Page 33 of Daddy's Little Sunshine

“Good thing, too.”

Something in Rico’s tone had his blood running cold. “Why? What did you find?”

“The church is very well-funded. It appears to be supported by several wealthy individuals as well as a few select charities dedicated to assisting Variants. But when you peel back the layers, they’re all shells.”

“So, who’s really funding them?” And what was the point of setting up fake donors for a church?

Rico’s top lip lifted in a sneer. “Who do you think?”

It took all of five seconds for everything to click into place.Fuck. What better way to find Variants to test on, than to trick them into exposing themselves? “Rose Corp.”

“Give the man a cookie,” Rico said dryly. “Everything leads back to them. So, if I were you, I’d get your woman and get out of town. Tonight.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. Grabbing the portfolio and completely disregarding the normal protocols, he slid out ofthe booth. Stopping beside the man he considered a friend, he dropped a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. For everything.”

Rico nodded and patted the hand on his shoulder. Leaving his friend behind for what was likely to be the last time, he headed for the door. He was getting Lainey out of the city, tonight.

CHAPTER 14

Lainey

Lainey woke alone, with the setting sun casting a warm glow over the bedroom. Smiling at the memory of Donovan’s hands and mouth on her, she rolled and stretched in the large, lumpy bed. God, the man was an incredible lover. If she had to start her life over, at least she had something to look forward to.

The thought brought with it a wave of grief. Starting over meant she’d never see her family again. Possibly never even speak to them again. Everyone she’d ever known and loved would just disappear from her life, and she from theirs.

Pushing the negative thoughts aside, she rolled off the bed and walked to the bathroom. A nice, hot shower was exactly what she needed to make her feel better.

The shower helped ease the twinges in her muscles from Donovan’s thorough lovemaking, but it didn’t do much for the ache in her heart. That pain was only eased when she gave in and curled up on the floor of the shower and wept for the life she was leaving behind.

By the time she was done, the water had started to run cold, so she rushed through washing her hair and body before turning the water off.

With her teeth brushed, her hair dried and put up in a high ponytail, she returned to the bedroom. She considered just getting back into her pajamas, but she wasn’t sure what the plan was for when Donovan returned. In case they had to leave quickly, she wanted to be ready. Deciding on a pair of jeans and a comfortable shirt, she dressed and started packing her bags.

Halfway through, a knock on the front door sent her heart racing. Lainey dropped the shirt she’d been folding and crept into the living room. She sure as shit wasn’t going to open the door and risk another round with the evil ginger root, but she could at least see who it was.

“Lainey? Open up, honey. I forgot my keys.”

Relief flooded her at the familiar voice. “Coming, Daddy!” she called, running to the door.

But when she yanked it open, it wasn’t Donovan on the other side. The man standing in front of her looked more like the men who’d attacked her in the alley.

“You’re not Daddy,” she blurted out.

The man smiled, but there was nothing warm or inviting in the gesture. “No, but I could be. Want me to be your daddy, weather girl?”

Lainey moved to slam the door in his face, but he slapped a hand against the wood and shoved it open again. The momentum sent her flying backward, and she cried out when she landed on her ass.

The thug stepped through the doorway, followed by a tall, thin man. When he spoke, it was with Donovan’s voice, and her blood ran cold. “Time to go, Lainey.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” Thunder shook the building as she scrambled away from the pair.

“Oh, she’s feisty,” the tall man said with a laugh. “I like her.”

He grabbed for her, and Lainey threw up her hands to protect herself. Lightning shot from her fingertips, but missed the tall man, leaving a scorched hole in the wall behind him.

“That was impressive.” Tall man’s real voice was high and nasally, nothing like Daddy’s. “You can show us your powers later, my dear. We really must get going.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, asshole.” The heat and electricity built inside of her again, and she focused on the tall man. But before she could unleash her lightning on him, she felt a small prick in the side of her neck. She looked over at the thug who’d knocked on her door and the strange gun in his hand. It was the last thing she saw before her vision blurred and the world went black.

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