Chapter 27
Pierce was running out of time. He was hoping the man across the desk from him could help in some way he hadn’t already. But first, Rob wanted to know the true reasons behind Pierce’s resignation. The words had just come spilling out—Pierce was still damned conflicted.
"That's all you're giving me. What is this job really about and what is your hold up with it? The employer a monster?" Rob asked.
“My brother-in-law.”
“That billionaire guy that’s always in the news. What is he going to want you to do?”
“Babysit some of his sisters down there. His family; they have children. At least a few do. One is still a teenager, I think.” And that poor girl had been through hell recently.
Pierce had met her several times. Penelope had deserved far better than what she had endured.
He’d keep an eye on her—and get paid to do it.
It was a damned big responsibility, but…
hell, he did understand Luc wanting someone he trusted to watch over his family.
“Can you do the job?” Rob had always been one to tell it like it was. He didn’t sugar-coat. “If you can, and it’s better hours, better pay, and hell—a lot better weather, minus a few thunderstorms now and then, go for it. What about your boy?”
"If it was just me, I’d already be down there.
But I’m just now figuring this whole being a father thing out.
” He’d only had custody of Kai for nine official months.
He’d only known his son existed for ten.
His ex—she’d kept Kai hidden from him. Until she’d gotten so stoned the social services department in Vincennes had gotten involved.
He’d only learned about Kai when the boy’s grandmother had refused custody of him while her daughter went to prison and told CPS Pierce was the father.
He’d had to wait until DNA tests proved his paternity before he’d been given his own kid.
He and Kai were still figuring things out.
Pierce didn’t want to do anything to screw this up.
“He clings to his routines, Rob. I don’t know that yanking him away from everything familiar is the right thing to do. ”
"Could help. Could hurt. And you don't know which. So you're stuck. Analysis paralysis, bullshit."
"I'm stuck."
“Bullshit. What you are is scared. Scared of making a mistake, because this boy matters to you more than any other decision before. Welcome to fatherhood, Asher. It’s only going to get more insane as he gets older. These are easy years. Trust me on that.”
He’d raised six boys all by himself, after his wife had died. The younger two were still in their early teens now, he had one just starting to drive, one about to graduate, and two out there building their own adult lives. Rob knew what he was talking about.
He was probably the closest friend Pierce had ever had.
"You know what your problem is?" Rob said. "You think you can plan for everything. You think if you just get all the pieces in the right order, nothing bad will happen. But it doesn't work that way. It never works that way. Especially with your kids."
"I know."
"Do you? Because you're sitting here trying to predict what Texas is going to do to your kid when you can't even predict what tomorrow is going to do to him. Life doesn't come with a manual. You make the call and you deal with what comes after."
"And if I make the wrong call?"
"Then you make another one." Rob tapped the scars on his arm. Where a woman in the midst of a domestic assault had knifed him—defending the husband who had nearly killed her twice. Rob had nearly bled out that night. Pierce would never forget. "I made the wrong call that night. I had it backwards."
"That's not the same thing."
"It's exactly the same thing. What if Texas is good for him? What if he needs a fresh start as much as you do?"
"I don't need a fresh start."
"Don't you? All you can do is muddle through. Now, I know why else you are here. Gibson case.”
“Giving it one last look before I…give up.”
“It’s not giving up to just stop. Sometimes you have to. How can I help?”
“I need more time. I have the FBI for one more week. I don’t know if I’ll find anything at all.”
“I’ll see what I can do. The office is yours as long as you need it. But…you know how the wheels at the ISP turn. I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s all I am asking.”