by Emma Renshaw
“Good,” I answered. “The kitties are very sweet and I think I have a few interested clients, but I’ll let you know.”
I could take home a cat or a dog, but not any more than that. My cat, Harmonica, was territorial and didn’t like people. Didn’t even like me. So I tried not to bring too many foster animals home, especially if they were playful. Harmonica would swipe at them and punish me for the next three weeks by breaking everything she could.
I rose from the bench, holding out my hand to Daphne. “Let’s go get our tacos and margs.”
“Finally,” she groaned. “We’ve been tortured long enough. After all the effort we put in, we really deserve it.”
5
Kiernan
I rose from the water, lifting Avery on one hand and Caden on the other, and launched them in the air. Their laughter filled the air as they went up and cannonballed back into the pool in front of me. Avery popped to the surface first. She was grinning so wide I could count each of her teeth. Caden surfaced next, laughing and wiping his eyes with his pudgy fists. He spit out water through the small gap in his front teeth. He hit the surface of the water with his hands to splash me. “Again! Again! Again!”
This had been on repeat for the last half hour. Over and over I’d launched Caden and Avery into the air to splash back into the water. After the first couple of times, it wasn’t as much fun for me, but I wasn’t going to deny the birthday boy and his best friend anything. Each of them had me wrapped around their tiny finger.
They knew it too.
I had secured my fun uncle badge of honor the day they were born, and I wasn’t ever giving it back. I liked being their favorite. And if I had to toss them into the pool over and over and over again to keep that title, I’d do it.
“I want to flip, Ki Ki!” Avery shouted and bounced in the water, her little legs kicking to hold her up. I winced. That nickname was the only part of favorite uncledom that I didn’t really enjoy.
Caden and Avery were only a few months apart and had been inseparable since Savannah and Liam brought Avery to the hospital to meet Caden when he was born. Both had trouble saying my name when they learned to speak, so Harper suggested Ki Ki as a joke. Unfortunately, it stuck. Both could now say my name, but no matter what I bribed them with, they reverted to Ki Ki.
“Come here and I’ll flip you.” Avery swam the couple of feet to me, and I cradled her in my arms. “Ready, pretty girl? Hold your nose closed and squeeze your eyes tight.”
“Am I really pretty, Ki Ki?” she asked. Her bright green eyes, which looked like little gemstones and were exactly like her mom’s, stared up at me. I scoffed. “The prettiest girl in all the world.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Not prettier than my mama.”
“Even prettier,” I whispered and made my eyes really big. “Well, just as pretty. Just ask your daddy.”
She giggled and clapped her hands. “Flip!”
“Close your nose and squeeze your eyes tight,” I reminded her. She screwed her eyes shut and held her nose between two fingers. I flipped her backward over my arm and brought her back into the position she’d started in.
“Again,” she cried. I flipped her twice more before Caden demanded for it to be his turn. After three flips Roman strode to the edge of their backyard pool, crossing his arms over his chest, and smiled at Caden’s happy grin. Today was his actual birthday, and it was being celebrated just with our group. Tomorrow this backyard would be filled with bounce houses and kids’ games. Avery and Caden’s entire daycare class would be here.
“Food’s ready,” Roman said. I snagged Avery around the waist and carried Caden and Avery to the edge of the pool, lifting them one by one into the air so Roman could grab them. He nabbed the towels on the loungers and wrapped them around their shoulders as I pulled myself onto dry ground. I took the remaining towel, drying off my chest before wrapping it around my hips.
“Carry me!” Avery jumped up and down pulling on my arm. I crouched down and lowered my head as she scampered up my back and onto my shoulders. It was her favorite way to travel. And I knew in a few years she’d either be too big to carry or too old to want to do this with her dad or me. None of the kids here were mine, but I loved them all the same.
Caden crawled up Roman’s back and hung onto his dad’s neck. I followed them, with Avery balancing on my shoulders, up the hill to their back deck, where everyone was gathered for lunch. A long picnic table was spread over the deck. Food had been placed in the center in a family-style setting. I handed Avery off to her dad, Liam.
Maddox handed me a beer from the red ice chest near his feet as we waited for the families to take their seats. We were the only two single people here, so we usually squeezed in wherever there was room for us. I squeezed in between Roman and Tate. Tate was leaning against her husband, James. Caden was sitting on Harper’s lap on the other side of Roman, and she hugged him while Roman cut Caden’s chicken.
“Down,” I scolded Pepper Jack as he tried to jump onto the table and make his own plate of food. Tate laughed and scratched behind his ear.
“He’s so cute,” she said. “He needs to come over to play with Sirius.”
I lifted an eyebrow to tell her I didn’t think that was a good idea. Pepper Jack looked cute but Sirius, James and Tate’s dog, was tiny. Only a few pounds and basically just a running ball of fluff. Pepper Jack would probably eat him as a snack.
“No,” James muttered quietly and shook his head.
Pepper Jack’s tail whacked against the stained wood and his body vibrated with energy, while his eyes were locked on the spoonful of macaroni in Caden’s hand.
