“I thought we weren’t telling family.” Wade frowned at me.
“Well, Hattie is going to have to be the exception. She has access to a team, and I believe they’re willing to work independently and discreetly. They’ve done it before. I could go around her and contact them myself.” I frowned. “One of them will only work with Hattie anyway.”
He gave Parrish and me a rough nod. “If that’s what you think. My sister’s safety is all that matters. Ellis is going to be with her?”
“Absolutely. He won’t leave her side,” I confirmed. “He has our standard close-protection orders.” Parrish gave a little chuckle next to me that indicated he knew that maybe that wasn’t exactly true.
“I’d feel better if you were with her, too.” He gave me a critical look, and if I were a different man, I would have shrunk in my seat, but I forced myself to stay still under his gaze. “Why aren’t you?”
“She’s upset with me right now.” It galled me to admit it. “Catherine showed up at the house.”
Wade’s mouth tightened into a line. “Sage probably hasn’t told you, and in another time, I would let you figure shit out on your own with her,” he trailed off, tapping his wrapper on his desk. “But she had a really bad breakup a few years ago.”
Grinding my teeth together, I kept my mouth shut, trying to hold back the fury while thinking about someone mistreating her.
“Asshole had this ex-girlfriend who kept showing up, and eventually he got back with her. The thing was, I think Sage really loved the guy, and he’d been pretty convincing about his intentions, but as soon as the ex came back into the picture, that was it.” He held up his hand when I moved to say something. “I know your situation is nothing like that, but I just want you to understand where her head’s at. Fix your shit.”
“Got it.” I was working on it for sure, but fixing things with Catherine wasn’t exactly an easy ask because she was like a fucking tornado. Unpredictable and destructive.
He gave me a back slap as he ushered us out of the office. It was nearly time to pick up Opal from school, and damn if I didn’t want to see my little girl.
Chat
Dysfunction Junction
Phiny
I made a fresh batch of ranch for you yahoos. It's in the fridge at Mags.
Wade
On my way.
Kipp
On my way.
East
What time?
Phiny
I'm not making a schedule for ranch. Come whenever.
East
I'll be there in forty minutes.
Wade
I drove past ten minutes ago on patrol. I can be back in four.
Kipp
I am still twenty minutes out. Do not let Wade eat it all.
Wade
