Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“Is it so surprising that Olivia would want the kind of relationship she grew up admiring?”
“She never has until now,” Jack replied.
“She never met the right partners. I assure you that man you sent away would die for her. Tell me something. Did you approve of those twins in Colorado?”
“It would have been easier, but she and Will didn’t have a spark, and I wasn’t surprised to find out Bobby is gay. They’re good for each other but only in a friendship way.”
“How about Scott?” He was getting somewhere with this line of questioning. That’s how he had to view it. He was questioning someone in a trial. Keane’s trial. Or maybe theirs. Their trial to see if they could be good enough to belong in this family. He knew if he couldn’t win over her father, Olivia would never be happy. “You liked Scott, didn’t you?”
Jack sighed. “He seemed okay. I never thought he was the one for Olivia, but he did his job well.”
“And Keane does his well. Ask Aidan. We didn’t lie. Please, Mr. Barnes. I assure you this is all a huge mistake. Keane would never put Olivia in a position where she could be hurt. He takes his place as her Dom seriously.”
“He’s calling himself her Dom?”
“She calls him Master.”
That seemed to shake something in the big guy. “It’s too soon.”
“And how long was it for us? I believe I’ve made this argument already,” a soft voice said.
“Abby,” Jack said quietly. “Baby, I’m trying to look out for her. They have evidence.”
Abigail Barnes-Fleetwood stepped inside the room looking gorgeous and way younger than her years. He could see Olivia in her mother’s face. Olivia would look like this one day. Mature and confident because she was so well loved. She put a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “I just watched one of the witness statements fall apart. Jack, the one who’s accusing Keane is Jessica Fellows.”
Jack seemed to think about it for a moment, searching his brain to connect the name. Then he frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. “The one who worked in the Dallas office? I gave her the job because you felt sorry for her.”
“She came from bad circumstances, but she proved to be troublesome. She was the one who had the affair with Scott and left with him,” Abby explained. “I believe she’s doing this on purpose, but I don’t know why. I’ve been thinking, and getting rid of Keane wouldn’t be helpful if what she wants is Scott back.”
Finally he was talking to someone who was using logic. “But she could be trying to get revenge. Although I don’t know why, but I’ve learned people can justify a lot in their heads.”
“They have a video,” Jack said quietly.
“Then let’s watch it,” Abby said, challenge clear in her tone.
“The sheriff said it’s clear,” Jack returned, sitting up straighter.
Ah, he knew this. Jack’s inner Dom was reacting to the challenge from his submissive. It was instinct.
How many times had Keane’s shoulders gone back like that when Garrett said something snarky or upended plans?
Damn, he’d been blind. That man had been his top forever, but neither was willing to risk the most important relationship of their lives. Until Olivia came along. At least he hoped Keane felt the same.
“You know the sheriff will do anything to stay on your good side,” Abby returned and then softened. “Jack, I know you’re worried about our daughter, but you don’t want to hurt this young man. You were this young man.”
“I wasn’t tried for attempted murder,” Jack shot back.
“How many times could you have been?” Abigail asked. “How many times did you hurt someone in defense of yourself or Sam?”
“That’s not attempted murder,” Jack argued. “That’s literally self-defense or defense of others.”
Abby stared at him, seemingly at a loss.
But Garrett knew what to say. “Only if the people with more money or more power say it is. Any one of those fights your wife described could have ended with you in the same place as Keane. With a public defender who has way too many clients and only wants to clear the files, so he convinces you to take a plea for something that wasn’t your fault. You could have been Keane given the right circumstances. That’s what Lucas saw. That’s why Lucas was okay with hiring him. He even told us at the time. He said Keane reminded him of his brother, who is the best person he knows.”
That seemed to have some impact. Jack’s jaw clenched, and he looked to his wife. “All right. Let’s see the video.”
It didn’t take more than a few moments for a deputy to bring in a tablet. It must be nice to be Jack Barnes. It would have taken Garrett weeks to get that damn evidence out of the sheriff’s office. Jack simply asked and it was given.