Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Looping an arm around my mom’s tiny waist, my dad held out his other hand to Mark. “Thank you for taking care of our girl.”
Mark gripped my dad’s hand, his voice serious as he said, “I will always be here for Layla.”
“You’re a good man,” my dad said with open admiration. “Glad she was here with you.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the red color on Mark’s face was a blush.
My mom began to sniff, and in an effort to distract her I said, “Mind if Vali and I crash with you guys for a little bit while I get everything sorted?”
“You’re staying with me,” Mark growled in my ear then said louder, “She’s staying with me.”
Looking over my shoulder at him as my mom rejoined my dad, I glared. “I am not staying with you.”
Mark leaned close enough that his breath tickled my ear. “If you stay with them, you’ll be putting them in danger.”
I wanted to kick myself in the ass for having forgotten that small fact.
“Layla’s staying with me,” Mark announced again, with more authority this time.
I felt like I was thirteen and had gotten busted making out with my boyfriend when my parents looked at us.
“Are you sure?” The lines around my mom’s eyes deepened with worry. “You know we have plenty of room, and you’re always welcome.”
Knowing I had to protect them from the truth, I smiled. “I’m sure.”
“Don’t you think you’re moving kind of fast?” My mom cast a worried glance in Mark’s direction.
“Mom, we’ve known each other for three years.”
Mark rubbed his fingertips on my hip, his grip possessive as he said, “I assure you, I can provide Layla with everything she needs to feel safe and happy.”
“Still,” my mom fretted. “I’d feel better if she was at home with us.”
Sensing Mark’s growing tension, I tried to diffuse the situation. “Mom, I want to stay with Mark. Besides, it’s only temporary.”
“We’ll see about that,” Mark whispered as my dad watched us closely.
“Mark,” my dad said with an expression on his face that I couldn’t quite figure out. “Can I have a word with you? Alone, please?”
Chapter 9
Mark
I placed a kiss on Layla’s forehead before extending my arm to Pat. “Why don’t we talk on the patio.”
Taking him out one of the French doors on the opposite side of the room, I led Pat over to a grouping of pale cream outdoor furniture surrounding an unlit, tiled firepit.
He moved a few steps so he could have a clear view of the big windows then said, “Have you found anything out about the men who burned my daughter’s house down?”
I tried to keep my expression neutral. “What are you talking about?”
His dark, bloodshot eyes were fierce as they met mine. “Don’t bullshit me. I know people, too. I may not be a Cordova, but I am on the Scottsdale City Council. I’m aware of the power players in this town. My sources tell me that the Cordova Cart—Corporation has leant its considerable assets to the investigation. That seemed odd to me for a house fire, so after a few phone calls, I learned that it wasn’t an accident with her welder, but arson. Possibly attempted murder.” His voice shook as he said, “Someone tried to kill Layla, didn’t they?”
There was no use lying to Pat. He knew, and if I tried to bullshit him, I’d lose whatever respect we’d built between us over the years. In a lot of ways, he reminded me of my dad. They were both fiercely protective of their children. While Pat might not be Layla’s biological father, he was—as Layla often called him—the father of her heart.
Conscious of Leo probably listening in on our conversation via his surveillance system, or at least recording it, I carefully said, “We’re not sure, but it is looking that way.”
“Why? Why would anyone target her? She’s the nicest person on this godforsaken planet.”
“We don’t know, but we’re looking into it. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you anything more than that.”
He looked like he wanted to argue with me, but he blew out a harsh breath. “And you think you can keep her safe?”
“I know it.”
Abruptly his shoulders dropped. “You have no idea how happy I am that Layla was with you last night. I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but for these past few weeks she’s been struggling. Are you serious about her?”
“I’d ask her to marry me today, if I thought she’d say yes.”
His bushy salt and pepper eyebrows flew up. “Just like that? One night together, and suddenly you want to marry her?”
“No, my feelings for her didn’t happen overnight. We’ve been friends, best friends, for three years now. After the loss of my wife…I needed some time to get my head back on straight. When Layla and I met, neither of us were in the right space to have a relationship. Both of us had a lot of growing to do.”