Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
"Tried that," he growls. "They keep putting it right back up there."
I chuckle, leaning against the wall across from him. "They like watching that little vein on your forehead pop out. Who else was in here bothering you?"
"Emmett." He mutters a curse. "If we don't find this arsonist fucker soon, he's going to snap."
"That makes two of us," I say pointblank. "Some prick was in Molly's house, Dillon."
I've been holding it together by the skin of my teeth, but I'm mad as hell.
Dillon sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. "I need you to keep it together, man. I can't have two of you running around like you've got fucking blood feuds right now."
"Then we need to find our burglar and our arsonist soon because I'm not making any promises." I know Emmett won't either. If he feels for his girl a tenth of what I feel for Molly, nothing is going to stop him from finding the prick who put her at risk.
"Yeah, I know." Dillon shuffles through a stack of papers on his desk. "I may hav—"
My phone rings, cutting him off. I pull it out of my pocket, intending to silence it, only to see my dad's picture flashing on the screen. I've been waiting on his call all damn day. I asked him to help get Molly in at the FBI. If anyone can make it happen, he can.
"Shit. Hold that thought," I mutter to Dillon before swiping to answer. "Hey, Pops."
"Hey, kid. You busy?"
"Little bit. What's up?"
"I won't keep you," he promises. "Just wanted to see if your girl can be in Houston next week. I spoke to the SAC over there. He wants to meet with her about an analyst position."
"Shit. No kidding?"
"No kidding." I hear the smile in my dad's voice. "He'll make time for her. All she has to do is call him to set it up."
"Jesus." I stride forward, snatching a pen and a Post-it from Dillon's desk to take down his number for her. She's either going to kick my ass or love me for this. Not sure which, but she deserves this shot. If some fucking recruiter is standing in her way, fuck him. "What's his number?"
My dad gives it to me, and I quickly jot it down while Dillon watches.
"Thank you," I murmur, grateful as hell that he came through on this. "I owe you for this. I'll make sure Molly calls him."
"Tell her good luck for me." He pauses. "Let me know when to bring your mom out. You know she'll be fucking dying to meet her as soon as she finds out about her."
I chuckle, shoving a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I know. Give me some time to work some shit out here, and then I'll call her." My gaze flickers to Dillon. "We'll have a giant fucking wedding. That should perk her right up."
"Yeah, that'll do it." My dad laughs. "Behave, kid."
"Always."
"You're so full of shit."
He's right. I am full of shit. But he taught me everything I know, so the joke's on him.
"I'll let you get back to it," he says. "Love you. Call your mother. Soon."
"I will. Love you." I hang up, exhaling a breath. Fuck. In one week, Molly's life might change forever. Her big dream may finally come true. I hope like hell that it does. What she's doing now is needed and necessary. She's damn good at it, but it isn't what she wants to do with her life. It isn't where she's meant to be. That brain of hers was made for solving crimes.
"What's up?" Dillon asks, his eyes narrowed on me when I slip my phone and the Post-it into my pocket.
"My dad got Molly a meeting with the SAC at the field office in Houston next week." I meet his gaze, holding it. "Their goddamn recruiter has been holding her back."
"Fucking why?" he asks.
"Some bullshit about her not fitting the mold. Like you need to be a goddamn size two to do the job," I growl. I've been in law enforcement since the minute I turned twenty-one. In that time, I've worked with guys three and four times her size—and they had badges and guns. She's too smart to be held back because some prick has an issue with a beautiful, thick woman. It pisses me off that's the world we still live in. But it is still the world we live in.
I get why she was so fucking hesitant to let me in and trust me. I live in this world the same as she does. I know how it is. I see the same shit she does. But unlike her, I don't have to face the same bullshit every day.
Women may have carved out a spot for themselves in law enforcement, but they've had to fight and claw the whole goddamn way. And while they were doing it, guys like her dad were fucking around while guys like him turned a blind eye, holding them to a different set of standards. It isn't fair or just. It never has been.