Page 98 of DFF: Delicate Freakin' Flower

Sasha immediately stepped forward, linking arms with Gladys like they’d been gossiping neighbors for years. “This way! Come on, we’ll set it all up.”

The rest of us stayed frozen for another second as they disappeared, chatting away like old friends.

Wes leaned toward me and said under his breath, “I have serious questions about Sasha’s sanity.”

Jackson heard it, smirked and smacked Wes lightly on the back of the head. “Only I’m allowed to say that." There was a brief pause before he added, "Because it’s true.”

Meanwhile, Gladys was unloading enough food to cater a small wedding—fried chicken, mashed potatoes, greens, biscuits, andwhat looked like a peach cobbler. It filled the house with a smell so good my stomach practically curled inward in hunger.

Still, I pushed toward the kitchen, needing answers more than food.

Gladys caught my approach and smiled brightly. “Relax, honey. I know Ira took Gabby.”

I tensed. “How do you know?”

“He told me,” She explained, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Said he’d keep her safe.”

I gritted my teeth. “With all due respect, how’s a man who was around when the first draft of the Bible was being written supposed to keep her safe?”

Gladys’s laugh rang out loud and genuine. “Oh, it wasn’t the first draft. It was the second one. They had Moses parting mountains in the first, and it just didn’t work. Too messy. Water was much better.”

Malcolm, still half-focused on his laptop, snickered. “I love this woman.”

Gladys winked at him. “Thanks, sugar.”

I leaned forward, trying to get back on track. “Why should we trust him with her?”

Gladys’s smile turned secretive. “Because of what he used to do.”

The entire room seemed to lean in, the air tightening with expectation.

When she didn’t continue, Marcus groaned. “What did he use to do?”

She lowered her voice conspiratorially, glancing around. “I can’t say it outright—I’m sworn to secrecy. But let’s just say he belonged to a very selective group. Black ops. Special missions. The kind of work that doesn’t officially exist. The kind where records are sealed, names are erased, and deniability is built into every layer.”

The room went absolutely still.

Remy squinted. “So... like, clandestine operations?”

Gladys grinned. “Exactly. Quiet, dangerous, and smart as hell. And Ira's loyal to the core.”

Benny let out a low whistle, his grin wide. “That’s way cooler than what I thought. I can’t wait to get old and mess with people like that.”

Sasha, smirking, asked, “What’s the difference between now and then?”

Benny shrugged, already chewing on a biscuit he’d swiped. “When I’m old, no one’ll get mad at me. Especially if I’m as cute as Gladys.” He gestured toward her with a buttery biscuit. “I mean, look at her. She even brought food while she was messing with us. That’s adorable.”

Gladys just winked at him again and went back to arranging plates as if this were any other Sunday family dinner.

And for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that maybe we still had time to save the ones we loved.

Chapter 31

Webb

Gladys wasn’t having it. The second she noticed I was still standing tense by the kitchen counter, she clucked her tongue, picked up a heaping plate she’d just made, and marched over to me.

“Sit,” she commanded, waving the plate like a weapon. “You can’t catch bad guys on an empty stomach.”

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