Abigail’s youngest two were common sights around their house after they’d fallen in love with Hannah. Sadie, the oldest at ten, liked to read and help her mom with her siblings, and Hannah loved her as well. Cain was hoping Fin would move the relationship along, which meant taking legal responsibility for Abigail’s children. It was the honorable thing to do, and it would also drive Nicola out of whatever hole she was hiding in. Not that she wanted to use the family as bait, but that was one of the only ways to find someone who’d died as effectively as Nicola.

“Everyone’s coming, so you’ll have plenty of people to play with. Are you finished?” she asked, pointing at Hannah’s plate.

“All ready, Mom.” Hannah picked up her dirty dishes and handed them to Carmen.

They left with an entourage of guards, and Cain stared at the van a house down from them. This time it was a plain panel van, and she got a kick that the neighbors took turns calling the police about it. It had been months since she’d seen any of the people inside, but they were always there. She couldn’t imagine such a boring existence. All they did was watch her bring her kids to school, take her wife out on dates, and go to the office. The slipup they were waiting on was never going to happen unless she lost her senses. Wishful thinking on their part if they thought that was in their future.

Hayden was dropped off first, and they headed back uptown for Hannah’s school. She walked Hannah to the front door and shook hands with the young woman who was now Hannah’s teacher. The old bitch who’d given their daughter such a hard time was history, and the young woman who’d taken her place was someone Hannah adored.

“Are you going to be good?” she asked Hannah as she crouched to Hannah’s level.

“I’ll give it my best shot,” Hannah said, smiling because her answer had made Cain laugh.

“That’s the best we can ask for, kid.”

“Is there trouble in paradise?” she asked Emma when she got back in the car. “Lucy is usually waiting for her at the door, and Hannah never mentioned her this morning.”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll talk to her this afternoon,” Emma said, taking her hand. “Want me to call Dallas so you and Remi don’t have to listen to wedding plans?”

“You have me all wrong, darlin’. I love weddings. It’s the romantic in me.”

“You are that, and you gave me a wedding I loved.” Emma rested her head on her shoulder and sighed. “Then do you mind if I go shopping before we meet them for lunch? We have that thing tonight, and I’m not quite down to my usual size.”