“No,” I said to Pepper Jack, trying to mimic Dr. Conroy’s voice. Pepper Jack minded her, listened to every word she said. He didn’t always get the command on the first try, but in class he was almost…very close to…a good student. The only thing that kept him from that distinction had been a small accident with the agility equipment. Pepper Jack didn’t realize he should run over it instead of through it—with so much force that he broke it. A simple mistake, really. Once we left class, though, Pepper Jack released all the untamable energy he’d stored up on me.
I swear he smirked sometimes before disobeying.
He huffed and lay down on the deck, resting his head on his front paws, but he kept his eyes locked on the table and thumped his whip-like tail every few minutes. It was progress—I had to tell Dr. Conroy. That gorgeous woman who still refused to tell me her name or how we knew each other. At least everyone in the class also called her Dr. Conroy. Though I was pretty sure she’d asked them to so I wouldn’t find out who she was.
I would though. Of that, I was sure.
I tugged my phone from my pocket after it vibrated and smiled. I had a surprise for Caden and couldn’t wait to watch his little face light up when I brought him around to the front of the house after lunch. Roman also had his phone out, looking at the screen with a stern expression.
“Who the hell is that?” he asked under his breath. I glanced at his phone. He had his security cameras pulled up. I clapped him on the back and spoke in a low tone.
“A surprise for Caden after lunch.”
“If your gift is better than mine, I’m going to kill you,” he said under his breath. Harper distracted Caden from our conversation, but the corners of her lips were tilted up as she listened to us. She was rubbing her very pregnant belly and pressing tightly to Roman’s side. When I’d first met Roman, he’d spoken about Harper, but I didn’t meet her until years later, when they reconnected. After that first meeting, I knew she was going to turn his entire world right side up, and she did. He was a gruff bastard, but he loved his family fiercely. I felt lucky to share it with them and hoped I could find that for myself one day. Not that I’d admitted that to any of them.
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault that I’m the favorite.”
“He’s my kid,” Roman said.
“He’s my godson,” I retorted and took a slug of my beer
while grinning. I’d never had much growing up, and birthdays hadn’t been celebrated in my house. My dad thought spending money on a cake was a waste when it’d be better spent on Jack, Jim, or Jose. There were a few birthdays when my mom snuck into my room with a single cupcake and one candle. She’d sing quietly, so my dad wouldn’t hear, to avoid awakening his wrath.
Caden, Lilly, Avery, Wren, Brae—and any other kids my friends who are my family have—won’t ever experience a birthday without being spoiled by me. It sucks to go to school and have friends ask what you got for your birthday. I didn’t know gifts were common until I went to school, and every year I saw the pity when I answered “nothing.” Well, until I started making shit up and joking about it.
No one questions the kid who is always laughing. No one looks too closely.
Hell, they still don’t now that I’m an adult..
As everyone finished eating, I turned to Caden and waggled my eyebrows. “Ready for a surprise, birthday boy?”
“Yes!” he shouted with his fist raised in the air. Harper swerved out of the way of his hand and shook her head.
“What’d you get him?” she asked.
“Come around front and you’ll see.”
I stood up, grabbing Caden from Harper’s arms, and walked around to the front of the house, where the rental company had left the Lamborghini convertible. It was blazing red with a cream interior. A fucking showstopper. Caden’s favorite video games all had to do with racing or making things go really fast.
“I got a car!” Caden yelled and bounced on my hip. I set him on the ground as he ran to the convertible. I was pretty sure he didn’t know this car by name, but just looking at it, anyone could tell that this baby went fast. I’d rented it for the day, and we were going to cruise on backcountry roads before taking it to a local track for a quick race around.
I laughed. “Just for the day, little man.”
“Cool!” he shouted and ran his hand over the sleek design.
Roman stood next to me and huffed. “You bastard,” he muttered.
“Is this safe?” Harper asked. Her brow was furrowed, and she was biting the edge of her lip. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Roman knocked it off and hugged her to his chest. I laughed and shook my head.
“He’ll be safe. We’re driving around then going to the track down the road. Y’all can meet us there.”
“Absolutely not.” Harper stepped out of Roman’s embrace and pointed at my chest. Her cheeks filled with color, and she stared at me angrily. “You are not racing my three-year-old son around a racetrack. His car seat won’t even fit in there. Kiernan, I love you, but not everything is fun and games. You have to think and remember that he’s still just a baby. Can you even drive on a racetrack? You’re not a race car driver.”
I gritted my teeth as my jaw locked. I never forgot how small he was or how young. I thought she knew me better than that. Anger bubbled in my chest. I understood her concern, but I would never take Caden on an adventure where he wouldn’t be safe. I licked my lips and took a deep breath.
“I’ve been trained to drive fast and handle cars in dangerous situations under fire. His car seat does fit. I checked. I bought a helmet for him, the same one race car drivers use. He will be safe. Roman can drive just as well and if you want, he can take him.”
She swallowed and switched her stare between me and the car before settling on Caden, still walking around the car brushing his hand over every surface. It had been shiny, but now his little fingerprints were all over it. It was better than sticky little prints on it.
“We’ll meet you at the track,” she said.
