Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Great. Good to know. Sub-contracting to kill Effie? Fine. Kidnapping Brooks? Not fine.
“So this man will take care of the shooter and Steven Ford, Brooks’ uncle,” The Fox reiterated. “But you need to know there’s more.”
“What?” Steele asked.
“My this friend of the hitman has been interrogating the uncle. He just sent me an update. The uncle is a dumbass. Small-time criminal. The mother was the one pulling the strings. She’s up for parole soon.”
“Why does she want Brooks?” Steele asked, convinced it wasn’t due to motherly love. Why would she go to the extreme of killing Effie and kidnapping Brooks?
“Apparently, this guy called Leopold Burns, fucking weird name, was a close friend of Tanya and Steven’s father. So close that they both called him uncle. According to Steven, Tanya was infatuated with this guy. She fabricated this story in her head about how they were in love. Turns out, he didn’t agree. When he told her that, Steven reckons she lost it and tried to go after him with a carving knife. He didn’t press charges, but he cut her from his life. However, he must’ve been keeping tabs on her . . . that part is a bit murky . . . because he somehow found out about Brooks. When he died, Tanya still thought he’d leave her all his money. But in a weird twist, it seems Burns didn’t have any children so he left his money to Brooks. My guess is he left it to Brooks because he’s Tanya’s son, and therefore, a descendant of his best friend. But he wouldn’t leave it to Tanya and Steven because they’re fucked-up assholes.”
“What the fuck?” Steele whispered.
“Yeah. Tanya and Steven hired a lawyer and paid him off so he didn’t contact your girl about the money he left Brooks. Instead, Tanya wanted Steven to get custody of Brooks so they could get access to the money.”
Fucking bitch.
He closed his eyes. It was going to hurt telling Brooks this.
“What about Wolfe?”
“What about Wolfe?” the Fox repeated.
“Did he have anything to do with this?”
“What am I? A magic genie? I can’t answer all your questions for you. I’ve got to go. Left a naughty Little one at home in need of a spanking.”
“Fox? Fox?” Steele called out. Then he bit back his pride. “Thanks!”
“He’s gone,” Ink said. “Let’s get you to your girl.”
Fuck. Finally.
He needed to see with his own eyes that she was all right.
The drive to Ink’s security company was done in silence. Steele got a text from Grady saying he’d meet them there.
Ink led him into a meeting room, where he saw Effie huddled between Betsy and Millie. As soon as she saw him, she got up and raced toward him. “What’s going on? Are we safe? Are you okay?”
He drew her in tight against him, holding her as she shook with fear.
Fuck.
He hated that she’d been so scared. Kissing the top of her head, he rocked her back and forth.
“It’s all right, baby. Don’t shake. We’re safe. We’re fine.”
“Where’s Grady?” she asked.
“He’s coming. Shh, baby girl. Shh.” Picking her up, he carried her to the sofa where she’d been sitting.
The other girls jumped up and went to their men. Royal and Baron were sitting at the table with Brooks. But Brooks was watching Effie worriedly.
Steele sat with her on his lap.
“I need Grady too. I was so worried, Daddy.”
Shit. She wasn’t going to like that she’d called him that in front of Brooks when she realized it later. But the kid just gave him a small nod.
Right.
“She needs Slowly,” Brooks said as she shook in his arms.
“Grady is bringing him.” Standing again, he cradled her into his chest and rocked her back and forth while patting her back.
That seemed to calm her down slightly.
Then Grady slammed into the room, looking stressed, his hair on end, his clothes mused.
He’d never seen the other man look like that.
Effie turned in his arms. “Grady!” She tried to throw herself at him, but Steele tightened his hold.
“Effie! Careful!” he warned.
Grady rushed to her, gathered her into his chest, and after giving her Slowly, began whispering to her. Steele reluctantly let her go before moving in behind her.
“Is it over? Are we safe?” Brooks asked.
Steele held out an arm to him, uncertain if he’d take the offer. But the kid rushed toward him, joining them.
“It’s over. We have to be careful for a bit until loose ends are tied up. But we’re going to be okay.”
“Was it my uncle?” Brooks asked, pulling away.
“Let’s all sit down,” Ink suggested.
They all sat at the table with Effie on Grady’s lap. Spike studied him for a moment, then turned to Steele and gave him a grin. Spike knew Grady being this way with Effie was big.
Steele sat with Brooks next to him. “It was your uncle. And your mom.” He went through everything they’d discovered but didn’t say it had come from the Fox. That was to protect Brooks, although it was obvious the twins knew about the Fox.