“Where’s my Mommy Aug?”Tobi asked.They’d spent the afternoon together, at the nearby county park.Claudia had bundled Tobi up and taken her on a small hiking trail where they could just see the world together and enjoy.But now, Tobi wanted Auggie.She’d been the first, Auggie had said, to call Auggiemommy.
Tobi had insisted on it.Tobi…got antsy…after being away from her sisters for too long.Especially Auggie.They all did.Tyler sisters stuck together.No denying that.
“She’s in here somewhere.We’ll find her.”
“No one taked her away?”
“No.No one took her away.There are just a lot of people in here tonight.”
“Okay.”
The kid lived in fear that someone would take one of her sisters away again.Just like she had been taken away.The way Junie had.
Claudia burned with rage every time she remembered.
Her hand tightened on Tobi’s, as she looked for the section that had most of the kids Tobi’s age.She suspected Auggie would be making her way there.
She couldn’t see her friends anywhere.Of course, with her at five-three, most of the crowd was taller than Claudia.She had just crossed the area filled with tables when she looked up into familiar dark green eyes.
Her heart rate settled when she saw the man smiling down at her now.He was so pretty.
Her eldest brother looked so much like her dad, only taller, broader, and stronger that she sometimes did a double take.Except for the hair—Cal’s hair was as dark as her own.Their father’s was pale blond.Cadell was right behind Cal—cranky as always.
Her father had emailed her from the prison that morning.Asking if she’d come visit him.Saying he loved her and was sorry for what he had done.That he just wanted to see her for a little while.And that he loved her.
She didn’t know what she felt for him.She hadn’t responded.She probably wouldn’t this time either.She hadn’t spoken to him since the day she had stood there and watched him be arrested, watched friends she’d cared about be rushed off, covered inblood.How could she forget the horrible questions that had come after?
He had always been a good father.A great one.That he had also been a criminal…she was still trying to accept that.He had almost killed one of her best friends in the world.Her relationship with Marin had never been the same since, and it never would be.
They barely spoke to each other now.It still hurt so much.
“Hey, I thought you had a special date today?”Calloway asked.Cadell just grunted at her.Something was stuck up his rear-end apparently.Cadell could be a bit of a grump sometimes.Especially in crowds.He was shy, under that scaly exterior of his.
“I did.This is my special date for the whole day.Isn’t Tobi’s dress beautiful?”
Calloway smiled at the little girl.“Yes, Tobi looks beautiful tonight.Very much like Mommy Aug, actually.”
Words guaranteed to win Tobi’s heart forever.All she wanted in the world was to be like Augusta.“You know where my mommy is, Mister Cow-way?”
Claudia snickered at the mispronunciation.Cal just took it in stride.Of course he did—Clancy used to call him that, too.
Tobi was actually talking to him, which surprised Claudia.Tobi hadn’t really spoken to many men in Claudia’s presence.They scared her.A great deal, now.Tobi saw every man as a threat.Except possibly Gil Tyler, Zach—and apparently Cal.
“Your mommy went that way, with the baby, and the little one with glasses.Toward the restroom.About five minutes ago.Em is dancing with Gabe Masterson right now.”Calloway had always been easier with children than Cadell.Probably because of dealing with Clancy.
“The one with glasses is Markie.Marchlyn.The baby is Maeya, but they call her Mae-Mae,” Claudia told him, absently.Looking.“Wow.That’s not Gabe Masterson Em’s dancing with.That’s…that’sQuade Davis.”
A popular Hollywood actor.One Claudia had drooled over herself multiple times.Multiple, multiple times.He was friends with Auggie’s cousin, she thought.
“I could watch a Davis brother all day,” she let slip out.But…while Quade Davis was gorgeous, tall, lean, and dark-haired, it was another tall broad dark-haired, dark eyed man a decade or so older than Mr.Hollywood she couldn’t get out of her head.She was going to have to find a way to deal with IA Commander Ransom Weatherby who thought he was God, soon.
The man was going to cause her some serious problems.
She’d gotten texts from a friend in Cheyenne that he wasasking questionsaboutherthat morning.The man was definitely up to something.
“That’sWonkus McBubbles!What if he’s being bad?”Just like that, Tobi took off.Fast.The little girl darted through the dancers.Straight toward her sister.Before Claudia could stop her.
Tobi threw her arms around Em’s knees and glared a long way up, at the man holding her sister.
