Page 8 of Charming But Reckless

“There’s some extra stuff in here, but I’ve also got some cash for you. He may need a few new items in town depending on how this goes.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“It’s all good, man. Beau and I will take care of — actually, what’s his name? I don’t think Beau said.”

The man in question turned to look up at me. On his face was a grim sort of determination.

“Can you tell us your name, sweetheart?” he asked Little A.

When he didn’t get a response, he reached down to the dirt at his feet and started drawing. I stepped closer to see exactly what the plan was here.

B-E-A-U.

“That’s my name. Beau. You don’t have to say it. I just wanted you to see it spelled,” he said.

I watched in amazement as Little A eased down beside him. Underneath where Beau had drawn out his name, he traced his own shaky letter.

S-O-L.

“Sol? Is that how you say your name?”

A nod.

I exhaled hard. It was definitely the right call bringing him here. I’d gotten more from him in the last little bit than I had in the hours before.

“Sol,” I said, testing the name aloud. He looked my way, his gaze just as curious. “I’m going to find your father, Sol. And I’m going to bring him to you. That’s my promise.”

His tiny head tilted just slightly, as if he were assessing my words for the validity. This kid was so damn smart. I had a weird sort of pride over it too, which was weird.

I thanked Beau and Jackson for watching him, then I waved goodbye to them all as I took off to head back into the city. I’d done what I need to with Sol. Now it was time to track down his father.

Oh, and I had to do the whole beg for forgiveness thing from Tank and the team. Hopefully a half-truth would be enough to keep them off my trail.

This mission was a solo one. I couldn’t risk them getting involved when there was too much history already.

CHAPTER 4

ORION

I was losingmy fucking mind.

Despite knowing his name, there was nothing else popping up about Sol. No birth information or missing person’s reports.

While I wasn’t nearly as skilled as Memphis in the tech area, I knew enough to navigate through the databases. Still, I had zilch to go off of even after over a week of constant searching.

Beau was sending me regular updates about Sol and the ranch. I even got pictures of him with the animals or playing with Dakota.

He never smiled. Not in a single one of the photos. I wondered how long it would take for him to do so.

Hopefully, reuniting him with his father would help speed that along.

If only I could find the asshole.

At fourteen, I’d had the same bad luck when I was tracking him. You’d think two decades, and a lot of technological advancements, would make it easier. Not in the slightest.

“Where are you, Arick?” I muttered under my breath as I sat on my bed staring at my phone.

I’d barely slept all night. Today would be a battle to get through. I already knew as much.

Plus, if rumor was to be believed, then Takeshi was bringing Archie in with him too. I still couldn’t believe they’d gotten married.

---