Page 58 of Mimosa

“Ew, yes, it is. I’m done. Do what you have to do, honey, and I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

The others were gathered in the basement to discuss their next job, a gorgeous seventeenth century painting that was just begging to be stolen and would be their biggest heist to date. Once they’d concluded the shop talk, Mims stood and announced, “I’ve decided to go see him, but, even though I’m totally in love with all of you for offering to go with me, and Sonny too, I…” he paused as his eyes moved over the faces that he loved more than his own life. “I really love you all, but if anyone goes with me, I’d like it to be Cosmo.”

Cosmo’s brows shot up as he stared in shock at Mims. “Me?”

“Even though a lot of us have daddy issues, believe me, I know that, I also know that most, if not all of the rest of you wouldn’t have as hard a time talking to their dad as Cosmo.” He spoke directly to his newest brother. “I know how hard it would be for you. Maybe that’s why I need you.”

Cosmo looked away and nodded fast. “Sure, Mims. Sure, yeah, I’ll go.”

He felt Abs’s hand in his and he looked over at him. “That’s what you want, that’s fine. But we’ll all be here for you when you guys get back.” Abs looked over to a squirming Cosmo, who was trying terribly hard not to cry. “You too, Cos. I know it’s going to bring up shit for you too.”

“Nah, I’m okay. I got this.”

They all knew he was lying, but no one would have called him on it for anything in the world.

He broke the news to Sonny later on the phone. “I want to go and get it over with before the weekend.”

“I’ll be there Saturday night. That’s as soon as I can leave. Will you be okay until then?”

“I will, yeah. I know it’s going to be hard for Cosmo, but…he’s…”

“Strong. Even Goldie isn’t as strong that way, right?”

“How do you know that?”

“You get a sense of things in my business, Mims. He’s got a lot of anger.”

Mims nodded and said, “Maybe that’s why I’m taking him. He’s never really dealt with what happened to his family. I haven’t either.”

“I think you chose right, my love. Just make sure he doesn’t hurry your dad’s inevitable death along and get himself into trouble.”

“I won’t let him. Hey…”

“Hmm?”

“I really do miss you. Will you be done with all this soon?”

“The BBC are going to be hard to take down, even with me inside of it. I don’t know where their money is kept, how they are finding their partners in other cartels and gangs. There’s a lot of shit to get through. As long as I can keep them away from you, well, right now, if that’s all I can do, I’m going to do it.”

The end of the call had Mims quietly crying on the edge of his bed. Cosmo knocked and stuck in his head to see him that way, and without a word, came in to sit next to him, holding him while he cried.

Some of the guys didn’t think Cosmo would ever fit in, but he had. He was one of them, a building filled with misfits that didn’t belong anywhere else. They’d found a home and a family, and Mims kissed his cheek softly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’ll be good for us both.”

“Where’s Daiq?”

Mims hadn’t seen the cat in days, and he could use that furry love right then. “Abs is bringing him to you. He said that Daiq can fix all the ills in the world.”

“He really can! I love his cuddles.”

As if on cue, Abs came in with the cat that seemed to be growing by the hour. He covered Abs’s whole chest as Abs carried him to the bed. “Someone wants to see his Aunty Mims.”

“Did he? Isn’t he the sweetest baby?”

The cat was purring loudly as Mims held him, and Daiq cuddled in and fell asleep immediately. “He’s gonna stay in here tonight with you, if that’s okay?”

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