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“I know, kid. I know.” Of course, the kid would be missing that ass father of his. Handy Handley was the only parent the kid had known. Beck was afraid right now. Jarrod tightened his hold. “But Melody and Houghton are really nice people. And they are going to love you forever. You get Hal, too. And all of these people—they love your new mommy and daddy and will be your family, too.”
Kid was damned lucky actually. Even if the money wasn’t a reality, this kid would be lucky. That was something he and good old Handy Handley could finally agree on. Melody Beck was damned for sure worth loving.
Jarrod had loved her himself once. Even if he’d kept that to himself.
She was happy right where she was. With the baboon she’d married.
That man was coming right toward him now, a determined look in his eyes. “Foster, I’ll take him from here.”
“Kid, you ready for this?”
Beck felt so small, even though he was big for his age. But the little boy nodded. And looked at his older brother. “You Hoe-dun.”
“Yes, and you are Beck.”
“Yes. Da—Grandpa say you daddy now.”
“If you want, you can call me Houghton. Or you can call me Daddy. No matter what you call me, Beck, I will always love you and take care of you. I promise.” Houghton held out his hands. “Forever. No matter what.”
Jarrod passed him the kid. And turned back to what was happening behind him.
That damned Gunnar had paused right there in the entryway, Dr. Haldyn Devil Harris still in his arms. Gunnar had a panicked look on his face. Her friends had surrounded them, cutting off Jarrod’s line of sight.
Gunnar was trapped.
They were doing that chattering thing, where all they did was ask each other a million questions at once. So fast none of them could even answer.
He would never understand women.
Especially these women. Even Charlotte the demon was back. She must have flown back from Wyoming while he had been at the hospital with Haldyn.
Of course, she had. The ladies of the lab and their cronies stuck together, no matter what. Haldyn was the queen, these were her court. No one messed with that.
He looked toward the guy who had come in behind him.
Daniel, of course.
Ready to coddle his precious Haldyn here in the billionaire’s castle. Just keep the queen in the tower, hidden from the trolls, while Daniel slayed all her dragons. Jarrod was just the handy knight at arms, of course, ready to die to protect the queen.
“Now what?” Jarrod knew what the next steps would normally be. She’d given them some leads to follow: Handley Barratt. Four or five men, probably TSP, and a boss. That was a start.
“Get settled in. You and Gunnar are staying as close to them as you can get for now. I need people I trust completely to guard them now. For as long as it takes.”
Jarrod bit back the urge to swear.
But, hell, Daniel had that look in his eyes. That one that said his mind was made up. Jarrod would admit it—there weren’t many in the TSP he’d fully trust to watch Haldyn right now either. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her again. Not on his watch.
The queen needed guarded. He was going to do it.
13
Daryn and Shelby fussed over her, Powell and Madison practically clung. Charlotte and Zoey were more angry than anything. That there weren’t more answers mostly.
Haldyn was more concerned about Powell than herself. Powell scared easily. Even if she’d never show that to the outside world. Haldyn studied how her friend moved for a moment. Powell was sore, from being knocked down and almost dragged away by the abductors. “Handley was just there, out of nowhere.”
“I’m glad he was,” Powell said in a shaky voice. “If he hadn’t been, we may never have gotten you back.”
Haldyn was well aware of that fact. “He said he saw you and just watched you for a minute. He misses you.”
