Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
NASH
R yder, Griff and I combed the house all night looking for cameras and bugs. We worked in silence and when we were done; we stared at the pile on the dining room table. We’d taken all the batteries out, removed them from their power source and would drown them in the sink.
Once we’d taken care of them, we all grabbed a beer from the fridge and flopped on the furniture in the living room. “He’s been in my fucking home,” I said before taking a pull of my beer when all I really wanted to was throw it across the room.
“We need to draw him out.” Griff said, putting his feet on the coffee table and crossed them at his ankles. “But it’s going to have to be when the girls are safe.”
“You still have Fallon’s phone, right?” Ryder said as he let his head fall back on the back of the couch.
“Yeah, I have it. What are you thinking?” I ask as I stare into the flames blazing in the fireplace. The cracks and pops from the logs were mesmerizing, and for a moment, I was lost in the dancing flickers.
“We could make him think she wants to meet, and it’s us instead of her.” He shrugged. It was too simple, we didn’t do it. Unless he was asleep, he’d know all his bugs were found and when he did, it would probably set him off.
“I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long. He’s already going off the deep end. I’m sure this will be the nudge he needs.” I cross my arms and suddenly feel the overwhelming emptiness in my house. “We’ll talk to Phil in the morning and see what he knows.” The man had been like a dog with a bone. He’d done a deep dive on the entire family and I didn’t like what I was seeing.
Illegal activity, money laundering, buying public officials. Drake Gatlin had provided more information that made my blood boil, as well. It appeared that Fallon’s in-laws knew what their son was doing, but turned a blind eye. They wouldn’t be safe either when I enacted my revenge.
My three girls not being under my roof made me antsy, and I was lonely, even sitting with two of my best friends in the room with me.
Drinks were finished and Ryder and Griff headed home and for the first time in a month, I laid down in my own bed. I’d forgotten how comfortable it was, but now it smelled like Fallon. Her pomegranate body wash, the lavender and orange shampoo she used, should have been enough to lull me to sleep, but I was more awake now than when I was in the living room. Reaching for my phone, I pulled up the number for the burner phone I gave to her.
Me: Are you asleep?
I wasn’t expecting a response. I was hoping she was asleep, but the three dots popped up under my text.
Toots: I just fed Lottie and put her back in her cradle. How are things there?
I sent her the picture I’d taken of the listening devices and cameras.
Toots: Holy fuck Nash. He’s been in our house.
Me: Our house?
My heart lurched and smiled like a fool at her response.
Toots: Your house, I missed the y.
Me: Sure you did.
She was a terrible liar, even over text.
Me: Things okay at Pop’s?
Toots: Yeah, they are great. Wanda had beds ready for the girls and Josie woke up long enough to say hi to your dad and fall back to sleep as he carried her to bed. Lottie was awake for a bit, but Wanda sent me to bed and she got her settled back to sleep.
Me: Were you able to sleep?
Toots: Yeah, I did, actually. I didn’t even hear Wanda sneak in and put Lottie down.
Me: Good. Go back to sleep. I’ll come get you in the morning.
Toots: Ok night Nash.
I tossed the phone on the bed beside me and closed my eyes and saw her face before I drifted off to sleep.
Linc was keeping an eye on the house while I was gone, and we’d set up a new perimeter monitor on the ranch. Any movement would alert Ryder, and we’d check it out. Driving to town, I struggled to not speed. I just wanted to wrap my arms around the girls.
Pulling up in front of my dad’s, I barely put it into park and jumped out of the truck. Opening the front door as I knocked, I was greeted with laughter and squeals from Josie playing with Pop. “Bampa, you pretty,” she said as she put her pretend lipstick on the man that only a few months ago hated life.
“Thank you, Miss Josie. You’re a great beautician,” he said as he looked at himself in the mirror my daughter held up for him. A fire burned in my stomach at the reality that she called him grandpa but didn’t call me dad.
That will end today.
“Hey Pop, the makeover looks good.” I walked into the living room and Josie ran to me, her arms open as she jumped. Catching her, I wrapped her up in a bear hug.
“You here Nas.” She kissed my cheek and wrapped her arms around my neck, squeezing me tightly.
“Yeah baby girl, I’m here.” I smiled as I hugged her back.
“I sleep over at Bampa’s,” she said excitedly. “But you not here.” Her expression turned sad, and I moved to the couch and sat her on my knee.
“I know, baby, but I had to stay home.”
“And is it safe now?” My dad asked quietly.
“Yeah it is. We’re watching everything even closer than we were before, so it should stay that way.” I answered his question and watched him nod.
“Hey,” Fallon said, smiling when she saw me, as she and Wanda came into the living room. Wanda carried Lottie and took a seat beside Pop. She leaned down and kissed my lips lightly. I watched Pop look at Wanda and they both smiled.
“Hi, you get some sleep?” I questioned when I saw that she looked tired as she sat down beside me.
“I did, but not a lot, but it’s okay.” I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me and her sigh against me was all I needed this morning.
“You forgot these.” I pulled her medication out of my pocket and handed it to her with my free hand.
“Thank you. I thought of them after I got here. I should take them now.” Fallon jumped up from the couch and went to the kitchen.
“Nas, Mommy, kiss you, so you my daddy?” She looked at me with confusion on her sweet little face.
“Yes, baby. I am.” My throat tightened, and I had to blink quickly. I had thought about this moment so many times, but I’d figured it would be much more dramatic. This was too simple, too nonchalant.
“Otay.” She grinned and hopped off my knee. I watched her run past Fallon, who stared at me, mouth open slightly, but a grin spreading across her face. We stared at one another, silence filling the room.
“Well, I say we need to celebrate with a family breakfast.” Wanda said as she stood and handed Lottie to me. “Don’t you think, Dad?” She smiled, and I nodded as I cradled the baby in my arms and a tear dripped from my eye.
“I’ll let you two talk alone.” Pop stood and followed Wanda to the kitchen .
“Well, Daddy, how does it feel now that she knows?” Fallon asked, leaning over the back of the couch, wrapping her arms around me.
“Like I’m finally the man I’m supposed to be,” I said, looking up at her, smiling. “Thank you for helping me get there.” Turning, I kissed her again. This time it wasn’t a light peck, it was a full on kiss and if my hands hadn’t already been full, I would have pulled her over the back of the couch.
“Your dad is in the other room.” She giggled when she pulled away from me.
“Pretty sure he’s seen people kissing before,” I said before kissing her again.