I nodded as Roman handed Caden’s car seat to me and whispered, “Remember that she gets really worried about everything at the end of the pregnancy. She was the same with Caden. Remember she called the doctor almost daily? I know you’d never let anything happen to Caden. Besides us, you’re the one I trust most with him.”
I coughed to clear my throat as unexpected emotion rolled through me. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that from him. Harper’s anger had taken me by surprise; we’d been close since I met her. I’d thought she knew I’d never take a risk with Caden.
I strapped Caden in, let Ava take a picture, closed the door, and walked around the hood of the car.
“Kiernan,” Harper shouted. She stood at the passenger side of her car. Her hand was rubbing quick circles over her stomach. “I’m sorry. I know you love Caden and would never do anything that would get him hurt.”
I smiled, even though I didn’t feel it, and folded myself into the driver’s seat.
“Ready, little man?”
“Yes!”
6
Caroline
One Friday a month, I opened the office for only a half day and spent the rest of the day doing the stuff I’d neglected while I worked. It was my day to run errands, clean the house, and catch up on any shows sitting on my DVR. I let the hot water run down my back while I made a to-do list in my mind. I wiped away the water from my eyes and bent back my head to rinse the conditioner from my hair.
I shut off the water and wrapped a fluffy towel around myself before stepping out onto the bath mat. The music playing from my laptop was set on a low volume. I bent at the waist and wrapped another towel around my hair to soak up some of the excess water before I attempted to dry it.
I sang softly with the song, walking to my bedroom dresser, and pulled out a bra and panties. The towel dropped to the ground, and I stepped into the soft silk underwear and put on the bra. I turned to my computer when it dinged with a message alert.
I yelped as photos of me getting out of the shower started flooding the screen. Stark naked. Then photos of me wrapping the towel around myself, walking into the bedroom, dropping the towel, putting on my bra and panties. One photo after another. One last photo popped up. It was of me again, staring at the laptop with tears in my eyes. I could see the fear and confusion written across my face.
A black window appeared in the center of the laptop screen. Green text was typing out in front of my eyes. I covered my mouth with my hand as I read the message.
You’re so beautiful.
If you don’t do what I want, these go on the internet.
I slammed the lid of my laptop closed and placed a hand over my heart as I tried to breathe through the panic welling up inside my chest. Each breath was harder than the last. I ran to my dresser and pulled out the first pair of leggings and T-shirt my hands touched, and I pulled them on and slipped into flip flops.
I hesitated before reaching for my laptop, but I had to. And I needed to be fast. I wasn’t sure if the images would disappear, or what happened when I closed the laptop, but maybe if I hurried to the police station, they could track them or something. The only knowledge I had of tracing cybercrimes came from television shows, and I didn’t know if those were accurate or dramatized for television purposes. I only hoped they could make this stop before anything else happened.
I grabbed the laptop with shaking hands and grabbed my purse on the way out the door. I sped the entire way to the station, not caring that my wet hair was curling against my temples and a wild, tangled mess in the back. I didn’t care that I had never been seen in public in such disarray in my entire life. I slammed into a parking spot and got out of the car before running into the station and stopping at the front desk, completely out of breath.
An older man in an officer’s uniform sat behind the desk, his large, round belly pressing against the edge. A mug of coffee was off to the side, sitting next to a fast food bag. Two men in plainclothes were standing near the desk, leaning against a wood-paneled wall, talking and looking over a manila file folder. I didn’t know who to ask for, but I needed someone to help me.
The man behind the front desk looked me up and down, and I saw him dismiss me before I even said a word. “What can I do for you?” he asked in a monotone voice. His gaze was directed at me, but he was looking right through me.
; “I was getting out of the shower, listening to music on my laptop…” I took a deep breath as tears threatened, but I was determined to hold them at bay. My nose stung. “Pictures of me and a message popped up. Pictures of me naked,” I whispered and glanced at the two men off to the side, who were now staring at me and watching this interaction.
“Pictures you posted online?” the officer asked.
I shook my head. “No, someone was taking pictures of me while I was getting out of the shower, then they sent them to me and sent a message.”
“How did they send them? Were they pictures you had previously sent this person?”
I ran a hand through my wet hair. “No, I’ve never sent pictures like that. I don’t know who this person is. I don’t know how this happened. They just…appeared. It wasn’t email or anything like that. They popped up all over my screen, and the message they sent looked like what coders use. You know? The black window and green font? At least that’s what it is on TV,” I muttered. “I sound crazy.”
“What did the message say?”
Bile rose in my throat. I shook my head and took a second to gain my composure. “You’re so beautiful. If you don’t do what I want, these go on the internet.”
The chair squeaked under his weight as he leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “Miss, I’m very sorry. I hate to tell you this, but there wasn’t a crime. Cybercrime is very complicated, and without a direct threat of harm, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Nothing you can do?” I asked quietly. “So someone can take pictures of me inside my bedroom without my permission and there’s nothing you can do?”
One of the men standing off to the side took a step toward me. “The laws haven’t caught up with technology yet. Come here.” He motioned me away from the desk.
