Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Mom is going to flip,” Tasha said under her breath as she picked up Sheba and nestled the cat in her arms.
Kala had her cell out, checking it every couple of minutes and then texting back.
Was it possible she was communicating with Lou?
“I don’t think me being next door is going to bring Daphne any comfort.” He’d done everything he could do for one night, and that included giving Daphne the space she needed. He’d raced back to the McKay-Taggart building just in time to catch his boss and fill him in. Big Tag had done that thing where he went real still and somehow everyone knew it was only because he was about to explode.
He hadn’t. He’d called Mitch and explained all the things he wanted his lawyer to do to Daphne’s in-laws.
Deke had explained again what evisceration meant. Tag could use some five-dollar words when he got going.
“I don’t think being in San Francisco is going to be helpful to her either,” Tag replied. “Also, Theo’s been out there on his own. He’s almost wrapped that job. You’ll be right back here in a couple of days.”
Somehow he doubted a couple of days would fix his heartache. He wasn’t sure it could be fixed. “I heard a rumor that Damon might need some help in London.”
Kenzie had Sprinkles in her tiny harness. “London? What would happen to the dogs?”
He hadn’t thought about them. He really was a dumbass. “I would take them with me. Can I take them with me?”
“I think that’s a whole thing, buddy,” Tag replied, leaning against the bar. Molly shifted easily, as though anticipating Tag’s move. “Which is why we should slow down on the move out of the country plan. Why don’t you tell me what she said? Kids, give us some space while I talk your Uncle Boomer off his romantic ledge.”
Kala looked down at her phone again and then nodded. “Cool. We can go and stare at the eggs. I’m sure that will occupy us for at least ten minutes.”
Tag winked his fiercest daughter’s way. “You are a menace, child.”
“You know she’s got Lou doing spy shit.” He didn’t want to get Kala in trouble, but he had to talk to Ian. “I’m worried about her.”
“Good, then don’t leave her. That tends to be the best way to show we care about our families. Not leaving them.” Big Tag was calm, as though the plans he’d set in motion to drag down the Carlton family had chilled him out in some way. “See, that’s where Charlie went wrong. She got all confused and thought faking her death would be like a love letter or something, and all it did was piss me off. I mean, at least try, man. You’re just walking away. Fake shoot yourself or something. Commit.”
Boomer was still a rolling wave of pain and anxiety. “I think there’s been enough of that lately, and you know I’d fuck it up anyway.”
Tag straightened up. “What did she say?”
He should have called someone else to watch the pets. Tessa and David were going to drop by and pick up the cat. Maybe they could have taken the dogs and bird, too. At least they wouldn’t have asked him all these questions. “That she needed space. That I’d lied to her and I put her daughter at risk.”
“How was Lou at risk? I mean, I get that Daphne didn’t know about Sanctum. You should have told her. Charlie was already planning a margarita night to ease her into the fact that most of her new friends belong to a sex club. She’s going to try to make it not sound like we’re some sort of cult trying to recruit her.”
“I don’t think she’s going to need to have that party. I think Daphne’s made herself clear.”
“And I think she might not have,” Tag replied. “She was freaked out, right? She’d just been told she was being investigated. I know I would be upset.”
He would never forget the look on her face. “She was actually pretty calm. I think she was very angry with me. I don’t blame her.”
“Okay. You know I was pretty calm earlier. I do that because what I truly want to do is shoot someone,” Tag pointed out. “It occurs to me that you don’t know how Daphne handles stress yet. Did she tell you that your relationship was over?”
“Of course she did.”
“What words did she use?”
He wasn’t sure why they were doing this. “I’ve got a flight to catch.”
“What words, Boom?” Big Tag was insistent.
“She said she was mad at me and she needed space.” And she’d told him she loved him. He would always remember the sorrow in those words.
Tag nodded and then so did Molly. “Was that before or after she gave you marching orders? I assume Daphne was the one who told you to talk to me and have Mitch get involved.”