I found James in his office. Emmaline was in his lap, munching on a granola bar. Carter was playing with a toy on the floor, gurgling happily.

“What’s up?” James asked me.

“Think I need some help,” I confessed.

James narrowed his eyes at me. “Al-fucking-ready, brother?” he demanded. “Jesus Christ. It takes you no time at all to get caught up in some bad shit.”

I laughed, dropping into one of his chairs. “No. I didn’t get into any damn trouble,” I told him. He relaxed again, his hand slipping up Emmaline’s back beneath her shirt. “I actually wanted to talk about Juliana.”

“That the girl you brought home...