Page 138 of My Five Daddies

“How much?” Nolanasks.

“Half a million Americandollars.”

Nolan laughs. “Fine. Give me his address, I’ll payhim.”

“Very well, sir.” Thomas hands Nolan a slip of paper with an address written on it. “The man’s name is Micah Hassel. You’ll find him here. And sir, I should warn you. Micah is rather…strange.”

Nolan puts his hand on Thomas’s shoulder. “If he has something good, I don’t care if he’sinsane.”

“Of course.” Thomas bows slightly again and Nolan’s handdrops.

“You did a good job. Thank you forthis.”

Thomas hesitates for a second. “I only hope that this will prove where my, ah, loyaltieslie.”

Nolan smirks at him. “Ofcourse.”

He bows again and quickly turns away. He walks back to the cars and disappears into the crowd ofvolunteers.

“Creepy guy,” Isay.

“Yeah,” Nolan agrees. “But if he has what I think he has… I don’t care how creepy heis.”

“We’re really following this up?” I askhim.

“Absolutely. Can’t pass up this sort of opportunity. I had Thomas follow Julian a few days ago, and I’m guessing this is a part of thatassignment.”

I nod, surprised and impressed. I knew that Nolan was starting to make moves against Julian, but this is very smart. He obviously knows what he’sdoing.

“Let’s go,” he says, taking my hand. I follow him over to the parking lot and we get into hiscar.

For the first time since this started, I feel like we might have a chance. Nolan has a plan and he’s motivated. He’s doing the real work. I just have to give in and trusthim.

And let him get mepregnant.

23

Nolan

We pullup to Micah’s house and instantly I know what Thomas meant when he suggested that Micah is a littlestrange.

The place is a rundown cottage at the edge of a small village. It’s surrounded by high hedges, so high that you can barely even see the tiny house. Smoke curls up from the chimney, although it’s warm outside. As we park the car and get out, I turn towardHazel.

“Maybe you should stay behind,” I say toher.

“No way,” she answers. “I’m not sitting thisout.”

I sigh. “Okay. But if anything bad goes down, you betterrun.”

“Fine.” She smiles sweetly. “But I’m sure you’ll keep me safe, you big, strongman.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. She hurries to catch up as I stride out toward Micah’s frontdoor.

There’s junk all over the yard. The guy’s clearly some kind of hoarder. Old engine parts, empty paint cans, rusty scrap metal, and bits of wood and furniture dot the yard. We hurry up onto his porch and I knock on thedoor.

I glance at Hazel, but she doesn’t look nervous. I’m a little uneasy, but if she’s calm then I’ll keep my shit together. Hazel is stronger than she gives herself credit for. I don’t think she even realizes how strong she canbe.

The door finally opens a crack and a man looks out at us. He’s around Julian’s age, but his hair is white. His scraggly beard is patchy and gray, and I’m pretty sure he’s missing someteeth.

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