Page 116 of The Long Game

“Nut the fucker?Yes.”

Colton let out a loud guffaw and went to her side. She clamped her good hand around Colton’s forearm and tugged him down the row of cars, making a wide arc around Babs as she charged toward the truck far faster than she should on her hip.

She didn’t glance back once at the man she’d left rocking on his knees in the middle of the garage floor. Jack, however, covered the distance to his truck walking backward.

“Your father always had friends who postured like that,” his mother said peevishly. “They’d all stand with their legs apart like their balls were too big or something.” She rolled her eyes and gestured emphatically at the truck door to indicate he should unlock it, and quickly.

He did.

Colton’s eyes moved between Jack, his mother, and Babs, but he remained uncharacteristically quiet, helping Jack’s mother into the truck and climbing in after her while Jack jogged to the driver’s side.

Jack had just closed and locked his door when Colton whispered, “Is he…is he one of the guys who hurt you?”

Jack’s mother’s head whipped around to Colton, then to Jack.

Jack swallowed hard. His mother didn’t know anything about that, but he’d promised Colton no bullshit, so…

“Yes.”

Jack’s mother threw off her seat belt and dove over Colton for the door. Jack hadn’t known she could move that fast. And she waswily.

They barely managed to keep her in the truck.

Jack was amazed his hands were so steady as he drove away. He called Grady as soon as they were out of the parking lot. When he got to the part where his mother had crushed Babs’ nuts, Grady laughed and laughed.

Jack’s mother, sitting prim as you please in the middle of the bench seat, could hear Grady’s laughter. Her smile was smug.

Grady promised to let Jack know if Babs reported the assault—which they agreed was extremely unlikely—and reassured Jack that because his mother was acting in the defense of herself and others, even if Babsdidreport it, it wasn’t going anywhere.

Jack tried to believe him, but he knew better than anyone how the legal system could go off the rails.

When they arrived back at his mother’s house, Colton settled her on the couch while Jack made her some tea.

Colton came into the kitchen. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

“I feel like someone should stay with her, but she’s going to fight us on it.”

Jack wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Why don’t we ask what she wants?” Colton nodded, sticking close while Jack prepared and delivered the tea. “Mom, Colton and I are worried about you being here alone.”

His mother paused in the middle of bringing the mug to her lips, her casted arm held aloft, a cigarette between her fingers.She looked at Jack like he was completely off his rocker. “Why would you be worried about that?”

Colton still hovered at Jack’s side. “Maman Chevalier, you’re hurt.”

Jack’s mother snorted. “Oh, please. I’m fine.” She waved her cast—and the cigarette—to make her point. “I don’t need anyone underfoot.”

“You can’t get it wet,” Colton reminded her.

Jack swore to god her lips quirked, but she masked it with a drag off her smoke. “I know that, silly boy. If you’re so concerned about me, you can come back tomorrow.” She made it sound as though she was granting an audience rather than making a concession.

Colton turned to Jack. He looked worried. And like he wanted Jack to do something, though Jack had no idea what.

“Bring Sam along, too,” Jack’s mother suggested, sending Jack a look he didn’t know how to interpret. “If he’s not working, of course. I want his suggestions for a gift for Fiona.”

Jack studied his mother and wondered when the invasion of the body snatchers had happened and how he’d missed it.

Colton wasn’t any less agitated, his gaze moving between Jack and his mother.

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