Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Sam kept an eye on her father. His training taught him what to look for, and the older man’s expression never registered shock, surprise, anger, or anything else he knew she’d expected over her accusations.
“You already know!” Nicole exclaimed, proving what Sam already knew.
She was smart. Savvy. And one hell of a strong woman to have been raised by this cold, unfeeling man and still come out the warm, sweet woman he loved.
Loved?
Shit. This was not the time for revelations, he thought, breaking into a cold sweat.
“I didn’t know specifics, but I suspected something was wrong when I noticed the books were off. That and Robert’s been acting strangely, clearly nervous and hiding things. I hired a forensic accountant to look into things.” He straightened his tie. “You said Tyler knows too?”
Nicole nodded. “I suggest you talk to him. The police are aware as well, and that’s why I’m here. I wanted to give you a heads-up before they pay you a visit.”
He sent her an appreciative look, which was as much emotion as Sam suspected the man was capable of, Sam thought in disgust.
He’d never treat his child like a business associate or inconvenience, which was exactly what this man was doing to his daughter. And she accepted it, clearly used to the dynamic. Sam wasn’t, and his stomach churned. He wasn’t sure if it was because he’d just thought about the idea of how he’d handle a kid of his own, something he’d never contemplated even in passing before, or because the notion settled in his heart. And stayed there.
“Well, I’m certainly not going to jail because Robert’s gotten reckless and greedy.” He straightened his tie. “However, I did not know anything about what you heard or that he’d let those animals loose on you.”
Sam stiffened at the reminder of the Russians and any danger. He hoped like hell the DEA bust and round of arrests had gone down as planned.
“I know that, Dad.”
“No, I don’t think you did, or you would have come to me long before now.”
Guilt flashed across Nicole’s face, which infuriated Sam on her behalf. “Maybe if she thought you gave a shit about her, she’d have brought her problems to you instead of thinking she had to handle them herself,” he said, unable to rein in his anger any longer.
“Sam—” Nicole placed a warning hand on his arm, but he was finished letting anyone treat her with cold dismissiveness.
“Excuse me, but I’d say this is between me and my daughter,” her father said with an air of authority and entitlement.
Oh hell no, Sam thought. “Considering I’m the one keeping her safe, I’d say you’d better include me in the conversation. You’re lucky she cares enough to warn you. I wouldn’t have been so generous. Now tell me what you plan to do to make sure your partner can’t use his connections to hurt Nicole.”
Paul Farnsworth stepped back and studied Sam, suddenly seeing him as someone worth assessing. “What are your intentions toward my daughter?” he asked, surprising Sam by turning the conversation to the personal.
“That’s between me and Nicole.” Sam couldn’t help but play this man’s game. He didn’t like him or his smug arrogance, but mostly he didn’t like how he treated Sam’s woman.
He reached out and snagged Nicole’s hand. Let the man take that as an answer. As of this moment, Sam was claiming her, at least in his mind. He’d take the time to sort through what that meant for him later.
For now, he’d deal with the situation at hand. “I asked you a question about how you intend to protect your daughter.” He looked the other man in the eye without backing down.
* * *
Nicole couldn’t believe Sam was engaging her father. For her. She couldn’t help but wonder what it meant that he would. Until now, Sam was adamant about not wanting a serious future but here he’d all but claimed her.
“I’ll call the police myself and cooperate,” her father said, taking Nicole by surprise. “If they have the evidence from Tyler and me to arrest my partner, that should protect Nicole.” He spoke to Sam as if she weren’t in the room, his tone bland, as if he were discussing a business deal, which was the way he always acted toward her.
Her father was the iceman. That had been Vicky’s name for him growing up, and she hadn’t been wrong. To have Sam, who came from a perfect family—loving, caring, kind—see her treated like that was both humiliating and embarrassing.
She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, unwilling and unable to face him.
“When this is all over, I’ll talk to Tyler and see what we can salvage businesswise,” her father continued. Because after all, that was what mattered most to him. Business. Not his daughters.
Finally, he turned his gaze on her. “Now Nicole, I suggest you and your friend head back to Serenity—”