lady suggested.

“Ain’t nothin’ you can’t say in front of my boys.” Shirleen gestured to Mace and Vance.

“You have more people in your audience,” George told Shirleen and Shirleen’s narrowed gaze swung to him.

“Stel a’s my girl. And that one’s a jackass so he don’t count,” Shirleen replied, giving a nod toward Preston Mason.

I nearly laughed but I didn’t.

“Shirleen, take it to Lee’s office. We’l wait until Jules gets here,” Vance put in.

“I’m afraid Mrs. Crowe is likely busy,” George told Vance. “You see, King’s Shelter is having a surprise inspection today.”

Oh hel . That was where Jules worked.

Mace was right about Jerky George and he wasn’t wasting any time in seeking retribution.

“First thing they’l be looking into is your wife’s files on the placement of two street kids with a known felon,” George continued.

“Interesting,” Preston Mason said slowly. “Is she the felon?” he asked curiously, jerking his head toward Shirleen then his eyes locked on Vance. “Or is he talkin’ about you, Crowe? I know you’re a felon.” When the pinch-faced lady gasped, Preston nodded to her and went on informatively,

“Grand theft auto.”

Oh no.

This was not happening.

Pinch-faced lady stared at Vance for a few seconds then she breathed, “Juliet Crowe is married to a felon?”

“No,” I snapped. “She’s married to a hot guy.” It was my turn to have pinch-faced lady stare at me then she blinked rapidly and final y turned to Shirleen.

“Miz Jackson, we need to do an immediate intervention,” she explained. “Those boys wil be placed elsewhere while we look into this matter. You should have expected this as you had your home invaded and fired a .44 caliber weapon during said invasion while both boys were in residence.”

“I have a right to protect my home and my boys,” Shirleen retorted.

“I’m sorry but I’m not sure it’s policy to al ow firearms in the homes of foster carers,” pinch-faced lady shot back with saccharine sweetness.

“He shot three times into the livin’ room. The night before, Roam had fal en asleep on the couch watchin’

movies. He could have been hit!” Shirleen clipped.

“You can explain that while we take your report,” pinch-faced lady said. “But those boys are going to need to be moved today.”

“Those boys aren’t goin’ anywhere,” Shirleen fired back.

I looked across the room and Preston Mason was grinning.

Erm.

No.

Someone had to do something and that someone was going to be me.

“Are you saying Shirleen has to give up her constitutional rights to be a foster carer?” I asked pinch-faced lady.

Pinch-faced lady swung her pinched-face to me. “Who are you?”

“I’m Shirleen Jackson’s friend,” I answered.

Pinch-faced lady’s eyes went to Jerky George and she asked, “Does she deal drugs too?”

Shirleen growled. Preston Mason laughed. I felt both Mace and Vance go stil . My head prepared to explode.

“What did you say?” I hissed, taking a step forward but Mace moved, his arm came around my waist and he halted my progress by hauling me against his body.