“Wake them now, we have business to discuss.” Cubby sighed. “But okay, they do look cute. Nice to see him undone, don’t you think? All weak and pathetic over a woman.”
“I’ve never been weak and pathetic, and I’ll make you retract that statement when I get out of here.” Newman opened his eyes. Hope woke too, stretching. When she was done, he sat them both upright.
“You have the keys, pretty boy.”
“I do. Now tell me why the hell you’re all lined up outside the cell. Unless you’re shooting an episode ofThe Truman Show, you can piss off.”
“We need to let you know where we’re at on the investigation, and I have food,” Buster said, nudging the others aside to hand coffee through the bars.
“Anyone else here?” Newman said, lifting Hope from between his legs to sit beside him. He rose and took the coffee, handing her a cup.
“Both Linears are at the Wildlife base. The governor has gone back to Brook, no doubt to start making more problems for me,” Cubby said.
“I’m so sorry, Cubby, for bringing you so much trouble,” Hope said.
“Don’t be. Those assholes annoyed me, and it felt good to return the favor.”
“So what do we do now?” Newman said.
“I believe that may be where I come in.”
The words were deep and authoritative, and the man they belonged to was equally as impressive. Newman took him for about six foot, as he was close to Cubby’s height. He wore designer trousers and a shirt. No tie or jacket, but his clothes were expensive, as were the leather shoes on his large feet. Militant led him forward.
“This is your father, Hope.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Hope looked at the man her mother had just introduced to her as her father, and tried to see anything familiar. Ryan had his features, she realized, and she had his eyes.
“Hello, Hope.”
“How did you get here so fast?” Hope asked, because she really couldn’t think of anything else right then and there. Strange, considering she’d spent her life coming up with plenty of things she wanted to say to him.
“I only live an hour’s flight away. I had a friend fly me in by helicopter.”
She nodded, because she wasn’t sure what to call him. Daddy wasn’t an option. Getting to her feet, she went to stand beside Newman. He rested a supporting hand on her spine. It felt good. He gave her strength, she realized. Gave her the courage to be a better person. She had to tell him something, and she had to do it now.
“Just give us a minute please.” Hope held up a finger. She then took Newman’s hand and led him to the back of the cell. Standing on her toes, she tugged his head down and whispered into his ear, “I want you to know that I care about you, Newman.”
The smile he gave her was blinding.
“I—ah, just needed to tell you that.”
He crooked his finger, and she leaned in.
“I care about you too, sweetheart.”
“Really?”
“Totally.”
“Wow, that’s cool.”
“Isn’t it, though.”
“Don’t mind us, really, we have all day,” Cubby drawled.
Newman took her hand and led her back to the bars, and Hope held it tight. He anchored her, and she needed that now.
