CELIA

As we ride up the long driveway to our home Jett walks out to greet us. We park in front of the steps but remain seated so we can store these as soon we give him the verbal report.

“How’d it go?”

Atlas motion to me. “Tell him, Ceels.”

Odd for him to hand off the details, but it hits me that he wants to appear more generous than usual to earn brownie points back. Anything to dull the memory of snitching on his brother, and show he’s a team player.

Jett’s grey eyes lock onto me as he crosses his arms to hear me explain, “She’s a Black Widow alright. We followed your hunch on that, searched the apartment for souvenirs of her victims and found a stash of drivers licenses. All old people. It made the job easier.”

Atlas nods. “Had something to shove in her face. She tried to escape.”

Jett crosses his arms. “Of course.”

“We tied her up and called the son.”

I nod, “Then we waited until he arrived. Poor guy was a wreck. Rage, regret. It was pretty bad. He called the cops—they’ve gotta be there by now. He’s going to say that he was the one who found the licenses, that he took her keys last time he confronted her in his dad’s house. He swiped them, made a copy, returned them while she wasn’t looking. Even if she claims it was us, he’s going to deny it, call her a liar. With the evidence on her phone, all the Life Insurance claims she took out on her victims, the police will listen to him, not her.”

Jett’s eyebrows pierce his weathered skin. “Cops will find her bank accounts extra flush. They’ll take it from here. Good work. How’s the man?”

“Good…now.”

“Something happen?”

“He went into cardiac arrest while we were there.” Jogging my chin back to Sean I confess his good deed for him, “Sean performed CPR and brought him back for a reunion with his son.”

Grey eyes narrow. “I didn’t see you train him in that yet.”

“Haven’t gotten that far. That was all him.”

Blank as before, Sean says, “Worked as a lifeguard one summer in high school. Saved two kids that year.”

“Interesting. Put the bikes away and come eat. You guys did good.” Jett heads up our creaky steps as Sean starts his engine and takes off like he can’t wait to put the bike away. Atlas and I exchange a look.

Inside the house is a riotous war zone. We Ciphers love it when a problem in the real world gets solved by us. And when it’s a slam-dunk like today and everyone comes home safely, even better. The only wish is that people would call us sooner. But we can’t help that.

We can however help ourselves to large helpings of delicious jambalaya and extra crispy tater tots. And these beers won’t drink themselves.

Atlas grins at the spread, “Wow, I guess you guys knew we’d nail it, huh?”

Honey Badger throws an arm around Jett’s shoulder and announces in a booming voice, “Luke proposed to Sofia Sol!”

It takes a second to let this sink in before I scream, “What?! How is that even possible?!”

I’m grinning from ear to ear as we are attacked by multiple voices shouting over each other. As I piece the story together, my hand flies out to smack Atlas’s chest, “Isn’t that great!”

He offers a forced smile, “Yeah…great.”

Sage grabs me, jumping up and down in place. “Can you believe it? Can you believe it?”

“No, I can’t! I have to call her!” I’m already dialing on my dash upstairs. Running into our room I leap onto her bed and not mine, since I miss her so much. She answers with a normal hello and I scream, “What the fuck, Soph! What is happening?!”

Laughing, her voice changes to relief and utter happiness as she finally gets to tell me everything she’s wanted to, but couldn’t. I listen to the whole story, freaking out, rapt, in awe. “Tell Luke I’m furious I wasn’t there to witness the look on your face, Sofia!”

“Hang on, I’ll put you on speaker. Say it again!”

I repeat it to our long lost Martinez brother and he leans into the phone, says in a sexy voice I don’t even recognize, “Some things you can’t watch, Ceels.”

“Who are you?!!” I demand on a peal of laughter. “And when are you guys coming home?!”

“We’re taking another week. With the travel it’ll be about nine days.”

“Get your asses back here!”

“Things are different, Ceels. We’re in love.”

Collapsing onto the bed I cover my face with my hands, laughing, “You are killing me! I’m so happy for you!”

Sofia’s voice gets serious as she asks, “How is everyone over there?”

“Your dads are acting like their old selves! It’s a miracle!”

“Um…have to go now. Luke just unzipped my pants. Again. I’ll call you again this week!”

“You better!” I grin and hang up, staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything she said, their story, how all this time I never knew it was happening.

Glancing to our sweet nightlight that Sofia Sol and I got when we were little girls, I reach to switch it on and off, smiling to myself.

The festivities downstairs are too much fun. Bets over pool games are totally normal for us, but this night our celebration is a release of tension among a family that sorely needed it.

“We were divided,” Jett announces, holding up a shot. “We are one again!”

The cheering is cacophonous, southern food piled Mount-Everest-high, and we’ve broken into the booze—the beer can wait!

But the party has one guest I can’t take my eyes off of for long. Despite the tornado of activity around Sean, he hasn’t snapped out of his walking coma. It’s as though when he saved Mr. Russo’s life he joined him on the road to the great upstairs.

While I sip from my second tequila over ice with lime, I watch our newbie slowly rise from the couch to take his uneaten plate outside.

Snatching corn bread from the basket, Atlas passes me for the game room. “Might make me some money tonight.”

I grab his arm before he vanishes, whispering, “What do you think about Sean’s reaction to the mission?”

He shrugs, “Maybe he can’t handle it.”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

“You don’t want him to leave, but he might.”

My head swings back a little. “What? I don’t care if he stays or goes.”

Atlas heads for the game room, “Yeah, sure, Ceels.”

“That’s not it at all!” I call after his smirk. “I hope you lose money!”

His laughter fades with distance, and I glance around the Cipher family, eyes quickly locked onto the backdoor. Squishing my mouth to the side I consider what to do, decide, “Fuck it,” and hurry to join Sean and see if he’s okay.

“Celia, where are you going?” My mom calls after me.

“Outside.”

“Who’s out there?”

“Tons of people.”

“Anyone specific?”

Pausing I cock my head. “Yes. Sean is out there.”

She motions for me to join her at the sink. Gritting my teeth I make my way back around and listen to her hushed warning, “Be careful! We don’t know this boy!”

“He’s a man not a boy.”

Giving me a look she rolls her eyes, “And that’s better?”

“What do you have against him?”

She grabs the counter, hands starting to tremble. “He’s an outsider!”

Touching her back I keep my voice quiet, “Mom, remember when you said that Tonk Jr. feels like an outsider? Remember how upset you got at Dad for making him feel worse? Where’s your compassion now?”

“He’s my son.”

“Sean is somebody’s son, too. He doesn’t know anyone but me and Atlas. We’ve become friends. Everyone’s partying, but he’s outside by himself.”

Stubborn fire lights her up, and I’ve never seen her like this. “I trust the people here. Our family! We know them. There are bad people in the world! Very bad people!”

“Okay, now you’re making me smile. Do you realize who you’re talking to? The things I’ve seen? I know the evil that’s out there, Mom! Sean’s a good person. Trust my judgment!”

“You’ve never lived with a bad person, Celia!”

“He’s not bad! Wait…” I pause. “Have you?”

She wrings her hands. “I just want you to be careful.”

“You’re being ridiculous. I’m sorry, but this is nuts.” Swinging the refrigerator open I snatch a can of beer for Sean and avoid my mother’s hawklike gaze as I make my way outside.