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One of my brows shot up. Had he conceded that easily?
“You’ll start immediately. I expect you to dress and conduct yourself like a Hollingsworth.”
It occurred to me the man had on a suit late in the evening as he worked from home.Never take off the armor.
“In other words, don’t embarrass you,” I said snidely.
He remained unmoved by my attitude. As if he expected it. “The standard ismuchhigher for my son.”
“Lincoln more than measures up.”
“I was referring to you.”
Internally, I jolted. He didn’t treat me like a father should a son. There was no respect between us. Nothing but hatred and bitterness.
“I’m not your son anymore.”
His gaze was intense as he looked at me.
“You’ll always be my boy.”
Chapter Fifteen
Pepper
“This isn’t likehim to disappear.”
Beau fisted the side of her flowy skirt.
“He’s not required to report his every move to us.” Lincoln paced in front of the reception desk.
“You’re the one who started this panic,” she pointed out.
“I don’t think your father would harm him.” Miss Adeline had been unusually quiet all day. With all the frenzy, I hadn’t had time to consider it. But she wasn’t herself.
“We don’t know what he’s capable of,” Lincoln argued.
I had an idea. But while I was in Mr. Hollingsworth’s presence, I never had the impression he wanted to hurt me. Intimidate? Frighten? Absolutely.
If physical harm was his aim, he’d had the chance. Although, if he’d felt roughing me up would’ve made me do as he wished, he might have taken that step. Thank goodness it hadn’t come to that.
Everyone jumped at the sound of Lincoln’s phone. He answered in point two seconds.
He turned his back as he listened to whoever was on the other end.
“Thank you,” he said before he shoved the phone back into his pocket and sagged against the desk. “He was at Dad’s house.”
Beau’s eyes rounded. “Teague hasn’t been there since he graduated from college.”
The concern in her voice heightened mine.
Lincoln fished out his phone again. “I’m calling him.”
“Dad?”
He rolled his eyes. “Teague.”
Lincoln had been here a couple hours. Not long after he’d arrived, Beau showed up. It seemed instead of a dog rescue, we were running a search party headquarters.
