"So he said no again?" I sat at the kitchen table with my mother, mother in law and Char. They'd come as soon as I told them what Colt the dolt had done...again. It's not that I don't know he's dealing with horrible stuff. Between Cierra, the wives of the SEALs and the women on Law's ranch, I've been learning plenty, more than I would've before meeting them. But I don't see what any of that has to do with my kid."Yep! No explanation, just no.""What about the prom? She was so excited." I shook my head at mom as I drummed my fingers on the table. Tonight, when me, and the girls have our nightly convo I'm going to have to push hard for them to come up with some ideas on how to get my girl what she wants. It's not like she's asking to run away to the jungle or some crap. The child just wants to go to school, something all parents everywhere in the world would be proud of, except Colt the dolt. "That's it, we're not having a repeat of last year. I let
Twice I'd left her sleeping with Facetime open, and came back to watch her sleep until the sun came up and she didn't have a clue that I'd been gone. That's the only stipulation I made when I went all in with Mancini. No matter what, I have to be there in the evenings for our nightly chats. He's been pretty good with that stuff so far. In the evenings after class I get my homework out of the way, sometimes here in my dorm, sometimes at the desk Jace had set up for me in his tenth floor office. Then we'd spend a few hours working on whatever Mancini had going on, before it was time to head back here to call her. It isn't always easy keeping the new me hidden from her, especially after I'd just come from spending hours pouring over some horror that yet another young girl had endured. But I could feel the changes all the same. It's like I'm slowly becoming someone else. And each time I see her face, each time we talk, I can't help but wonder what all of this have
He wasn't lying, the building had every amenity anyone could possibly need, including a fully equipped gym, a food bank that literally stocked everything in it, something I've never seen before in my life. It's like their own personal supermarket. There's an entertainment floor with a movie theatre, bowling alley, indoor basketball court, a tennis court, swimming pool, you name it, it's here, and they want me to just move right on in, free of charge. It's nuts. My family might be rich, but these people are wealthy. I've been around wealthy before, Colton Lyon is known to be one of the wealthiest men in our state, though he doesn't show it by any stretch of the imagination. The man gave his wife a fortune five hundred company as a wedding gift, need I say more? But I can honestly say I've never seen wealth portrayed the way Jace Saunders does it. Not that he flaunts his shit, no; it's more like he has it so he puts it to good use. I get the feeling though that it
"Colton, don't forget you have an appointment at the school today. I told them you'll be there in the afternoon so...""Why am I going there again? Which one of your kids fucked up?""The principal didn't say it was anything like that, just that she needed to speak to you about something important." "And I'm the one going because...""They said it had to be you. Of course I can pack up the four kids and the dog and head over there if you're too busy. Besides, Hank and Cierra are coming this evening and this place is a mess."She's been in a pissy mood for the past coupla days, ever since I had the talk with Caitlin in fact. Not only her, but mom and her hen pack have had a lot to say. My damn house has been like a deep freeze; only Cody and the trips haven't been giving me shit. Even Mengele has been looking at me side eyed like I need her shit. My sons are never too interested in shit unless it involves them, so I'm pretty sure they don't have a clue w
She was back peddling fast because this time I did make it out of my chair. "Where's my kid?""Caitlin is fine, that's not why we called you here today." Do these fucks have any idea what this shit does to a man? To hear that some fuck happened to his kid on their watch?"Lady, if you don't start making sense this is not going to end well." I retook my seat before she cried foul or some fuck. She looks like the type to make up some shit and the asshole cops around here stay knowing that I would indeed fuck anyone's shit up man or woman. And kids over the age of sixteen. Males...fucking fucknuts. "Okay, this all started a few weeks ago when this young man by the name of Brian started...well, I guess he was trying to talk to Caitlin. He asked her to the prom I guess. When she showed her disinterest and told him no his feelings got hurt and he...well he started making unkind comments...""Mr. Lyon!" This time she had to put herself in harm's way to keep me in
I made it just in time from the airport to the school. I'd handed in my last paper a few hours ago before hopping on Jace's private plane that he so kindly offered at the end of the house tour the night before after I moved in. My original plan was to drive back so that I would have my ride with me for the summer, but that would've taken too long and I might've ran the risk of missing the opportunity for what I had planned so I was more than happy to take him up on his offer instead of having to fly commercial. I'm no longer freaked by the amount of wealth these guys have, or the generosity with which they are willing to share it. But if it wasn't for her I probably would've turned down the plane ride, that's just too much. But with no layovers I knew I'd be here just in time to meet the bell, which works out perfectly for what I have in mind. I need to nip this shit in the bud before anyone else steps in; like her dad or her brothers. This is mine to do!
Caitie hadn't mentioned going away to college again in our last few conversations, and I figured her parents hadn't given her the okay as yet so didn't bring it up. Though she's been a bit down the last couple of nights on the phone, I just put that down to that asshole Brian messing with her. So I'd wanted to have a talk with Mr. Lyon to try to convince him that it was okay, that I was more than capable of taking care of her. Now he's caught me picking up his daughter from school without his permission. Not sure how that's gonna go over. "Your dad's behind us.""What, where?" She almost broke her neck looking back before turning around again. I didn't like the look on her face when she did. "Something wrong?" "I'll tell you when we get to the house." Catalina made a weird sound from the backseat and I caught her eye in the rearview mirror. She put her finger to her lips and shook her head before turning around in her seat to wave at her dad. We reache
I found my girl in her room coming out of the shower and almost broke my neck running back out again. "Todd?""Get dressed Caitie, I'll wait out here." The last thing I need is for him to come up here and see us like this with her wrapped in nothing more than a towel. It's a testament to the strength of my respect for her and him that I didn't even try to peek. When I think about it, we have a strange dynamic at work here. After spending the last few months around Jace and the others, witnessing all that heat and passion among people that are younger than myself, it amazes me that I can still hold it together. Some people may think that I'm a chump; that I'm not man enough; they may even question whether or not I really do love this girl as much as I'm willing to drag my feet. I have no doubts about my feelings for her, and after the way my heart reacted to seeing her this afternoon I'm even more sure that I'd die before I lose her. But deep down insid