Kiko knew Dom was worried because he cleaned out Mother’s pen without complaint. He packed the last of the online orders as Dom worked; anyone not having placed one by now couldn’t be guaranteed a delivery by Christmas, which was a bit of a relief. Slowly, things were winding down. And with Dom concerned enough for the both of them, Kiko could dismiss any of his own uneasiness about someone targeting him for violence.
Cat showed up just as Dom was coming back in from tossing Mother’s old rags in the dumpster. She looked half-asleep and was clutching an extra large coffee. Kiko motioned her to one of his tables and sat across from her, waiting for Dom to join them. Cat sucked down at least half of her beverage before Dom sat down, though she didn’t look much more awake for it.
“It’s Ben,
