Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“You didn’t go back?” Dread rose from Sloane’s chest into her throat, tightening it.
“That same night, I got a call. The local PD found her on the street with a needle still sticking between her toes since the veins in her arms were shot. The next and last time I saw her was at the morgue.”
Sloane covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. That had to be difficult.” The pain in his voice ripped her heart out. It also scared the hell out of her. Because Sadie was traveling the same dark path.
She did not want to have to go to the morgue to identify her sister’s drug-ravaged body. It would destroy her. “If you could do it all over again, would you do it differently?”
“Without a doubt.”
“So, you would have dragged her out of there?”
“I would’ve had her arrested right then and there and had the baby taken from her. I never would’ve handed her the hundred-dollar bill that ended her life.”
“But you can’t be sure that’s what caused her death. That’s not your burden to bear. It could’ve happened whether or not you gave her the money.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Anyway… ” He blew out a breath. “While the main reason I told you all of that was so you would be totally aware of Val’s background, I wanted you to know that I also had no prior experience with babies. Especially an infant still suffering the effects of heroin in her system. The truth is, I actually freaked out because I went from being a bachelor to a ‘father’ in the blink of an eye. But despite being unprepared, I managed. With some help from my mother, of course. What I didn’t know, I googled. What Google couldn’t answer, Val’s pediatrician and his staff did. It also helped that my brothers were available at all hours of the day and night to answer all of my paranoid or stupid questions since some of them are fathers and have been through it all before. I’ll be forever grateful for their combined knowledge. They kept me sane through sleepless nights, diaper disasters, colic, teething, the terrible twos… You name it and they helped get me through it.”
In Decker’s case, it literally took a village. “You have brothers?”
He shook his head. “Amelia was my only sibling. The brothers I mentioned are the ones who also carry a badge.”
“With the state police,” she surmised.
“Mainly my MC brotherhood.”
Her spine snapped straight. “MC brotherhood?” Now she was thoroughly confused. “I thought you were only a part of the Demons because you were undercover?”
“And that’s true, but I also belong to another MC made up of law enforcement. I’m a member of the Blue Avengers. We’re a tight-knit brotherhood. Basically a family.”
“I assume the Blue Avengers don’t traffic meth like the Demons,” she said tongue in cheek.
He huffed, “No. Just the opposite. While my MC is a huge part of my life, it isn’t the most important. Val is. And she’s why I’m here. That little girl is the center of my universe. It might’ve taken a while for me to get my shit together, not to mention, a hell of a lot of patience, but we both survived those first couple of rocky years. I might not have been the perfect parent, but I can proudly say Val’s now a happy and healthy child. She’s smart and sweet,” one side of his mouth pulled up, “but she’s also sassy as shit. And I wouldn’t want her any other way.”
The pride in both his voice and in his deep brown eyes warmed her from the inside out.
“Bottom line, she’s my world and I’ll do anything for her. She’s also the sole reason I’m standing in this room asking for your help.”
Even under that ragged beard, the man was undoubtedly handsome. Looks aside, he seemed genuine with a heart of gold, and despite feeling semi-responsible for the death of his sister, he bent over backwards to do better for his niece.
But that didn’t mean she would be moving into his home without some more thought. “Do you have permanent custody of your niece?”
“After Amelia’s death, I was awarded permanent guardianship, but as soon as I could, I adopted Val and officially made her mine.”
Oh yes, he changed his whole life to raise his niece as his own.
“Now that you’ve heard my story and why I’m here, I hope you’ll consider my offer. What I haven’t figured out yet is what you’ll do about your job. If you decide to accept, of course.”
She frowned. “What about it? You said it would be temporary, and even if it wasn’t, I’d be crazy to give up my job. I’ve been there for years because it pays me well and provides benefits. I’d be living in a gutter and not this motel room without it. What you’d be willing to pay me couldn’t come close to my salary and I’m sure you won’t provide health and retirement benefits.”