Same weird message.
I played it again, making sure to write down the number that time, while a dark, heavy weight settled in the pit of my gut.
Why the hell would a social worker from Children and Family Services in Nebraska be trying to contact my brother?
Taking a seat, I grabbed my phone and clicked on my brother’s name. It rang a few times before I got his voicemail.
Fuck.
I disconnected the call, then dialed again. He didn’t answer, so I tried another time, and another until finally the call clicked in, and Callum’s voice whispered, “What the fuck, Donny? I’m about to board a fucking plane to Belfast.”
“Houston,” I drawled. “We have a problem.”
“Deal with it then,” he snapped.
“Had a call from Nebraska. A social worker from Children and Family Services is trying to get ahold of you.”
“What for?” he demanded.
“How the hell am I supposed to know?”
I heard his sigh through the line. “Gimme her number.”
“I’ll send you the message,” I informed him. “Call me back.”
After five minutes, a few slugs of coffee, and a lot of pacing, my cell phone finally pealed. I saw it was Callum and hit the green button, clicking it straight onto speaker. “You okay?”
“I dunno,” he croaked. “Can you come to the airport and pick us up? We gotta go to Nebraska. They’re saying I’ve got a daughter. We’re postponing the honeymoon until we can find out what’s going on.”
I tipped my head back and heaved a breath. “What the fuck, Cal? Is Maeve okay? Does she know?”
“Of course she knows,” he rasped. “Last time I kept something big from her, it almost broke us. I’ve learned my lesson.” The phone rustled, and then my sister-in-law’s voice came over the line. “Donovan. Can you hurry? We’ve got to get to Nebraska, but Callum’s in no fit state to drive, and there are no rental cars available anyway.”
“Are you good, Mae?” I asked earnestly.
“Yeah.” She let out a small snort. “I think I’m better than hubby right now. He’s gone white as a ghost.”
“Right,” I muttered, checking my pocket for my keys and grabbing my phone from the table. “I’ll pick you up outside the airport. Give me thirty.”
“Thanks,” Maeve murmured. “I’m gonna go. I think Callum’s about to pass out.”
I couldn’t help smiling wryly. I knew my brother well, so I was aware of how much of a blow this would be. “Won’t be long, Mae, and don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”
Pocketing my phone, I headed down the stairs, throwing a wave to the guys in the gym as I walked through reception and headed outside to my truck.
Within seconds, I was navigating the road out of town. I threw my shades on to protect my eyes against the bright morning sunlight and stepped on the gas. I needed to get to my brother and Maeve, especially since I knew how useless he was in a crisis.
I was gutted for him, but at the same time, I already knew my sister-in-law would be rallying. Mae was as strong-minded as they came, and I was happy my brother had a woman who could cope under pressure, because if Callum turned out to be the daddy, then one thing was for sure.
He’d be well and truly fucked.
CHAPTER 6
ROSIE
“I’m telling ya,” Tristan said, eyes widening with excitement as he looked at me through the salon mirror. “Fly guy drove outta there like a bat outta hell, all grey track pants, white wifebeater, Nike white-and-grey Air Max 95 sneakers, and fuckboy vibes. As he drove past, he shoved his sunglasses on, and I almost had a cock hemorrhage; he looked so damned hot.” My friend stood back from the chair where he’d just given my hair a huge ass blowout and fanned his face exaggeratedly while giving me big eyes.
“Donovan is probably one of the best-looking men I’ve ever laid eyes on,” Layla said from behind the reception desk in a matter-of-fact tone.
