He winces, understanding that the children probably just heard his cursing, but both of them don't seem to have even registered.

Kyoline struts in. She's tired, in that way that someone who's running on fumes—due to the stress that cocksucker Carmine is causing. In spite of that, she'd be goddamn beautiful, but he's not going to let his head go down that train of thought today. "These two are out of school today. Some teacher gathering or something. Nikki was going to keep an eye on them because I've got a shift, but she's sick and couldn't come.".

And when he hears her tell him, he feels like a total...