Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
She blinked and wiped her cheeks, trying to tell herself the tears were for Dani. But Hadley couldn’t deny this whole situation had brought her back to the sixteen-year-old girl she’d been when her father had first upended her life.
“Can I at least send him a letter?” she asked.
Agent Andrews nodded. “I just can’t promise he’ll read it.”
She drew a deep, steadying breath. “Does this mean it’s over? We can go home?”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t leave yet. We haven’t picked up everyone involved, and your father owes them money, but we think we’ll have them in custody soon. Once we round up the higher ups, we’ll let you know. Then you can go back to your life.”
Beside her, Zach had grown rigid. She understood. Pain sliced through her and nausea threatened at the thought of leaving him. But that had been the plan all along.
Reality dictated her choices and none of the reasons she needed to leave had changed. Except her father was in prison and her responsibilities when it came to Dani had increased tenfold. She was the sole adult in her sister’s life. Dani’s mother didn’t count. And she had her own responsibilities.
She swallowed hard. “What about my sister? My father has sole custody. Dani’s mother only has supervised visits.”
The agent nodded. “Your father intends to sign over his full custodial rights to you.”
Her chest hurt for her sister, but she nodded. She already took care of Dani but none of this would go down easy for a thirteen-year-old who loved her dad. Only Hadley was used to being let down by him.
“I realize this is a lot to take in. If Remy hadn’t come to us, we’d be searching for you.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll be in touch when I have more information.”
In a daze, she rose to her feet, barely aware of the goodbyes around her.
* * *
“Do you want to talk about it?” Zach and Hadley were now in the kitchen, their guests long gone.
Hadley hadn’t said a word since the federal agent and Remy had left. Worried about Hadley, Zach had stayed home from work, afraid she might shatter at any moment.
“Hadley? I think you’d feel better if you let it out.”
She turned to face him, her skin pale, her blue eyes glassy. “My father is going to prison. He can’t afford a lawyer and if he won’t turn on the people above him, he has no shot in hell of getting off.”
Since everything she said was true, Zach remained silent. Even though he could afford a lawyer who would try to keep the man out of prison, Zach wasn’t convinced it was the best thing for Hadley and Dani. Keeping their old man locked up would mean his daughters were safe. At least, once the police arrested the guys they were looking for.
The fact was, even if the cops didn’t find them, her father going to prison instead of turning meant they might leave his daughters alone, something Sean had mentioned when Zach walked him out. They just wanted more certainty before explaining things to Hadley.
“What am I going to tell Dani?” she asked, her voice still monotone.
“The truth? She’s an older thirteen-year-old. She’s seen and sensed the same things you have about your dad… scary men around the house, your father in a panic, forcing you to leave town. Dani is smart enough to know something big is going down.”
Hadley nodded. “You’re right. I just wish I could see my father and talk to him. But he won’t see us.”
He dipped his head before meeting her gaze. “I hate to say it, but maybe that’s for the best. You can handle seeing him in prison. Dani probably can’t, no matter how wise she is for her age.”
She blew out a breath and nodded. “I know everything you’re saying is true. And I can’t put it off. Her mother is still out there, and I can’t risk Dani hearing it from Patrice and not me.”
He nodded “Why don’t you give yourself a break and process everything. We can go tell Dani later.”
Hadley let out a long breath and nodded. “I’m not looking forward to it.”
He didn’t blame her. “Do you want to go sit on the beach? At the pool? Relax inside and put on a movie?”
She shook her head, looking more vulnerable than he’d ever seen her. He slid closer, wanting to hold her, lend her his strength, and get her through this. “Then what do you want?” he asked.
“You.”
She didn’t have to ask twice.
He rose, bent, and scooped her into his arms. His girl needed to forget. And she was his. Whether she left or not, she’d always belong to him. Which meant he wasn’t letting her go without a fight. He needed to convince her of how much he cared and now was the perfect time to start.