Page 111 of Merciless Desires

My daughter skips into the dining room with her iPad. “Sophie, honey, come here.” I breathe in relief when I get the confirmation that a jet is ready for me.

“Yeah, Daddy?”

“Uncle Cormac’s been in a car accident in Las Vegas.” My words tumble out, and I can’t believe I just said that.

“Oh, no!”

“He’s okay. But I have to fly down there and…” I won’t tell Sophie her favorite uncle’s been arrested. “He needs my help.”

“I can come and help, too, Daddy.” She jumps to her feet, and it kills me.

It makes sense to bring her since she has her own room at the villa, but I have no one to watch her there. I will not bring her to a fucking courthouse and make her see Cormac in shackles.

“Not this time, honey. Olivia will stay with you.”

“What about my party tomorrow?” She’s worried I won’t be home. “I need to bring my own cupcakes.” She looks around, figuring out I haven’t bought the nut-free cake mix we need because she’s highly allergic.

Shopping and baking were on the agenda for our day together. For all the parties, Brownie meetings, and soccer games she goes to, I send her with her own food, snacks, and sweets.

“Sophie, let’s go to the market right now and get your cupcake mix.” Olivia saves me, snagging her coat and umbrella from the hall tree.

“Cool!” Uncle Cormac’s accident forgotten. Thank goodness for short attention spans.

Olivia helps Sophie on with her coat and above a whisper, she says, “I’m sure my mother won’t mind if I skip helping her just this once. I’ll make the cupcakes, too, Dr. O’Rourke.”

The tone of her voice, tempting me to give in to her advances, sits on a razor edge of what’s right for me and Sophie. Saving myself, I say, “I’ll call you from Vegas after I have my brother.”

“Okay.” She smiles with hope on her lips.

She’s attractive, but I swear, I feel nothing for her. What the hell is wrong with me? I stopped having feelings for Ginny years ago. How could I love someone who doesn’t want to live with me and her own daughter?

“Sophie?” I wave her over and finish buttoning her coat. “I won’t be here when you get back, but I’ll be home as soon as I can. I will take you to your party tomorrow. I promise.” I kiss her forehead, pushing back a sudden wash of tears, worrying I’ll break that promise.

“Okay, Daddy.” She hugs me, and her arms around me strike a nerve in my heart.

We’re fine. We’re just fine, her and I.

I don’t need anyone else.

The private plane gets me to the front of the take-off line out of Sea-Tac, and we land on the priority tarmac in Las Vegas ahead of everyone, too. When we touch down, I call Tamryn.

“You’re cutting it close, mate.”

“Stall,” I bite out, thinking of all the money I give him. “You’re a detective first grade.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He ends the call in a huff, signaling he’ll want extra cash this month.

I hop into a limo I ordered while on the plane. I was supposed to be at the courthouse by four p.m.

It’s five after when we tear out of the hangar.

I get to the courthouse twenty-minutes later, where Tamryn waits for me and opens the limo door. “I pulled some favors with the DA. They’re waiting for you.”

“Thank you.” Turning to the driver, I say, “I’ll text you when we’re ready to go back to the airport.” My stomach twists at all that I’m missing with my daughter for this.

I jog up the steps with the blaring afternoon sun on my skin and dry air filling my lungs. Such a difference from misty, gray Seattle, but I don’t have time to even enjoy the nice weather.

“I did some more digging into the case, mate.” Tamryn steers me to the courtroom. “I didn’t want to call you mid-flight until I had all the details.”

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