“That sounds like a great idea, Sweets.”
We all played well into the night, long after the Mexican food was gone and my sweet girl had fallen asleep in my arms. No one wanted to leave just yet. When Chase won the last hand, we finally called it a night. After carrying Rebekah back to our room, I stripped down and held her close. Tonight was the start of our new beginning, one that wouldn’t be filled with heartache and pain.
I droveus into the office a few days later because, sadly, the world didn’t stop just because we needed a break. Rebekah sat quietly beside me in the truck, picking at her fingers. That was the only true sign of worry that she gave me. This would be the first time she had been back to the office since the incident with the van.
“We won’t be long, okay, baby. Just a few hours is all.”
“I know, Daddy. I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will, Sweets. You’re strong and brave.”
She gave me one of the sweet smiles I adored. After parking the truck, we made our way inside and to my office. Rebekah dropped onto the couch, immediately pulling the blanket over her and turning on her Kindle. She would be set for a few hours, and I could catch up on some much-needed paperwork.
The case we left in the middle of when Rebekah had called was still wide open. Even though Seth gave the police the break we found, they had hit another roadblock. Because none of us wanted to leave again, we were working remotely and trying our best to help close up the case with the locals on scene.
There was a knock at my door. Glancing up, I came face-to-face with eyes that looked awfully familiar. “Can I help you?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I intend on finding out.”
I shot a look toward where Rebekah was sitting. She had felt the shift in the room and immediately was on alert.
“Sweets, why don’t you go see if Seth is up to playing some games on the big screen?”
“’Kay. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
The stranger eyed her as she left the room, and my instincts went on high alert.
“What can I help you with?”
The man walked over and sat in the seat in front of my desk.
“Well, I guess the real question is, what will it take for you to stop investigating the case you have open against me?”
I didn’t think I’d heard him correctly.
“I’m not sure what you are talking about. What did you say your name was again?”
“I’m Donovan Costello.”
My eyes widened because I did know that name, and he had just confirmed every thought that was running through my mind. The man we had been searching for on our previous case was sitting in my office without a care in the world.
Donovan was the head of the Costello family. A well-known mafia family who had been stirring up trouble in our area. We had been trying to connect the murders in Raveport to him for months. That was why we had left town.
“Ah, I see you do know what I’m talking about.” Donovan said.
“You’re who we’ve been searching for, yet it seems like you’ve found us with ease. I wonder why that is.”
“I am a man of many talents, one of those being able to evade when I need to.”
“Imagine my surprise that the moment we get a break in the case, we are called away. Maybe you can help fill in the missing blanks. What do you want with my girl, and why is she a pawn in your game?” I said, raising an eyebrow at the man sitting in front of me.
Donovan looked puzzled. I was almost inclined to believe that he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Rebekah isn’t a pawn in my game. She’s my daughter.”
There was no fucking way. But the more that I looked at this man in front of me, the more I saw the resemblance. He could still be playing me, but he didn’t seem like the man who would just lie for the shock factor.
