Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“Since I’m not actually trying to fuck anyone over, I have to ask why the hell you can’t trust me?” Jack was disgruntled by the whole evening.
“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” Niall began.
“I’m not paying for this asshole’s lawyer.” Chase paced at the opposite end of the table.
That was an angry man. It would be slightly funny if Chase Dawson wasn’t his girlfriend’s father, and he wasn’t the very asshole he was complaining about. Also, it would be way funnier if he didn’t need a lawyer.
Damn, but he was tired. He hadn’t realized how fucking tired he was until he got to spend these days with his two favorite people in the world. The house needed a lot of work, but if he could stay here with the two of them and never have to go back into the real world again, he would put up with all of it.
Hamilton would find him. Oh, it might take him a while, but at some point he would end up on Jensen’s doorstep. There was a bill due, and Hamilton would ensure it got paid one way or another.
“Oh, you should not trust him,” Lucas told Niall. “He’s law enforcement, and the case is everything.”
Jack huffed. “Do you honestly believe I would fuck over a woman I’ve known my whole life for a case?”
“If we don’t pay for a lawyer, then Harlow will.” Ben was having a completely separate conversation with his twin. “Do you not understand that you’re pushing our daughter away? This is a way to bring her back, to get her to trust you again.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t she trust me?” Chase asked, making the question sound like an attack.
Jack pointed to Ben. “See, that’s a dad trying not to make his kid into an enemy combatant.”
Lucas shrugged. “You chose to rebel by going into the FBI. Have you seen my rap sheet, son? I know exactly why you did that.”
Jack’s head fell back. “I don’t need to hear about your cocaine days, Papa. Please don’t go into it. You were a rebel. I get it. My rebellion against your infamous days was to never get my face on the cover of a gossip rag. See, rebellion complete.”
Ben ignored the other conversation. “She doesn’t trust you because you don’t trust her. Because you act like a massive ass when she’s young and trying to do things on her own. You know we did that, too. We went out in the world and made a shit ton of mistakes and grew from them. Well, I did.”
“You’re so mature, Ben,” Chase said with a huff. “Did you consider for a second that we went through all that crap so our kids didn’t have to? Greer doesn’t pull this shit.”
“Hey, do not compare her to her sister.” Niall faced Chase down. “Harlow is her own person, and she loves her sister. Pulling that comparison shit puts a wall between them. Is that what you’re trying to do?”
Chase frowned. “Of course that’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to protect her.”
“My choice of profession was not a rebellion.” Jack faced down the man he called Papa. “It was what I dreamed about doing since I was a kid. You have three other offspring. Why don’t you harass them? Oh, yeah. They’re the good ones who stay on the ranch so they can spend the rest of their lives punching cows.”
Ben pointed to the O’Malley men. “See. Niall’s right. Playing your kids off each other is a terrible idea.”
Lucas finally turned Ben’s way. “I am not playing my kids off each other. And Jack is exaggerating. Only one of his siblings even wants to run the ranch.”
“Yes, I have one brother who is following in Dad’s footsteps and running a ranch. One in law school and my sister is training to be a vet.” Every word was tinged with bitterness. “I’m the bad guy because I wanted out of that small town. Also, he wasn’t actually coked up. That would be far too cool for my papa. It was baby powder. That is on his rap sheet. The only reason he got arrested was he was drunk and threw a punch at the cop that did not actually land.”
“I made him trip with that punch,” Lucas argued. “He was trying to avoid me and should have tied his shoelaces, so I don’t think that should count as assault. Hah, see—what I needed was a good lawyer.”
“I’m not playing my daughters off each other. I remember our dad doing that with us.” Chase actually looked hurt. It wasn’t much. A softening of his eyes, but he would bet anything the man had his feeling hurt. He looked like the kind of dude who thought of feelings in a singular fashion. Jensen kind of approved. It was easier to deal with the one.