I meant to ask that little one where she disappeared to before, but seeing her and the dog having so much fun was enough to dispel my misgivings. It's been a while, at least a week since she tried to poison or scalp one of her brothers, so maybe I'm worrying for nothing. Kat was already downstairs flitting around the kitchen and the boys were somewhere trying to destroy my damn house, so I figured now was as good a time as any to have that talk with my kid. I'm not expecting this one to go over any better than the last one but it can't be helped. Fucking Kat! You'd think she'd have enough sense to know that I won't do shit against my daughter, but the two of them act like I'm trying to destroy her life or some shit. The one time I want my wife to stand beside me she deserts camp. Figures! We usually stand shoulder to shoulder when dealing with anything to do with the kids, but on this one I'm on my own. Can't really blame her since she has no idea what's going o
I sat on my bed, numb from the shock. I wasn't sure if my heart was broken or not, I couldn't feel my heart. I was in turns angry and afraid. Angry because I wasn't getting my way, and in a way, scared for the same reason. I know my daddy, he's gruff and bossy with everyone and I know most people who don't know him would never believe what a big softie he is. But as his firstborn I know him, and I know that he would never deny me something I really want, and he knows how much I want this. My mind went to my new uncles and all the secrecy surrounding them. Not like all the men daddy surrounds himself with aren't secretive rebel types, but these new uncles are very official. SEALs and government officials or whatever uncle Hank is. People that daddy doesn't usually hang around with or have much use for. And then there was that weird email I'd gotten from those people. I wish I'd kept a copy, but daddy cleaned my computer after that and there's no way for me to ge
"Uncle Hank.""Yes sweetheart, what is it, you okay?""Yep, uh-huh. Uncle Hank did the baby come yet?""No sweetheart. Didn't I tell you your mom and dad are going to bring you out here first thing as soon as she's born?" "I know. Uncle Hank.""Yes sweetie.""Did you guys get all the bad guys yet?""Come again?" "I'm not asking for me, it's for Caitlin.""Caitlin? What happened to Caitlin? What's going on?""Well it's like this. Caitlin studied really hard to get all the points so she could go to school with Todd. But now daddy won't let her go because of the bad guys. So you and the uncles have to get them quick so she can go because it's not fair." "Catalina, baby, how do you know about the bad guys?""Oh uncle Hank, really!""Does your dad know that you're calling me about this?" "Shh, he doesn't know that I know so you can't tell him okay.""Okay, but Catalina, does your brothers and sister know about the bad men as well?"
"So he said no again?" I sat at the kitchen table with my mother, mother in law and Char. They'd come as soon as I told them what Colt the dolt had done...again. It's not that I don't know he's dealing with horrible stuff. Between Cierra, the wives of the SEALs and the women on Law's ranch, I've been learning plenty, more than I would've before meeting them. But I don't see what any of that has to do with my kid."Yep! No explanation, just no.""What about the prom? She was so excited." I shook my head at mom as I drummed my fingers on the table. Tonight, when me, and the girls have our nightly convo I'm going to have to push hard for them to come up with some ideas on how to get my girl what she wants. It's not like she's asking to run away to the jungle or some crap. The child just wants to go to school, something all parents everywhere in the world would be proud of, except Colt the dolt. "That's it, we're not having a repeat of last year. I let
Twice I'd left her sleeping with Facetime open, and came back to watch her sleep until the sun came up and she didn't have a clue that I'd been gone. That's the only stipulation I made when I went all in with Mancini. No matter what, I have to be there in the evenings for our nightly chats. He's been pretty good with that stuff so far. In the evenings after class I get my homework out of the way, sometimes here in my dorm, sometimes at the desk Jace had set up for me in his tenth floor office. Then we'd spend a few hours working on whatever Mancini had going on, before it was time to head back here to call her. It isn't always easy keeping the new me hidden from her, especially after I'd just come from spending hours pouring over some horror that yet another young girl had endured. But I could feel the changes all the same. It's like I'm slowly becoming someone else. And each time I see her face, each time we talk, I can't help but wonder what all of this have
He wasn't lying, the building had every amenity anyone could possibly need, including a fully equipped gym, a food bank that literally stocked everything in it, something I've never seen before in my life. It's like their own personal supermarket. There's an entertainment floor with a movie theatre, bowling alley, indoor basketball court, a tennis court, swimming pool, you name it, it's here, and they want me to just move right on in, free of charge. It's nuts. My family might be rich, but these people are wealthy. I've been around wealthy before, Colton Lyon is known to be one of the wealthiest men in our state, though he doesn't show it by any stretch of the imagination. The man gave his wife a fortune five hundred company as a wedding gift, need I say more? But I can honestly say I've never seen wealth portrayed the way Jace Saunders does it. Not that he flaunts his shit, no; it's more like he has it so he puts it to good use. I get the feeling though that it
"Colton, don't forget you have an appointment at the school today. I told them you'll be there in the afternoon so...""Why am I going there again? Which one of your kids fucked up?""The principal didn't say it was anything like that, just that she needed to speak to you about something important." "And I'm the one going because...""They said it had to be you. Of course I can pack up the four kids and the dog and head over there if you're too busy. Besides, Hank and Cierra are coming this evening and this place is a mess."She's been in a pissy mood for the past coupla days, ever since I had the talk with Caitlin in fact. Not only her, but mom and her hen pack have had a lot to say. My damn house has been like a deep freeze; only Cody and the trips haven't been giving me shit. Even Mengele has been looking at me side eyed like I need her shit. My sons are never too interested in shit unless it involves them, so I'm pretty sure they don't have a clue w
She was back peddling fast because this time I did make it out of my chair. "Where's my kid?""Caitlin is fine, that's not why we called you here today." Do these fucks have any idea what this shit does to a man? To hear that some fuck happened to his kid on their watch?"Lady, if you don't start making sense this is not going to end well." I retook my seat before she cried foul or some fuck. She looks like the type to make up some shit and the asshole cops around here stay knowing that I would indeed fuck anyone's shit up man or woman. And kids over the age of sixteen. Males...fucking fucknuts. "Okay, this all started a few weeks ago when this young man by the name of Brian started...well, I guess he was trying to talk to Caitlin. He asked her to the prom I guess. When she showed her disinterest and told him no his feelings got hurt and he...well he started making unkind comments...""Mr. Lyon!" This time she had to put herself in harm's way to keep me in