Chapter 25 #2
He cast a probing look at her parents. Harry and Vanessa weren’t the sort to gloss over the truth or sugarcoat things, but this was their daughter’s life.
By the expression on their faces, though, they wanted answers, too.
It was a little intimidating that they were looking to him, these two people who had taken him in, protected him as a child.
On the other hand, it meant they saw him as an adult now.
And a capable one at that. A heady feeling took root in his body.
He nodded. “Yes,” he said, his tone grim. “I think they are all connected.”
Her eyes slid to her mom, and a look crossed her face, as if trying to pull up a buried memory.
She blinked and turned back to him. “Connected to me or connected to something I’m involved with?
” she asked. Before she could tire herself out more, Vanessa jumped in, telling him a theory she’d proposed to Helia earlier.
“Not a bad idea,” he said when Vanessa finished. “We can look into it.” The possibility of Justin and Kurt being connected through an organization Helia also worked with didn’t account for Roger, who donated money, not time, but it was worth exploring.
Satisfied, she nodded, then sat back. “What are we going to do with Helia now? If they are after her…” Sundaram had two events the next day before they could lock down. Lots of people on the grounds. Lots of opportunity to get to Helia.
“My brothers are coming today,” he said.
“Well, most of them. They were supposed to be here already but got held up dealing with a work thing, then hit traffic with an accident on the interstate. The delay gave me time to head to the grocery store and meet Helia before they get here.” His stomach once again revolted at how close he’d come to losing her.
If that series of events—the work delay, then traffic—hadn’t happened, he would’ve been home greeting his family, and she would have been on that street by herself.
Someone would have noticed her fall, but he doubted anyone would have called 911 as quickly as she’d needed. Or seen the dart.
Pulling him from that dark path, Helia’s hand squeezed his. “I’m looking forward to meeting them, but why are they coming now?”
Sorrow weighed heavy on his chest. The reason he’d wanted to see Helia in person was to tell her about Kendall’s mom. It wasn’t a message that should be sent over text or given by phone.
“A few reasons, but the main one being because I need help. I need help searching the castle for more of Roger’s drugs.” He paused. “And I need help with Kendall. We found out this morning that her mom died in a car accident. Probably on her way back to get her. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”
Her eyes teared. “No.” He gave a tiny nod. “That poor girl.”
“Who’s Kendall?” Harry asked.
A complicated question, but Monk boiled it down, telling them how she’d been left at the castle by her mom and how he’d found her. He couldn’t help mentioning how sharp she was and how she’d contributed more than her fair share of ideas to the Kurt/Justin situation.
Harry rubbed a hand over his face, and Vanessa dabbed her eyes when he finished. “That poor child,” Harry said. “What will happen to her now?”
Monk’s gaze flickered to Helia. Their relationship was barely getting started, well, Act 2 of it, and he was changing the stakes dramatically. Still, he couldn’t, wouldn’t, do anything else.
“Me and a few of my brothers are preapproved foster parents. It’s a long story, but it’s come in handy a few times in the past when we’ve needed to watch kids for a few days while their parent, usually their mom, heals.
” He held Vanessa’s gaze before switching it to Harry.
Both nodded in understanding as to what he meant, even as they looked confused as to how he’d be involved. A situation he’d explain later.
“As soon as Leo—”
“He’s a friend of Collin’s who works for a prestigious security company and is a cyber genius,” Helia interjected. Her parents nodded again, although he could see a thousand questions gathering in their eyes.
“As soon as Leo told me about her death, I asked him to start the process of having me appointed as Kendall’s foster parent.
” His gaze flickered to Helia. Something akin to pride shone in her eyes, but he doubted the reality of what that meant had sunk in.
“The provisional appointment came through a few hours ago. We’ll have to talk to a social worker after the holidays, but it’s what both Kendall and I want. ”
Harry stared at him. Vanessa frowned, not in disapproval, but concern. “I’m not questioning whether you’ve done the right thing, Collin, but are you ready to parent a twelve-year-old orphan? Becoming a parent changes everything.”
“And I imagine being a parent to a girl like Kendall, who hasn’t had the most stable life, is going to pose even more challenges, but is anyone really ready to be a parent?” he countered.
A ghost of a smile touched Harry’s lips, but Vanessa still didn’t look convinced.
Monk sighed. “Look, I know it will change things, my life, in ways I can’t even imagine.
But I can’t, I won’t, leave her to the system.
She deserves better than that. All kids do, but she’s the one I can help, and she wants the same thing.
We’ll get therapy, we’ll do what we need to to make it work. ”
“That you both want it is a good start,” Vanessa conceded.
“And not that you won’t have to parent, but my guess is that you’ll be more like a big brother than a father to her,” Helia added.
He’d considered that as well, then decided not to put any labels or expectations on what their relationship may or may not be.
His priority was to provide her with a safe home where she could thrive.
Everything else, they’d figure out as they went along.
A nurse popped in, putting a pause to their conversation. Three minutes later, Helia’s vitals checked, she left with a satisfied nod. Harry turned to him. “You mentioned your brothers. Are you suggesting Helia will be safer with you?”
Vanessa made a small noise of protest, but Monk held Harry’s eyes.
“We have twelve former spec-ops soldiers staying in the castle, plus their partners coming too, which means a former FBI and a former CIA agent also make up the party. Yes, I think she’ll be safer recovering there.
” He wanted to haul her off and tuck her into the tower, but he forced himself to look at Helia.
“But I won’t force you. If you’d rather be home, we’ll figure it out. ”
She tightened her hold on his hand again. “I was planning to stay with you anyway. Now I’ll get to meet your family and be with Kendall.”
His fingers twitched against her palm. “Leo and Joey will be there, too. Kendall will like that, I think.”
“When will they arrive?” Vanessa asked.
“In about two hours.”
Helia clicked the call button as she swept them all up with her gaze. “Which gives me enough time to blow this joint so we can be there when they arrive,” she said, all but daring them to challenge her.
Harry’s lips twitched. Vanessa sighed in resignation. Monk smiled. No one challenged her.