Page 174 of Hidden Ties

“It’s what you aregoingto do,” he corrected her.

“What am I going to do?” she conceded, only to hear what he had to say.

“You’re going to marry me.”

She reacted without thinking of the repercussions. Her hand flew out to smack him in his face. He didn’t try to stop her,merely looked at her with those blue eyes that had always had the power to strip her defenses.

Pulling her hand back before she was tempted to hit him again, she gave him a hatred-fueled look. “I would rather swallow a hand grenade than marry you!”

“I have the power and money to fight the Ashwoods. I have the experience and connections to protect you from who Victoria hired. I can also give you the type of life Glory could only dream about her daughters having.”

Her sister wasn’t the only one who had dreams for the girls. There was so much she wanted to give them and couldn’t due to their finances. She wanted to have the time to spend with them so they could play outside more, explore different places without worrying about the cost. What she wanted most of all was to get the Ashwoods out of their lives before they were able to mar the beauty of Colby’s and Tinsley’s souls.

“I purchased a house this morning. It’s big enough for all of us. Glory, your nieces, and you are going to move in with me. You’ll never have to talk to the Ashwoods again, and I can make sure they never go near the girls again.”

As much as she wanted to shut Kent’s plan down, she couldn’t dismiss it outright.

“We’d only have to stay married until you find out who Victoria hired and prove it?”

They could stay with Kent for a short time period, she told herself. It would give her breathing room to find a job while Kent found the proof she needed to rid the girls of Victoria.

“Sage, there is no need for me to hide what type of man I am from you any longer.” Kent looked at her as if he could read her thoughts. Goose bumps rose the hair on her arms. “I don’t do anything without a reason or if there isn’t something in it for me. You won’t be juststayingwith me. Either we get married beforeI help you, or you can get out my car and go lock yourself in your apartment.”

She racked her brain to come up withanyother option. “Twister,” she said out loud as the thought occurred to her.

“My dad would try to help.”

“What? Twister is yourfather?” She was more shocked that Twister was his father than finding out Victoria wanted her dead.

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say something when we saw him at the beer fest?”

“My dad and I have been estranged for several years. I also don’t make my association with Twister and my brothers public.”

“Don’t fit with your image, do they?” She hadn’t thought Kent could sink in her estimation. She’d been wrong.

“I don’t make my family connections, or anyone I care about, public. Not because I’m ashamed, but because I care about their safety.”

Was he lying to her to keep her from asking Twister for help?

“Twister told us he had three sons. He never mentioned you. He talked about Wraith, Creed, and …”

“I’m Creed. Dad refers to us by our nicknames. Call him, if you don’t believe me.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’d help. I know he would.” She was becoming desperate. She didn’t want anything more to do with Kent … or Creed—whatever his name was. That he hadn’t told her Twister was his father was just further proof of how deceitful he was.

Creed suited him much better than Kent. Kent was the name of a superhero. Creed was a villain in a three-piece suit.

“Twister would try, but he doesn’t have the legal knowledge you need. Do you really want to continue letting the girls go theAshwoods until you find the proof you need? That could take months.”

No, she didn’t.

Another name popped into her head. There was someone else she could turn to. She would strip naked to clean houses every day if that was what it took to keep from marrying Creed.

“Don’t count on Ivo, either.”

Stunned, she pressed herself against the car door. How did he know about Ivo?

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