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He’s a good teacher.
Plus, he’s super affectionate and usually ends up praising me with kisses and hugs. The other guys, when we’re shooting, just hand me new guns to try.
“Good girl,” Leo says, taking my weapon from me and setting it on our card table we dragged out here. Then, he pulls me into his arms. “How are you doing?”
I look into his green eyes and frown. “I’m fine. Why?”
“You’re just quiet the last couple of days,” he says, worry etched on his handsome face.
Tearing my stare from his, I look past him into the thicket of woods. It’ll be dark soon and the wind is picking up, warning of an impending storm. The weatherman predicted the rain would turn into sleet and potentially snow. I shiver against Leo’s warm chest. His palms find my ass through my jeans and he squeezes.
“Clove.”
I wince. “I just miss Dad.”
He strokes his fingers through my ponytail. “I know you do.”
“When can I talk to him? It’s been weeks.”
He stiffens. “You’ll have to ask Seb.”
Tilting my head back up to meet his stare, I search his expression for answers.
“Why? What’s going on? What aren’t you all telling me?” I demand, anger burning up inside me.
He lets out a heavy sigh. “We’re just investigating some leads. And…” His features soften. “We don’t think the car was supposed to actually hit you. Just appear to try.”
“So, I’m not in danger? A stunt? Like you said before back at the cabin?” I shake my head, confused.
“Some shit points to your dad that we need to look further into.”
Both my eyebrows shoot up. “You think my dad has something to do with this?”
“We don’t know,” he utters. “But telling him where you’re at before we’ve had time to gather the intel we need, none of us is willing to risk it. You’re safe with us.”
“He’s my father,” I grit out. “Your theory is ludicrous.”
“Look at the bigger picture, sweetness. He’s so focused on his career and paying someone to attempt to run you over is good for his image—”
“Fuck you, Leo,” I hiss back.
I push away from him and stalk away. He calls after me, but I ignore him as I storm up to the house, leaving him to carry the guns and ammo back by himself.
How dare he? How dare them!
My father may be incredibly focused on his career, but he would never willingly pay someone to hurt me. He wouldn’t even pay them to pretend. If this is my guys’ intel, they’ve lost their touch, because it’s inaccurate. Dad loves me.
I’m about to run up the steps to go into the house when a soccer ball rolls toward me from out of nowhere. I stop it with my boot and look around. A kid with shaggy, dark hair peers from behind the Tahoe, a curious look in his blue eyes.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hey there,” I say, then smile at him. “Where did you come from?” My eyes dart all around, looking for another car that could have brought this kid here. Nothing.
“Have you seen my mommy?” he asks, stepping out and moping.
I kick his ball back to him. “What does she look like?”
“Like an angel,” he says with a grin. “Yellow hair and pretty smile.”
Rachel? She has a kid…
“I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Want to come inside and get a snack while we wait for her?” I ask, swallowing the anxiety clawing at the back of my throat, and reach out my hand to him.
He walks over and slides his palm into mine. The kid can’t be any more than six or seven. Why is he roaming about all alone? He’s not Sebastian’s. He would have told me. When we go inside, the guys are nowhere to be found. If I had to guess, they’re all in Seb’s office. They’ve converted it into a command center of sorts. It’s where they discuss “my safety.” All this time, I’d assumed it was from outside forces. But from what Leo says, they worry about my dad being responsible.
That idea sickens me.
I’m furious they’d even insinuate such a thing.
I’m fuming by the time we make it into the kitchen. I pick the boy up and set him on the island.
“I’m Clove. What’s your name?”
“Seth.” My heart almost falls from my mouth when he lingers on the Se…
“That’s a nice name. What do you want to eat, Seth?”
He scrunches up his nose. “Do you have Oreos?”
These guys are health freaks. We definitely don’t have Oreos.
“No, but I think there might be some strawberries left. You like strawberries?”
He nods and I set to pulling them out of the fridge. I cut them into halves and put them in a bowl for him. While he happily eats his strawberry pieces, I look at him. He’s cute, which is no surprise if he’s Rachel’s son, but he doesn’t look like her. His hair is darker and he just seems too sweet to be hers.
