Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Quincy finally turned around to notice the boy in my arms, and his smile grew. “Hey, Forest!”
Forest buried his face into my shoulder.
Quincy’s face softened. “What’s up?”
“I have to head to the station, but I forgot that I need to give this kid something to drink and eat. You got anything I can grab real quick?”
I needed to go to the store for two-year-old acceptable finger foods.
“Top right drawer there’s some sippy cups. They’re pink. You know Princess Dalia would take nothing less. There should be some powdered donuts inside the pantry door on the right,” Hollis offered.
“Hey!” Quincy cried. “You told me they were all gone!”
“They are for your fat ass,” she grumbled. “I have never seen a man eat as many powdered donuts as you. I wanted to save a few for myself, dammit. Between you and Dalia, I have nothing sacred in that house.”
Quincy rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back.”
“How was your first night?” Hollis asked as Quincy disappeared inside.
“Good,” I answered. “Mostly. I was gone for the majority of it, but he seems to have done pretty well. Slept through the night as far as I can tell”
“Pee?” Forest asked.
I thought he wanted to touch the pink flowers, so I put him down to do that, and went back to looking at the camera just as Hollis started talking again.
“Slept through the night.” She laughed. “Gah, I wonder what that feels like?’
A stream of wetness hitting the dirt sounded, and I looked over to see Forest’s shorts and diaper down around his ankles.
“See, told you it was a good spot,” Quincy said as he came out with a bright pink sippy cup and the half-eaten bag of donuts.
He also had some suspicious white powder around his mouth that let me know he’d snuck a few before bringing the bag out.
“I’ll bring more,” I said. “I need to do a grocery run after this anyway.”
“Bring me something from Pie Hard and we’ll call it square,” he teased.
I didn’t bother denying him.
He and I both knew I’d be going by there one way or another.
After a tip of my hat, I handed the drink over to Forest, and waited until we were in the truck before I gave him the donuts.
“Do me a favor and try not to make a mess, buddy,” I called.
He tried.
I could tell he did.
But by the time we arrived at the police station, he was covered.
I could only laugh as I caught him up in my arms and headed inside with him.
“Who ya got there, Carter?”
I looked over at the receptionist, who was new enough that I couldn’t remember her name, and smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “This is Forest.”
“Hi, Forest!” she started to stand, but I waved her off and headed for my dad’s office.
I heard my mother before I saw her and stopped just in time to keep her from barreling into me.
“That fu…” she trailed off when she saw Forest in my arms. “Well hello there, handsome.”
I rolled my eyes.
My mom was a hardass.
Until it came to her grandkids.
Around the station, Mom was known as The Wall.
Mom didn’t give. Didn’t break.
She was there, always standing, unbreakable.
“Mamasauce,” I said as I gave her Forest. “Why are you so mad?”
She tried to sweep the powdered sugar off his chest and realized it was there to stay.
“Gamma is mad because there’s a lady here that’s a twit.” She looked at me, her eyes once again going hard. “You seriously owe that girl an apology.”
I grimaced. “I’m more than aware.”
“I heard she’s watching this guy for you.” She once again leveled me with a look. “You’ll lose her if you’re not careful.”
My stomach twisted. “I’m working on it. There was a moment of panic when I thought she was leaving, and I can’t say that I handled it well.”
“You’re one of my brightest children,” she said. “But your choice in women leaves a lot to be desired. For the love of God, don’t let the best one yet go.”
With that she took off with my kid, who was glad to go.
They chattered away until I couldn’t hear a single word.
“Mom’s right,” Garrett said, coming up behind me. “You’ve got shit taste in women.”
I rolled my eyes, heading for Dad’s office once again.
When I arrived, I saw I wasn’t the only one there.
Auden, Gable, and Quaid were there as well.
All of them went silent upon my arrival.
“Son, have a seat.” He grimaced.
I did and he turned his monitor around for me to see.
I watched in silence as the body cam footage from Garrett’s chest was displayed.
From start to finish, I could see the entire thing pan out. From the moment she entered the hotel, to the moment Garrett’s entire body jerked as he saw a woman and her husband leaving. I frowned at the words that the man leveled at the woman before Garrett once again turned his attention back to Sage and the maid.