Page 96 of Rescued by the Single Dad

Brooke’s hand trembled as she brought it up to cover her mouth. Her eyes widened and Clint could tell she was holding her breath.

“Hit play.” Rocco’s grunted demand held nothing but rancour and his entire body tightened with deep-seated rage.

Clint hit the button.

On the right side of Fletcher’s grizzled mug-shot sat a young brunette woman—maybe twenty-two at most—at a desk with earbuds in her ears. She also held up a small microphone.

“I’m on the phone with Fletcher Barber, father of Hollywood sweetheart Brooke Barker, who is presumed dead after she jumped from a yacht in the Puget Sound on Saturday night. A body has yet to turn up, but sources are saying it will probably be ruled as a suicide given the distraught state of Brooke right before she was reported missing.”

“They can’t rule squat,” Rocco said angrily. “Right now, it’s alleged. This reporter is a fucking moron. And what fucking sources is she talking about? It’s click-bait. And they’ve roped Fletcher into it to get more views.”

Clint grunted an agreement.

“Mr. Barber, would you care to comment on the devastating news about your daughter? It’s our understanding the two of you have been estranged for some time.”

“Oh, this is going to be rich,” Rocco said, shaking his head and sipping his beer. “You’re estranged, because you’re a fucking narcissistic psychopath that murdered our mother.”

Brooke remained quiet, but Clint could feel the fear rolling off her. He handed Rocco his phone and wrapped a protective arm around her, earning a curious look from her brother, before Rocco shrugged and focused back on the video.

“Yes, it’s true. Brooke and I have been estranged for several years now,” their father started. “She was always a very troubled girl. I’m not surprised she went into acting, to be honest. She was always very good at making up stories, pretending and unfortunately spinning lies that were so utterly believable they ... well, they put me here.”

“Wait, you’re saying the reason you are incarcerated is because of your daughter?” the reporter asked.

Fletcher grunted. “I don’t blame her, though. Mental health is something we need to take more seriously in this country. I tried to get her help so many times as a child and a teenager, but she refused. There’s only so much you can do as a parent, but when the child refuses the help, what else can you do?” He made a sound that was probably meant to be a whimper or something. “I wish I’d tried harder, though. Done more.”

“Why that lying motherfucker,” Rocco blurted out.

Brooke was still quiet, but her nerves were shot. She vibrated. Clint tightened his hold on her.

“Do you agree with the police ruling that this was a suicide? Or do you think there was foul play? As a retired police officer yourself, what is your opinion?”

“Retired?” Rocco said with outrage. “He didn’t retire. They fired him and sent him to prison for fucking murder. Along with like twenty other felonies they convicted him of. Fuck me. Retired.” He made a noise in his throat and finished his beer. “I’m honestly surprised that smug asshole wasn’t shanked in prison years ago.”

“Knowing Brooke, unfortunately, I’m going to agree with the local authorities in Seattle. Brooke was always very troubled, and I think this time her troubles became too much to bear.” He sniffled, trying to convince the listeners he was crying. “It breaks my heart to think she was in that much pain and unable to get the help she needed. I’ll always carry guilt that I couldn’t do more for her. I just hope that she’s finally found peace.” His words came out choked. “If you or someone you know is struggling, please get help. Please talk to someone. Don’t be like Brooke and keep it all bottled up inside. Your life is worth something. You have people in this world that love you. Get help.”

“Thank you, Mr. Barber. We really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today.”

“Like he had anything else to do,” Rocco muttered.

The photo of Fletcher disappeared, and it was just the idiot reporter now with her overly done-up fake everything. “Be sure to comment below, send thoughts and prayers for Brooke and her family. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow for all the latest on the most famous. For Celebrity Scoop News, I’m Tinsley McTavish.” Then she sat there with a fake smile while another whiny voice woman did some voiceover for their next segment.

“Up next, does Brooke Barber truly deserve all these vigils, or was Hollywood’s sweetheart really a devil in designer disguise?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Rocco grumbled.

Brooke was numb. Clint could tell.

Her face was blank.

She hadn’t said anything, but the shaking had stopped. She simply stood there, leaning heavily into him for support, staring unblinkingly ahead at where the phone had been before Rocco put it down on the table.

Clint and Rocco both looked at her with deep concern.

She’d gone ashen.

He knew that look.

Fuck.

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