Their father was a selfish asshole. He couldn’t have fathered three kids with three separate women and spend time with none of them and still be a decent person. He’d never shown up at anything that involved the three of them, not one of Dotty’s award ceremonies, or Monroe’s cheerleading events or drama productions.
So he definitely wasn’t going to win any Father of the Year awards. They weren’t even certain that he’d only fathered the three of them. Dotty thought that there were probably more half-siblings out there.
The way their father had treated them had affected all three sisters. Just in different ways.
Addie nodded at Cash as she stared up into his intense gaze. “Yes, I will.”
“That’s my good girl. This shouldn’t take too long and then I’ll take you for a tour if you like.”
This might be the only time she ever got to be in a place like this with a man like him, and she was going to take the opportunity when it arose.
Addie settled in on the sofa and grabbed a book. Cash picked up a blanket and tucked it around her. She wasn’t even thinking about the fact that she was in a strange place. She wasn’t thinking about everything that could go wrong. She was thinking that she was snugly and warm.
Safe.
21
Cash didn’t want to leave her. He wanted to show her around LittleLand and see her face light up. But his life wasn’t his own, and he had a job to do. So he walked back into the office where the others were waiting for him.
Titus scowled at him. “Why did you bring her?”
Cash frowned while Bonnie whacked the back of her hand against Titus’s chest. “Don’t be so rude. Cash can bring a friend with him, and she looks like she needs to be here. Poor thing seems exhausted and a bit lost. She doesn’t talk much, does she?”
“She suffers from bad anxiety,” Cash told her. “When she’s anxious, her throat closes up, and she can’t get the words out.”
Although he was wondering if her throat was also hurting her because she kept clearing it.
Bonnie nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, she needs this place. She’ll be all right back there.”
Cash still turned to the screen, which showed where Addie was sitting on the sofa. She looked all snuggly.
“You haven’t got any clients coming in?” Ralen asked.
“Not for another hour,” Bonnie told him. “Then we’re fully booked for the rest of the day. Thanks for moving those boxes for me.”
“Told you, Bon, you don’t have to thank us. We’re happy to do it.” Ralen gave her a cheerful smile.
“So what’s this all about?” Cash asked impatiently.
“Are we keeping you?” Titus asked. “You’ve got more important things to do?” Titus looked pointedly down at the screen where Addie was now lying down with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face.
She looked so peaceful. Her hand came up to her mouth, and she was rubbing the sleeve of her top under her nose.
Damn, that was adorable.
“Cash? Cash! Are you paying attention?” Ralen asked.
Fuck. He turned around and saw all three of them staring at him. Titus looked impatient, Ralen was grinning, and even Bonnie seemed to be smiling.
“Yeah, I’m listening. What’s the problem?”
“Dante’s got a problem,” Titus said.
“With what?” Cash asked
“Ortega. He’s gone . . . AWOL,” Titus told them.
Holy shit.
