Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Dad…your dad is going to be a problem.”
His dad was always a problem. Stubborn old man, but Grim was wrong about one thing. “Do you not want to call him Dad? It doesn’t dishonor your biological father. I know Dad wouldn’t mind. You slip up a lot and call Pops Pops, and you often refer to our mother as Mom.”
“I don’t know,” Grim said quietly. “I guess I worry with my background Jack might find it distasteful.”
“I’m going to beat some sense into you.”
A smile broke over Grim’s face. “I’d like to see you try.” He sobered. “I don’t know. Pops is easy. Mom is… She’s the best mom in the world. It’s not like I don’t love the old man. I went to vet school to make him proud of me.”
Josh rolled his eyes because he remembered the time well. They’d been planning on taking classes together, and Grim chucked that right out the window. “You went to vet school because he didn’t like the old vet and offhandedly said you might think about it because he would love to have one in the family. You did eight years of school for him.”
A wistful smile played on Grim’s lips. “I ended up loving it.”
“And he loves you, so drop the whole your dad thing. He’s our dad. You just took your time getting to meet him. You were always meant to be part of my family. Hell, sometimes I’m sure he loves you more than me.”
Grim frowned his way. “No, you’re just so like him you butt heads all the time, and you need to remember that when we have to tell him what’s happening with Nicole. He’ll handle the secret kids real well. I should know. The man likes to take in strays. The running from the law thing could be another story.”
Because Jack Barnes would try to protect his family, and Nicole wasn’t part of that yet. “I’ll handle it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
A plan was starting to form in his head. A plan to put his ruthlessly protective father in check. It was the kind of plan his dad would have come up with if he’d found himself in this position. The key with Jack Barnes was to show him there was no moving, no maneuvering at all. The king had to be placed in check and then Josh would get what he needed—time.
Because if his father didn’t come to adore Nicole and embrace her like the family she was destined to be, then he didn’t know his father at all. Pops was the easy one, and his mom just wanted everyone to be happy.
Now that he thought about it secret kids would soften his dad up. It had been a while since Lexi had popped out her last, and the old man loved a kid following him around.
“If something goes down with Dad, your job is to take care of Nic and make sure she stays out of it as much as possible,” Josh explained. “I’ll handle the parents.”
A gentle chiming went through the suite.
Josh turned for the door. “Are we missing anything?”
Grim looked around. “I don’t think so.”
Josh went to the door. “Well, get ready because it’s almost time to go pick up Nicole. She should be done by now. It won’t take her long to dress since I didn’t leave her underwear.”
Grim shrugged. “A sensible thing to do.”
It was good they were in synch.
Josh opened the door and Harlow stood there. She’d changed into street clothes, jeans and a T-shirt and combat boots. Her uniform. Though she didn’t usually look so freaked out.
“Josh, we have to talk.” She charged into the room after him, her cell phone in hand. She put it to her ear. “Dad, I need you to call me. Now. Before you do anything. This is my case, and you are going to fuck everything up. I’m not joking.”
Josh’s gut tightened. “What’s happening?”
“Should I find Nicole?” Grim put down the beer he’d been about to open.
Harlow shoved her phone into her pocket. “Guys, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize my dads were looking into Nicole, too. I gave the picture you sent to my facial recognition guy. Well, girl. Ruby is an amazing investigator, but she didn’t know we were keeping this on the down-low so when Dad called her, she gave him the report first. Josh, it’s bad. I’m afraid they’re going to call in the police. She’s wanted.”
Grim started for the door. “If they take her in, I’ll… I don’t know what I’ll do, but…”
Josh followed him. “What we’ll do, but it’ll be bloody, and I won’t care that we’re family.”
He raced out the door and prayed he got to Nicole in time.
* * * *
Nic finished drying her hair and stared at herself in the mirror.
She looked like a completely different person than the woman who’d rolled into Willow Fork with two hundred dollars in her pocket and a car on its last legs.