Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“Then yes. Thank you,” Hadley said. She turned to Zach. “So according to this plan of yours, who’s taking me in?”
“I’d be happy to.” Remy walked up behind him, bracing his hands on the back of the chair.
Zach refrained from telling his friend to fuck off in front of his parents. “You’re staying with me.”
Remy chuckled.
Hadley’s eyes opened wide. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
Neither was he but he wouldn’t compromise on the issue. “You came to me for help and this is what I think is best.”
He didn’t want to get into more in front of his family—his parents at the table, his siblings nearby—all of whom were watching with undisguised interest.
“Fine. But I need to explain things to Dani.” Once again, she looked at his parents, her expression turning soft and sweet. “I cannot thank you enough. If you need me for anything…”
“Call me,” Zach interrupted. “I’m getting them new, untraceable phones.”
“I have them in airplane mode,” she said. “I’m sure what we have is fine.”
Shit. “Airplane mode doesn’t protect you from being traced. It turns off Wi-Fi and cellular but not GPS.”
Her lips parted wide in surprise.
He sighed. “I get why you would think that makes you safe. It’s a normal lay-person assumption. Give me your phones now. This way if anyone traced you here, we don’t want to lead them to your next destination. Like I said, I’ll get you both new ones tomorrow.”
Once again, Hadley stiffened and he knew he was in for an argument about cost later.
She slid out of her chair and strode over to where the teenagers sat.
Remy slid into her vacated chair, and Zach felt, rather than saw, some of his siblings close in around him.
“Okay, I’m not doing this,” he said to them. “My gut tells me Hadley will be around for a while so you can all get your answers in time. Right now Dani’s staying with Mom and Dad, and Hadley will be with me. They need help and I’m providing it. End of discussion.” He pushed his chair out and stood.
“Watch my foot,” Nick muttered.
Zach hadn’t realized Nick was behind him.
“I just wanted to say goodbye and thanks for hosting the party. Ellie’s cranky and Leah wants to go home and play with her toys.”
Zach rose and said goodbye to his siblings who were all doing the same with each other.
“Leah, come give me a hug, birthday girl!” he called out to his niece.
She ran over and wrapped her skinny arms around his neck. “Will you come over and play with my karaoke machine with me?” she asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
“I will,” he said, chuckling at the gift he’d bought her. He’d had to Google what to buy a seven-year-old girl but if her screams had been anything to go by when she’d peeled off the wrapping paper, he’d hit gold.
“I’ll get you back for that gift,” Aurora, Nick’s wife said, giving Zach a kiss on the cheek, Ellie in her arms.
“Bye, chunky monkey,” he said to the baby with big cheeks and a bigger smile.
Once the place had emptied out, leaving Remy to oversee the employees cleaning up, Zach turned to his parents. “We’ll go to the back parking lot together. I want to move Hadley’s car into my designated parking spot so nobody will bother it. Dani can grab her bag and you guys can head out. Call or text me when you’re home and settled.”
“I will.” His father slapped him on the back. Michael Dare, with his salt-and-pepper hair and the Dare indigo eyes, glanced at Zach like he wanted to say something.
When he merely shook his head, Zach breathed out a sigh of relief. He needed time before he spoke about Hadley’s return with anyone.
Hadley handed him the keys to her car and he moved the vehicle into his private, empty spot. He’d text and ask Remy to let Raven and the staff know not to assume it was an illegally parked car and call for a tow.
After he parked the car, he climbed out and stepped over to where his parents stood with Layla, Hadley and Dani.
Hadley turned to her sister, a worried look on her face and a sheen of tears in her eyes. “Be good and be smart. And don’t give the Dares a hard time. They’re doing us a favor, okay?”
“Yes, Mom,” Dani said, but her easy grin told Zach she respected her sister’s words. “Don’t worry. I’ll behave.”
“Hey, kid? I hate to do this but I want to get you a new cell phone that I’m sure is safe. Think you can give up yours for the night? I’ll pick up a new one tomorrow and bring it over. Laptop too. I want to install some safety protocols.” Like a VPN that would keep her internet private.