Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (great books for teens txt) 📗

send her to Michigan? Help with the security there?”

“She’ll never try living with you again if you do. Ask her instead to work from your house running the background research on the Remirez family.”

“It’s worth a try. Hell, I’d try anything at this point.”

I heard my phone beep, indicating I had another call. “Someone’s calling me. Stay in touch.” I hung up, looked at the screen, and answered the call from Pops. “How’s it going?”

Pops laughed. “Good. We just boarded the plane. Both Grady and Sebrina are sleeping. I tried to call Hattie, but she didn’t answer. Is she close by?”

“She’s sleeping. Alex turned her ringer off.”

“Sleeping? It’s mid-morning.”

“Pops, I called Doc over. He’s running some tests. We won’t know anything for a few days, but Hattie has to take it easy until then.”

“Damn it. Why didn’t she tell me she still wasn’t feeling well? She’s so damn stubborn.”

“You two make a good match.”

“Bah. I should be there.”

“Nothing you could do if you were. Alex and I are keeping a close eye on her. She’s just going to have to adjust to being spoiled rotten for a few days.”

Pops was quietly muttering under his breath. “I’m glad she’s home. I know she loves Texas, but if she gets bad news, she’ll handle it better with her kids there.”

I nodded, though he couldn’t hear me. Alex walked over and held my free hand.

“Give her a kiss for me, baby girl. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

“Safe travels, Pops.”

Chapter Nineteen

I tossed the phone on the table, causing Bridget to jump. “Sorry.” I turned to look at Alex who was still holding my hand. “Now that I know you dress like that just to fuck with us, I have to tell you the hat looks ridiculous.”

“Only the hat?” he asked, releasing my hand to sit at the table.

“You and Haley went public?” Bridget asked. “Damn.”

“How’d you know?” Alex asked.

Bridget shook her head at Alex. “Haley’s my best friend and roommate. I know everything.”

The tea kettle whistled and Alex returned to the kitchen to fix Hattie a tray before disappearing upstairs.

I picked up my phone again, calling Mitch this time, Grady’s brother.

“Is this a save the date phone call?” Mitch asked when he answered.

“More like save your brother from getting his ass kicked phone call. Your brother has lost his marbles.”

Mitch was silent for a few seconds. “How crazy are we talking?”

“Does the name Sebrina mean anything to you?”

“Yeah, unfortunately,” Mitch said, sighing. “Where is he?”

“I had him drugged and kidnapped. He’s on his way back to Michigan, but he’s going to be pissed when he wakes.”

“And Sebrina?”

“She’s on the plane too.”

“Shit! Why? Why is she being shipped to Michigan?”

“Long story, but she needs our protection at the moment. Someone’s trying to kill her.”

“Let them,” Mitch growled.

“You don’t mean that.”

“The hell I don’t.” Mitch made a growling noise that reminded me of Grady. “You’re in over your head on this one, Kelsey, and I can’t get there until sometime next week. There’s a joint task force with the customs office that is gearing up for a takedown. I can’t get away until the big arrest day, but I’ll try to get Michigan as soon as my schedule clears. And, Kelsey?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t trust Sebrina.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

“I mean… Don’t let her in your house. Don’t let her get close to the family. Don’t take your eyes off her.”

“I just invited the wolf into the hen house, didn’t I?” I said, looking up at Bridget as I talked to Mitch.

“More like you just dropped the python into the mouse house. She’s dangerous, and Grady can’t see that side of her.”

“Lovely. I’ll handle it.” I disconnected the call and called Tyler.

“Yo,” Tyler answered.

“We need to move the nursery and schoolroom to the house while Sebrina’s in town. Mitch says she’s dangerous.”

Bridget was watching me and picked up her phone to make a call.

“That means you’ll have to explain to the kids what’s wrong with Hattie,” Tyler said.

“It will be fine. I’m one hell of a liar,” I said before hanging up.

I went to the basement and asked a couple of guys who were working out to help me move boxes out of the old war room. The room was big enough to serve as the new classroom temporarily. Half an hour later, Beth, Sara, Nicholas, and Wild Card started moving books and other supplies into the room.

“Why are we moving?” Sara asked.

“I talked to Grady’s brother, Mitch. He doesn’t want the family around Sebrina. He’s worried she’s dangerous,” I answered.

“Dangerous like Penny?”

“Might be. He didn’t explain.”

“Who’s Penny?” Nicholas asked as he emptied a box of books onto a shelf.

“Bones’ ex-wife,” Sara said. “She used to work for Nola.”

Nicholas turned to stare at Sara with large eyes.

“It’s okay,” Sara said, patting his arm. “Nola shot Penny in the head. She thought Penny was working with the FBI, but really Aunt Kelsey bugged her purse at a party.”

Nicholas sighed. “Cool.” He turned to finish moving the books.

“I hope they both get good paying jobs when they’re adults,” I said to Beth as we moved one of the eight-foot tables. “They’re likely to spend a fortune on therapy.”

Beth dropped her end of the table, laughing.

“Where are we putting the nursery?” Tyler asked, carrying Abigail into the room. “Also, does Lisa know we just moved her daughter?”

“I’ll call Lisa. Was Dave’s daughter in the nursery, too?”

“Nope. Dave’s keeping Juliette away until the cartel stuff passes. He didn’t want to make his family a target if someone followed him home after picking her up.”

“Smart. If it’s just Abby, then we can put her in my room.”