Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Avery stood there for a moment as though she needed time to process.
“Do you need some tea?” Erin asked.
“I think she needs some therapy,” Charlotte quipped. “Or some vodka.”
“I am so confused. Perhaps my family should regroup and find a quiet place to have this discussion,” Avery said.
Ian stood. “I’m sorry, Avery. That’s going to have to wait because our friends are here. Derek, thanks for coming. How bad is it?”
Derek Brighton was a handsome man who’d made his way to the high ranks of the Dallas Police Department. “Well, as I walked in MaeBe told me to let you know she found a bounty on Daisy’s head on the Dark Web. She’s running it down now. I think we need to talk about witness protection.”
Daisy went stiff again.
And Liam O’Donnell finally sat down.
Trouble, it seemed, might just be the thing to bring them all together.
Chapter Eight
Uncle Ian stood, closing his laptop with a long sigh. “So we agree we’ll put Daisy up at Sanctum and we’ll keep a guard with her twenty-four seven until we can figure this situation out.”
The DPD and Dallas district attorney’s office representatives had left mere moments before.
It had been a close one, with her father arguing she should go to London and Captain Brighton defending the joys of witness protection. Uncle Ian had managed to work a compromise. She was going to be stuck in Sanctum for the foreseeable future.
So no job. No sweet little house she got to work on. No future.
Nate would see what it meant to be with her now.
It had been easier when she was sitting on Nate’s lap, surrounded by his warmth, but she’d moved to the seat next to him when the serious discussions had begun. When her da had been staring at her like he didn’t know who she was.
He didn’t, but she’d kind of hoped he never had to.
“I think that’s acceptable.” Her mother seemed determined to be the voice of reason. “It’s actually kind of fitting since when Nate was a baby we stashed his mom and dad there.”
Daisy looked to her mom. “Really?”
“I’ve heard the tale many times,” Nate agreed.
Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. You should tell Daisy the story sometime.”
“Or we should learn from history and understand what can happen when you don’t protect your daughter,” her father said, a frown on his face.
“She ends up happily married for over twenty years with two kids she loves?” Nate asked.
Uncle Ian stood, shaking his head. “O’Donnells, this is where I leave you to handle all your family shit. Daisy, please stay close to Nate. Nate, let me know when you need someone to take a shift or two. We’ll arrange for some days off.”
“Don’t need ’em,” Nate said. “I won’t be leaving her.”
Uncle Ian sighed and took Aunt Charlotte’s hand. She was giving Daisy a grin.
“I’ll let Erin and Devi know what’s going on,” Aunt Charlotte promised. “And I’ll work on finding you something to do while you’re there. If you don’t mind, you could take the Saturday night kid’s club. We’re kind of low on subs willing to hang with the kiddos.”
“I would love to.” It was something she used to adore doing. During high school and college, she’d made a lot of money by handling the kiddos on Friday and Saturday nights. It was probably her favorite job ever.
“I’ll see you then, sweetie.” Charlotte followed Ian out, and she was left alone with her family.
It might have been the longest three hours of her life, and it looked like it wasn’t over. Although maybe she could get out of this. “I think I’m supposed to be taking over the phones this afternoon so the receptionist can have her break.”
Her father’s brows rose. “You think I’m going to let you sit in the lobby? The whole front of the place is glass, girl. There’s a bounty on your head.”
“Liam,” her mother said.
“He’s right in this case.” Nate sat back as though settling in. “The glass is bulletproof, but I don’t want anyone getting a look at her. I’m considering how I’ll get her out of the building in the safest manner possible.”
“The safest manner possible would be putting her on a bloody plane with her family,” her da muttered.
She’d argued for staying at The Hideout, but there had been so many eyerolls she’d known she was going down in defeat.
At least her father wasn’t screaming at Nate anymore. They’d gotten down to growls and dirty looks and some Irish she was grateful Nate didn’t speak.
“Liam, we’re not going to London. Let it go. Daisy, are you okay?” Her mom stared at her from across the conference table.
Daisy simply nodded and forced a bright smile on her face. “I’m good. I can use some time to myself.”
She wasn’t about to tell her mom how useless she felt. Fake it until you make it. It was her motto.