Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
The world didn’t feel quite so damned dismal with those thoughts.
He pushed the call option on Shanna’s contact information and let his forehead hit the steering wheel, listening to the rings. The phone beeped a series of weird beeps, causing Dev to roll his head to the side, looking at the screen. Shanna, and his girls’ faces were there behind the option to switch to a video call. He pushed the button and leaned back in his seat, grinning at how happy they all looked.
“Daddy!” Mae shouted. She sat in front of Shanna but still bobbed her body up and down. Shanna dodged her head to keep from getting smacked in the face. No matter the situation, Mae was always glad to see him. “We have a living room fort and Shanna rented Disney. We’re watching movies.”
Less than a fraction of a second passed before he experienced staggering relief at not having to be included in a Disney movie marathon.
“I’m on my way,” Dev said and pushed the key into the ignition and turned. The engine roared to life. The power of the rumble vibrated his seat. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Let them stay the night,” Shanna said. “Mom’s coming home early. She moved her flight up. She’ll be here by ten tomorrow morning. She wants to take ’em to get their hair and nails done and go shopping afterward for winter clothes.”
He took in Abi who had a rare smile on her face. She looked content and happy. Two things he rarely saw in her.
“We’ve decided this is a vacation week for them and me. I took some time off. Mom wants to take them to San Antonio for the weekend after Thanksgiving. We’ve just been making all sorts of plans while you work. We figured you’d be busy for the next few weeks. And somebody needs to pay for all our fun.”
Abi nodded at him, her gaze not leaving his face. Mae giggled and nodded too. “I’m making my Christmas present list. You’re gonna need all the money.”
Dev chuckled, knowing that list was long.
“You good, Abigail?” he asked.
“Yeah. Shanna gave me her Twilight books to read. I can read it, right?” she asked.
Dev had no idea what Twilight was or why he should even care if she read it.
“I think it’s okay if she reads the books. We’re gonna read them together. They’re really long. If we get to something she shouldn’t know about, we’ll skip it,” Shanna said, interpreting his cluelessness correctly.
He couldn’t think of one thing Abi hadn’t inadvertently been exposed to with him being her father, and her mother being a high-dollar hooker. He didn’t say those things, only nodding to Abi who gave him an all-air fist pump in her excitement.
“I’m leavin’ the shop now. I can head that way,” Dev said again. Another yawn broke free as he put the gear shift in reverse. “I can get them to mom in the mornin’. My first appointment isn’t until nine.”
“Daddy, no,” Mae said dejectedly, the happiness draining out of her.
He couldn’t help but smile at her expressive face. “What? You’re always on my side. You like to be with me, remember?”
“We have a pallet-bed made,” Mae exclaimed as if that outweighed her time with her father. “We’re sitting on it.” Mae reached for Shanna’s arm to turn the phone. Of course all he got to see were knees, legs, and the puppy asleep on them. “It’s Disney, Daddy.”
“Okay. But y’all go to sleep. Don’t keep Shanna up all night.”
For the second time in a matter of a minute, he brought Mae’s mood down, causing him to laugh. Of course, they planned to stay up all night. They were his kids.
“Thank you, Shanna. Y’all call me if you need me,” he said, chuckling.
“Bye, Daddy.” Mae waved.
“Bye, Dad.” Abi gave him the peace sign.
Dev mouthed a thank-you to Shanna. She lifted a hand and the call ended.
He drove from the parking lot, wishing like hell he’d gotten his new neighbor’s phone number. Was it too soon to request Cash be naked and waiting in his bed when he got home?
His gaze lifted to the rearview mirror, watching a car leave its parking space on the street. He’d had a couple weeks of reprieve from being followed. What the fuck ever. Apparently, they hadn’t gotten the memo that Diesel was the new number two.
With his jaw set, he slammed his fist down on the dashboard.
Fuck the Disciples. At this point, they were nothing but a pain in his ass.
~~~
Cash sat in the front seat of his BMW, staring at Gerick Moreland, the current US Attorney General, who had taken his call personally. Having the head of the Department of Justice as his point of contact made Cash nervous and spoke to the gravity of the investigation.
The AG sat alongside his trusted deputy assistant, Collins. They were already thirty minutes into the briefing, fifteen minutes longer than any other time he’d reported in. Cash had disclosed much of the truth of his last twenty-four hours in bullet-point fashion. Based on the blank stares he’d received, he couldn’t judge their reactions. But he hadn’t been fired, so there was that.