Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
My spine straightens, and I step into the room, shutting the door. “What do you know?”
“Specifically, nothing, but I saw a lot. Your greatest failures were sadly his greatest joys. It shouldn’t be that way. They were his prized possessions but no one else would think that. No one else would look there. I don’t know where ‘there’ might be, but if you do, I think you’ll find what you’re looking for. I hope that helps.”
His observation is as good as a blade in my gut and heart, but it’s one that rings with bloody truth. I give him a nod and exit the conference room, preparing myself to face my failures, and all they meant to my father.
And now, to me.
Chapter Forty-Six
Bella
The first thing I do when I sit down at my desk is call Dash. “Are you at Cupcakes and Books writing?”
“Not today. Today is not a day I get words. I’m meeting with Dierk and a couple old friends. If we can’t find the file, we’re going to find dirt on the Allen family to create a new one.”
“FBI friends,” I assume.
“Yes. The minute you brought up Cupcakes and Books, I feared you’d come walk to see me. None of us can live that way, and for the record, shoot the bastard next time.”
“Yeah, I probably handled that all wrong.”
“In the end, you did fine, Bella, but damn, it was a long few hours. I’m glad we’re going to see the race this weekend. We all need some away time. And Tyler needs to get to know your dad.”
“About that. We want to do a secret wedding this weekend, in Dallas. How do you feel about it?”
“He makes you happy and he loves you, but why this weekend?”
Emotions well in my chest. “Mom—and you never know—and last night—and—"
“This weekend,” he says. “I get it. Do you know where?”
“No. No, I need to find a place.”
“Call Allie. She’ll help. What about your dad?”
“I haven’t told him, but I think he’ll get it. Especially if I tell him about this weekend.”
“I’m not sure you should do that,” he warns. “What if he connects the danger to Tyler?”
“Good point. Okay, I’ll just tell him how I feel, minus the trigger. We want to do the full ceremony, the one the will requires, but we want to do that in Italy, where Mom and Dad married. How do you think he’ll feel about it?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say, but my gut says he’ll understand you want a way to have her close to you.”
“The way you just understood?” I ask, my heart squeezing.
“Yeah. The way I just understood. I love the hell out of Allie. It makes it much easier for me to understand the way the heart leads the mind. Call Allie. She’ll help you plan this weekend. And do it fast. Is today Wednesday already?”
“It is.” My brows dip. “I think. Yesterday is still messing with me.”
“Love you, sis. Let me go get to work on keeping you safe. I’m coming by to see Tyler later today. I’ll come by your office, too.”
I disconnect with a smile on my lips, and dial my father. “Dad,” I say when he answers.
“Yes, my daughter?”
“What if I said I want to have a big wedding I plan out, but that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and I want to do a small ceremony this weekend in Dallas?”
He’s silent several beats before he says, “I’d say, you’re right. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, baby. Do you have a dress? Because I know a few people who could have a shit ton of choices waiting on you when you get here.”
I laugh and spend the next twenty minutes planning my wedding with my father and it turns out I don’t need Allie’s help at all. He’s hiring a wedding planner, someone who knew my mother very well.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Tyler
Once I’m back in my office, I shut my door and step behind my desk, but I don’t sit. I repeat the entire conversation with José, and his claim my father reveled in my failures, which bites like a bitch when it should not. This is old news I’ve long ago coped with, and even heard validated in today’s partner’s meeting, but somehow it affects me coming from José. Maybe because he’s been around so long. Maybe because he has no skin in the game and his opinion is completely objective.
I chide myself for allowing my father’s hate to bother me at all, but it seems no matter how hard he tried to punish the human out of me, he failed, and I can only be thankful. I might not have Bella by my side otherwise.
If I’m looking for a shrine of hate owned by my father, there is only one person I’d call an expert. I dial my mother, who shockingly does not answer. Of course, not. I leave her a message. “Call me. It’s urgent.” I disconnect and my desk phone buzzes.