Page 73 of Brother's Keeper

Holland’s gray eyes fixed on me. “What?”

I shrugged. “That’s what they always say on TV.”

“This is my life, Fitch.” Her nostrils flared. “Not some fictionalized cop drama.”

I bit back a reply as Maximus spoke again.

“Holly, honey, did I miss your birthday?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay, Dad…”

The pain on her face felt like an attack aimed right at me. I’d caused this, but I did it for her. I kept her father alive so she didn’t have to lose him. This suffering was meant to be short term. With Grimm out of the equation, I could ensure it would be.

“Did Preston propose?” Maximus asked.

Moisture beaded on Holland’s lower eyelids. She glanced down, and I followed her gaze to the diamond ring on her hand.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “He did.”

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations, sweetheart.”

I clicked the End Call button, and the line went dead. It took a moment for Holland to register but, when she did, all other emotions were superseded by rage.

“Why’d you hang up?” she demanded.

“You heard what you needed to.” I tucked the phone into my hip pocket.

Her shoulders slumped, and she wiped away tears before they fell from her eyes. “So, what now?” she asked. “The charade is over? You can be the cruel, manipulative criminal you’ve always wanted to be?”

It was far from the worst thing she could have said.

I nodded. “If that’s what it takes.”

Cars whizzed past on the distant road, head and taillights chasing each other through the darkness.

“Fine,” Holland conceded. “I know what you have to offer. What do you want in return?”

“Donovan. Out of town. Like yesterday.”

“Okay.” She dipped her chin. “Is that it?”

With her father’s survival in the balance, she couldn’t exactly refuse. This next ask was extending my bargaining power perhaps beyond its limits, but maybe if I framed it right…

“My friend’s in trouble,” I said. “That shapeshifting asshole, Jaxon Rhodes, caught him and is planning to kill him. Me, too, if I show up for the meeting tomorrow.”

After supplying the address, Jax’s groupies had texted the day and time. They were in a hurry, it seemed, to slot me in after dinner tomorrow night. Very considerate of them to let me enjoy a final meal.

Holland propped her hands on her hips, likely considering the benefits of sending me to my death and wiping her hands of me for good.

“What does that have to do with me?” she asked.

“I figure I’ll fare better if I don’t show up alone,” I replied. “Much better if I have a squad of investigators watching my back.”

“You want me to send my team into a baited trap?” Refusal burgeoned behind her pursed lips.

I ticked a finger. “I want you to send them to capture Jax and two other escaped convicts. That falls firmly within an investigator’s job description, does it not?”

Not to mention they needed work since Grimm put the kibosh on the missing persons investigation.

---