Page 136 of Selfie

Her eyes land on mine. “Why are you doing this for me? You hate me.”

“There’s a stipulation.”

She sucks in her lips. “You want Claire back.”

“I want you to let Claire choose. If you’re giving her a better home than I can, so be it. But if she wants me… Let her go, too.”

“And never see her again?” Ruby’s eyes fill with tears.

“No. I don’t want to take anything else away from her. As long as Peter’s not in the picture, you can see Claire as much as she’s okay with. If you cut that tumor known as your son loose, you can still be part of her life. Birthday parties, holidays, whatever you like. When it comes to Claire, it should’ve never been a situation of either-or.”

She doesn’t take long to weigh her options. “She’ll choose you, Nathan. I know it. Just…” Tears pouring, she clasps her hand over her mouth, catching her sobs. “Don’t cut me out again.”

“Don’t give me a reason to.”

My anger with Ruby has cooled, but only some. Part of me wants to embrace the frail, elderly woman who looks as helpless as Spike did in that pool, minutes from death. But I still need time.

At least, this is a start.

“I’m going to call one of my PI guys. He has contacts that are familiar with the cartel and how they operate. He can help us arrange a safe drop.”

“Okay.” Ruby sniffles.

“Stay here… Maybe order us some coffee?”

She nods eagerly.

Exiting the booth, I dial Hodge who answers on the first ring.

“Hey, I need you to?—”

“I don’t know what happened, man. I just got another car. I’m on my way to your place right now. I bet that’s where he’s headed.”

I exit the restaurant, hot Arizona air blasting my face. “What the hell are you talking about, Hodge? We just caught up with Ruby in Arizona.”

“Shit.You’re not with Spencer and the girls?”

“No.” Dread pours over me like heavy cement. “What the fuck? Explain.”

“I was following Peter. I went into a gas station to piss, and when I got back, my tires were shot out, and a bucket of paint was thrown on the windshield. Peter’s onto me. He lashed out.”

Of course Peter clued in that he was under surveillance. Ruby just confirmed that moments ago. That’s not the part that’s making my stomach turn inside out.

Peter shot out Hodge’s tires, meaning Peter has a gun…

He knows I’m having him tracked…

And I haven’t heard from Spencer all morning.

47

Spencer

“Put that thefuckdown,” Peter snarls at me when I reach for my phone.

I freeze, holding up my shaking hands.

I had no choice but to let him in. Gun to my head, he walked me backward into the kitchen. The girls have the good sense to stay hidden in their rooms. I pray Charlie locked the door. I’ve already resolved that if Peter turns his back and heads down the hallway to find them, I have no choice but to attack. There’s a kitchen knife in reach. I’ll have to be quick and precise. The space between his neck and shoulder. If I plunge it deep enough, it should make him drop the gun.

---