Page 90 of Fierce-Dane

“At a gas station?” she asked, grinning.

“Looks like they’ve got soft pretzels there,” he said. “Just like the one at the festival.”

“Sure,” she said.

They both went into the bathroom after he’d pumped the gas. He was out before her, bought them two pretzels and some water, then two candy bars. Maybe a hit of chocolate would help them both.

“Hungry?” she asked, moving over to him while he was checking out.

“Got to spoil my girl,” he said, laughing.

She grinned and bumped her hip into his, then went back into the car. He pulled to the side and they ate their pretzels.

“Do you think Trent got them everything already?” she asked.

He pulled his phone out and looked at his text. “He said everything was good. Did you check your email? He was cc’ing you on everything.”

“Oh yeah,” she said. “I feel so scattered.” She pulled her phone out and started to look through it. “Oh my God, I don’t want to cry, but I’m going to.”

“What?” he asked. He was starting to panic. “Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s the nice things that Carolyn andDiane said about me. There are two letters. Not really long but perfectly written.”

“One of them was an English teacher. I think Diane but not positive. The other elementary,” he said. “Not only would they put something together well, but they’d know what would be the right content. So would Trent.”

“I never thought I’d have so many people going to bat for me,” she said. “Never thought I’d need it either.”

“Well, you do have people in your corner. You ready to get this started?”

“Yeah,” she said, taking the last bite of her pretzel. “I wonder if Shiloh even knew about me. I should have asked that.”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Do you have any way to get a hold of Sabrina?”

“No,” she said. “She doesn’t need this in her life. I don’t know what she’s doing or going through. I suppose I could try to find her, but for now I can’t process that.”

“If you need to do that or find anything else out, you could hire Zander Conway. He’s Royce’s best friend. He’s a PI and has his own firm in one of the Fierce buildings.”

“I’ve heard the name,” she said. “Carolyn and Diane were in once and talking about all the people they were setting up or trying to. Your name was thrown out there with his and a few others they’d had in the works.”

She knew that he’d had his sister tell the Fierce women he was taken, but now he started to wonder if they’d been trying to set him up with Sloane all along.

No, no way it could have been that. They didn’t know him well enough or her.

“Now we know they are throwing it around trying to find out how things are going,” he said. “But if you find yourself needing information, he might be your guy.”

“I’m sure I’m going to,” she said. “I’m going to need to find out who Shiloh’s father is. Or if anyone knows. I was listed as her guardian and I’m going to honor that, but I need to know if trouble is out there.”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked.

She looked at him. “I told you my mother stole money when she left the cult. I don’t know how much, but maybe someone could come looking for it. I didn’t know she had another child. I don’t know what she was doing in Tennessee or if she was in contact with anyone there. The fact she gave birth in a hospital tells me no at that time.”

“One step at a time,” he said. “And we are here. Take a few deep breaths. Calm your heart rate and know I’m right here by your side.”

She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, then got out of the car with her big tote bag on her shoulder holding all the documents she needed.

26

COMES AT A COST

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