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Disgust, anger and disappointment all took turns washing over Payne’s rugged face. He glared at his daughter. “How could you?” he accused.
Marlowe squared her shoulders. “I’m a grown woman, Dad, as well as your daughter. I think you already know the answer to that,” she told him, doing her best to hold it together and not fall apart in light of his heated disapproval.
The disappointment she saw in her father’s eyes cut her to the quick, but she wasn’t about to show him that by flinching or apologizing. It was already hard enough for her to try to deal with what she had done in the heat of the moment—and the consequences that single action had produced. Attempting to atone for it for her father’s sake was out of the question.
Payne turned on his heel and marched over to Bowie. For one tense, horrible moment, Marlowe was afraid that her father was going to punch the other man out—or at least try to.
There did appear to be an inner struggle going on.
But then Payne growled, “If I hear even a hint that you’re not treating her exactly the way my daughter deserves to be treated, I will hunt you down no matter what rock you’re hiding under and gut you like a pig.” Payne then turned toward Callum and issued an order. “Let’s go. I’m through here.”
But Callum had never acted like his father’s lapdog, and Marlowe knew he was not about to start now. “I’ll be there in a minute, Dad,” he said.
Payne fumed. “In some places this would be called consorting with the enemy,” he angrily informed Marlowe’s twin.
“And in some places it’s called being a family,” Callum countered.
Payne said something that was biting as well as callous under his breath just before he walked out, slamming the door in his wake.
“I’d better go, too,” the chief said to nobody in particular. Whenever he was around Payne Colton, he took all his cues from the man.
“Thanks for coming so quickly,” Marlowe said.
“Of course,” the chief responded, and then he left, as well.
Callum looked at his sister. “He’ll come around, Mar,” her twin promised.
“You’re a lot more optimistic than I am right now,” Marlowe told her brother.
Callum turned toward Bowie. “You really think that bullet was meant for my sister?” he asked Bowie.
“I do,” Bowie answered, evidently prepared to be peppered with more questions.
Instead, Callum told him, “Then take her up to our cabin in the mountains, but make sure that you’re not being followed when you go. If you are followed by someone looking to take either one of you out, the isolated location will only act against you.”
She had never taken to having other people make decisions affecting her. “Callum, I can’t go with him to our cabin,” she protested. “There’s too much to do. That email—” Marlowe began.
But her brother immediately cut her protest short.
“Listen, you have just one major thing to focus on right now—this baby that you’re carrying. You need to make that a priority in addition to work. Work will go on whether or not you’re there. Maybe not as well,” he allowed, “but it will go on. However, there is no question that this baby needs you, and it needs the healthiest version of you that you can possibly provide—because without you, that baby won’t be able to go on.”
Marlowe shook her head. “But, Callum, there is a crisis and—”
“And I will handle it for both of us,” he assured her. “The rest of the family is all joining forces to try to get to the bottom of this. Now I know you’re really good, but you have to admit that even you don’t equal the five of us. So go to that cabin with Bowie and take care of my niece or nephew for the next couple of days until things calm down a little—and that’s an order,” he told her. “Do I make myself clear?” he asked his sister.
“Perfectly,” Marlowe answered just before she threw her arms around Callum and hugged him for all she was worth. “You’re the best.”
“I know,” Callum answered with a grin.
“But you will call me if you hit a snag?” she asked, watching her brother’s face for her answer.
“I won’t hit a snag,” Callum told her.
“That’s not what I just asked,” Marlowe pointed out with a touch of exasperation.
“Yes, I will call you if I hit a snag,” Callum told her in a singsong voice.
She still had her doubts, but for now this would have to do. “All right, then, you’d better go and join Dad in the car. You know how surly he gets whenever he’s kept waiting.”
