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**
I’m coming with you.
Bold words spoken by a mother yearning for her child. Parker knew where Cadence was coming from, but he also knew it was the most impractical thing she’d ever said to him. There was no place for her in this high stakes operation.
He shook his head. “Absolutely not, Cadence. There’s no way I can bring you with me. That’s not the way I operate when I’m in the field. It had all the earmarks of a volatile situation. Logan may very well be in harm’s way and I can’t allow both of you to be in jeopardy.”
She tilted her chin up in a gesture of defiance. He knew it well. Whenever Cadence was about to get feisty, this is what it looked like. Almost as if on cue, she folded her arms across her chest. Pig-headed. Defiant. Major attitude. He wanted to be annoyed at her, but the truth was he’d always loved her sassy side.
“Yes, I’m coming. I’m not budging an inch on this. Think about it, Parker. You might need me. Logan doesn’t know you. And I know Mason.” She visibly shuddered. “I know what makes him tick. Lord knows I know how his mind works, especially when he’s being vengeful.”
Suddenly, Parker didn’t have a single reasonable objection. Cadence was right. Her presence would be invaluable.
“You make a lot of great points,” Parker conceded. “I’m not making any promises, but it makes a lot of sense as long as we can keep you at a safe distance from Price.”
Cadence nodded, appearing surprised by his willingness to be flexible.
The sound of a door slamming closed followed by heavy footsteps drew both their attention toward the foyer.
“Hey, Parker. I’m here,” Jason called out.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Parker said in a raised voice. It suddenly dawned on him that he’d told Jason virtually nothing over the phone. His brother had no clue he’d be coming face-to-face with Cadence upon arriving at Parker’s home. Parker knew Jason well enough to know that his brother’s protective instincts would be on full display.
“What’s going on?” Jason asked as he entered the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks as his gaze fell upon Cadence. A look of confusion was stamped on his expressive face. Jason turned toward Parker. “What is she doing here?” he spit out, anger infused in his question.
Parker held up his hands. He understood Jason’s feelings. He’d felt the same way when he had seen her earlier this evening. But so much had changed since then. Now he knew with a deep certainty that she had only tracked him down for one pressing reason. Their son. It was way bigger than both of them.
“Hold on, Jason. There’s a lot going on you don’t know about,” he said.
Jason made a scoffing sound. “I’m not sure I even want to know.” He glared at Cadence. “After everything she put you through, I’m not sure why she’s sitting here at your kitchen counter.”
Cadence’s eyes were wide. She looked incredibly uncomfortable.
“She’s here for something that’s bigger than the both of us and our past relationship.” Parker sucked in a steadying breath. He knew he was about to rock Jason’s world with his admission. “She came here because her ex-husband kidnapped her son.”
Jason let out a startled sound. Parker knew underneath the fierce demeanor his brother had a soft heart, especially when it came to children.
He cast his gaze on Cadence. “I’m sorry to hear that, but it shouldn’t have anything to do with Parker.”
Parker walked toward Jason, quickly swallowing up the distance between them. He locked gazes with his brother. “Jason. It has everything to do with me. Cadence’s son is mine. He’s a Donahue.”
Jason’s eyes widened. He let out a shocked sound. He shook his head. “You actually believe that?”
“I do,” Parker said in a curt voice. “I’ve seen his picture. He’s the spitting image of me. No question about it. I’m Logan’s father.”
“Logan? Is that his name?” Jason asked. Parker nodded. He couldn’t help but smile. Despite the terrifying circumstances, he was tickled to be a father.
“How old is he?” Jason asked, obviously still trying to piece things together. An investigator to the core, Parker knew Jason was working through all the information Parker was throwing at him.
“He’s two-and-a-half,” Cadence said. She was looking at Jason with wide eyes. Jason’s disapproval of Cadence and the situation was bouncing off him in waves. Parker felt his protective instincts kicking into high gear, which annoyed him to no end. He wasn’t Cadence’s protector anymore. She’d lost that right a long time ago.
“I can’t believe this!” Jason muttered, sinking down into a kitchen chair.
Parker took several minutes to catch Jason up to speed on the circumstances of Logan’s abduction by Mason Price. Cadence didn’t say much. Parker got the impression she felt a sense of relief that he was explaining everything to Jason. From the way Jason had been glaring at her, he didn’t blame Cadence for allowing him to take the lead.
Cadence reached for her phone and pulled up a picture of Logan. She handed it over to Jason, whose jaw dropped as he looked at the screen. “I don’t blame you for hating me, Jason. But I hope your feelings toward me won’t jeopardize your willingness to help.”
“I’ll always have Parker’s back,” Jason said. “And Logan’s. I’ll do whatever is necessary to bring him back to you. And for the record, hate isn’t in my vocabulary.”
