Amelia surprises me by speaking from the bed. “Good night, Derby.”
He goes still.
Not much.
Enough.
“Night, Amelia No.”
Her mouth curves in the dim room.
Locking the door, I close it before either of them can ruin the moment.
Derby stares at the door.
I stare at him.
He looks at me without moving his head. “Don’t.”
“I haven’t said a thing.”
“You’re thinking.”
“I do that.”
“Think quieter.”
“Unlikely.”
He pushes off the wall and starts toward the top of the stairs. “I’m going to sit where I can see the hall.”
“You’re already sitting where you can see the hall.”
“I need a chair.”
“You need emotional distance.”
He stops.
I smile sweetly.
His eyes narrow. “Woman, I liked you better before you got comfortable bossing us.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“No,” he admits. “I didn’t.”
He drags a chair from the small landing and sets it where he can see the hallway, the stairs, and Amelia’s door. It’s exactly what Legend would want. It’s also more careful than Derby wants anyone to notice.
“She has a child,” I say softly.
“I got eyes.”
“She has a husband who will come.”
“I got fists.”
“She has spent a long time being controlled by a man who called it love.”