Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO HAD NEVER HELD A CHILD
I carried Ava into Reed Callaway's private office.
The forbidden office.
The one Tommy Ritchie had warned me never to approach.
It was enormous.
Dark wood.
Leather chairs.
A fireplace.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the snow-covered alley.
And a desk large enough to seat six people.
Reed pointed toward a sofa.
“Sit.”
I obeyed.
Ava looked around curiously.
Reed stood near the fireplace.
His expression was unreadable.
Then he asked, “How old?”
“Eight months.”
He nodded.
“Does she eat solid food?”
I blinked.
“Yes. Some.”
He looked toward the door.
“Tommy.”
The door opened immediately.
A scarred man in a dark suit appeared.
“Boss?”
Reed nodded toward Ava.
“Find out what babies eat.”
Tommy stared.
“Boss?”
Reed's eyes narrowed.
“Food. For babies.”
Tommy looked at me.
Then at Ava.
Then back at Reed.
“Right.”
He disappeared.
I stared at Reed.
He noticed.
“What?”
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
He frowned.
“Say it.”
I swallowed.
“You don't have children.”
His expression changed.
“No.”
Ava reached toward him again.
Reed looked at her.
Then asked, “Does she always do that?”
I smiled faintly.
“Do what?”
“Reach for strangers.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He stared.
Then, very carefully, extended one finger.
Ava grabbed it.
May you like
Reed froze.
For the first time since I'd met him, Chicago's most feared man looked completely helpless.
