Page 23 of Her Protector Daddies

“She gave me the slip at her apartment, distracted me, and then went to the bathroom. I thought she was taking a long time so I kicked down the door and the window was open,” Tyler explained hurriedly. “She must have taken the trellis down and ran away.”

“Why would she run?” Nothing about her story suggested that running from her protection detail was the smart play here. This had to be emotional, not logical.

“No clue. She seemed fine. Listen Jay, any longer and I’ll have to call it in, and we both know that as soon as it goes on the broadcast, whoever alerted the Cartel to which hospital she was in will let them know she’s in the wind. Then it’s anyone’s game.” Tyler’s voice was strained. I’ve known him long enough to know when he’s crushing himself with guilt, and my heart went out to him.

“How long?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“I’ll sort it. Don’t call it in yet. Give me an hour,” I asked him, stepping over the table and scooping my half-dressed, dancing son up under one arm. “If I can’t find her, then we’ll have to put it on the broadcast but until then, stay there just in case she comes back.”

“Will do, thanks Jay.”

“Gotcha.”

The call ended and I turned my son around, saving him from dangling upside down for too long. His giggles pitched slightly then he clapped his hands together when we were face to face.

“Dad!”

“Alright buddy, let’s make a deal.”

“Okay.”

“Put on your shorts, brush your hair and be in the kitchen in two minutes, and we’ll go out for pancakes.”

“Deal!”

In the time Selena had been with us, I’d been looking extensively into her background and as far back as I could into her father’s without tripping any warning systems. The longer I had the freedom to look into things without the LAPD getting shirty with me, the more information I could secure. Not all cops were happy to have a PI stepping in to assist on an active case.

Millie’s Diner was considered a tucked-away gem, the best-kept secret, and more. Stepping inside, I was greeted by the mouthwatering scent of bacon, hash browns, and syrup mingling with the sharper smell of brewing coffee. Dome lights dangled from the ceiling, creating an orange glow that added to the warm aura that enveloped me the further in we walked. With dark oak tables and black high-back booths, the diner provided an air of privacy for every weathered family, road-hardened trucker or, in my case, a woman looking to hide.

Dae slid into the booth across from Selena. She straightened up in surprise, then stiffened when she saw me and her body angled as if to bolt right from the booth.

“Selena!” Dae cried out happily, struggling slightly with her name so it sounds more like Sewena. “We’re getting pancakes!”

I hadn’t sat down yet. I was waiting to see if she really would run and if so, then I’d have to somehow catch her and keep Dae safe. Luckily, something about Dae made her gaze soften and she slumped slightly back into her seat.

Excellent.

I slid in next to Dae and a pleasant smile crossed my face as a rosy-faced waitress with wiry blonde hair sticking out from her cap approached with a pad and pen in hand.

“Afternoon, my lovelies. What can I getcha?”

“Two stacks please,” I asked, “but can one of the stacks be cut into smaller pieces, please?”

“Of course lovely.” The waitress scribbled quickly. “Anything else?”

“Orange juice!” Dae declared, drawing a laugh from the waitress.

“Right you are,” she grinned.

“And a pot of tea,” I added. “And a refill for my friend here.”

“Coming right up!” She whisked herself away and I fixed Selena with a steady look, quietly studying her in my peripheral.

She didn’t appear to be injured, so my reasoning that she had slipped Tyler’s detail for personal reasons so far seemed accurate.

“How did you find me?” Selena asks sharply, her brows pinching together. Again, her face softened the moment Dae looked at her with his big brown eyes. I wouldn’t normally use my son this way, but if his presence kept Selena pleasant and stopped her from running, then it was a win win.

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