Page 4 of The Ranger
I can’t be the man my father became, the one who left his family and failed us all.I’m not yet sure I could be better.
So I’ve been watching her.
Wondering where she is.
And damn, seeing her now, glowing...or rather, glowering...I realize a whole lot more was happening in the background.
Jesus, she’s pregnant.
“Fuck?Yes, Cole, you did that.”Scarlett plants her hands on her hips.“And ignored my calls.”
She phoned me twice a week ago.
I thought it was a booty call.
Josh, Marshal and Aidan turn to face me as I wipe a hand over my face.
“I’ll take her into the boardroom,” Penny shoots me a narrowed look.
Fuck.
How did this happen?Christ, I know the answer to that.
Scarlet spins.“Oh, no, you fucking won’t—”
Josh holds up his hands, and we all go quiet.“Hey.No one speaks to Penny like that.Scarlett, clearly a conversation between you and Cole is needed here.”
Ya think?
I stand.Scarlett glares at me, muttering,fineand then disappears.The door clicks shut, and I let out a breath.When I refocus, everyone is staring at me, looking for answers.
I think they know what has happened.
It’s pretty obvious.
“What?She’s hot.A little crazy, I’ll admit.But we fucked.The end.”
Except clearly it’s not.
“Jesus fucking Christ.”Josh shakes his head.“I should have hired monks.”
I snort.
“They’re not so good with guns.”Wait, do monks train in weaponry?“Shit, do you think they know how to shoot?”
I’m procrastinating.
This is not good.Not good at all.I can’t be a father.
I can’t.
There’s a reason I left home early, joined the US Army, and stayed away from my family as much as possible.My parents divorced when I was thirteen.My father was disloyal and hurt my mother.
I hated him for it.
The day Mom said in anger,you’re just like your father,I enlisted.
I will not be like him.Never.And if that meant staying single and never having kids to prove it...well, that was my game plan.
