But at the same time, I can’t risk her thinking this is anything less than a life-or-death situation if I have any hope of escaping.
Do you really want to escape?
Of course I do. I have a whole life back in New York. And okay, maybe I don’t really have what you would call a thriving social life, but it’smylife.Myfriends. People who will probably miss me if I never come home.
Probably.
Will they miss you as much as Daddy will miss you if you leave?
Goddammit that little voice in my head is a nuisance.
I can’t think of him right now. Or my “uncles”, or Auntie Gray. Because if I start thinking about them, about how much it will hurt to lose them all a second time…
No. What they’re doing isn’tright. I deserve to have the life that I worked so hard to build for myself. I deserve to choose my own happily ever after.
Even if that happily ever after doesn’t include my Daddy.
Swallowing back tears, I hit the button to send my email. And pray I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.
Bram
It’s weird, not having Josie glued to my side. Even though she’s only been back in our lives a few days, I’ve gotten so used to devoting my entire day to taking care of her that now I’m not really sure what to do with myself while she’s working. There’s plenty to be taken care of on a daily basis in a house the size of the one the seven of us share, but we decided long ago that we’d give each other plenty of time to settle in with our Little ones whenever we found them, so my siblings have been keeping up on all the chores and the day-to-day running of the business just fine without me.
Well, if there’s nothing better for me to do, I suppose I could always go annoy my twin.
Colt is exactly where I expect him to be, locked in his office, pouring over some kind of spreadsheet. He and Gray handle the majority of the “business” side of our business, while the rest of us take turns visiting the factory, checking in to ensure everything is running smoothly. At this point, we could probably sell it for a pretty penny and live comfortably off the profits, but Gray and Colt especially seem to enjoy having something to do.
“You keep making that face, it’s going to freeze that way.”
Glancing up, Colt rolls his eyes. “Don’t you have a pretty babygirl to keep you busy and out of my hair?”
“She’s working.”
I must sound as sulky as I feel, because Colt’s smile is surprisingly sympathetic. “Well, if you’re looking for something to do, I could use some help. There’s a discrepancy on this report somewhere and I’ve looked over it a dozen fucking times and can’t find it.”
“Sure, let me take a look.”
It’s tedious work, but we fall into a companionable silence as I compare the numbers on the paper he hands me to what’s on the screen.
“Ah, there it is.” I tap the cell in question. “Got your nine and your six mixed up.”
“Fuck me,” he growls, angrily jabbing at the keyboard to clear out the offending numbers and replace them with the correct ones. A red cell turns green and Colt lets out a relieved sigh. “Thanks. That was about to drive me up the goddamn wall.”
“No problem.” Happy to have hadsomethingto do, I wave him off as I lean back in my chair. But just as I’m getting settled, Colt’s phone rings and he frowns down at the display.
“It’s Gunther. I’m gonna put him on speaker.”
My heart leaps into my throat as I nod. Colt taps the screen of his phone and places it between us on the desk. “Gunther. I’ve got Bram with me.”
“Good.” Our friend’s voice is even rougher than usual. “He needs to hear this.”
Fuck.
My twin’s gaze flicks up to mine, his expression hard. “Tell us.”
“Your girl sent an email to her assistant. Basically begging her to send someone to rescue her, but telling her to watch out for Sheriff Donnelly. Seems to think she might be in bed with Grayson. Literally and figuratively.”
Perceptive Little girl.
