Roman-1(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(14)

“I know. I know. I just, I miss him so much. Now with Daddy being gone, and finding out I’m pregnant…I feel so alone, Tracy. I was never like this before, and now I find myself needing him, you know?”

Her eyes soften and I see her smirk as she looks over at Jace with a grin.

“You think you’re the only one who feels this way? Nah, babe, this is something that all of us went through, myself included. I had all these plans mapped out for myself, and none of them included falling for the man who broke my heart and left me alone for years. But you love who you love, and needing him isn’t a weakness. You need to realize that and find the strength to hold on. He’ll be back.”

“But what if…”

I can’t even finish the thought it hurts so much. There’s so much I don’t know, but I do know that the longer this drags out, the better the chances are of me never seeing him alive again.

He may be good at his job and even better at acting (I’ve seen the man in action), but no one is bulletproof.

My daddy sure wasn’t.

“No, don’t even think it, Mel. The boys will get him out safely and then they’ll destroy that monster that’s been plaguing us all for so long. We have so much more evidence now and—”

“Oh my God! I need to…I have something that they need to see. And I think it’s time I called my uncle Dobs.”

Tracy narrows her eyes and I feel my face drain of all color when she just shakes her head.

“We already went that route and got stonewalled. He isn’t interested in getting involved in an issue he says belongs to the Department of Homeland Security. When was the last time you spoke to him?”

That gives me pause and I feel my brain start working when I consider that Uncle Dob wouldn’t want to help out, even after they told him about Daddy.

“What exactly did he say?” I ask, ignoring her question.

“Well, he told Miah that he told your father to keep his nose clean and that he isn’t willing to risk his career to come down here and clean up his mess. Then he told Miah to back off the case and leave it to him because he’s handing it over to DHS.”

Hearing her say that he cares so little about Daddy is like a knife to the heart, and the anger I’ve been toting around starts boiling again. My first instinct is to call him and cuss him out for his attitude and the disappointment I feel at not being able to rely on him at a time like this.

And yet didn’t Daddy warn me that his brother isn’t as heroic as I’ve always made him out to be? I hate that he was right all those times I begged him to call Uncle Dob. Now I have absolutely no one to turn to when all the chips are down.

The worst part is that I know Daddy died thinking that he was alone, because in the end he really was. I was gone, Roman wasn’t there like he was supposed to be, and Dobs—

I hear a phone ringing beneath the bar and I practically dive for my purse and almost drop to my knees when I fish both phones out of my bag and see that it’s the burner that’s ringing insistently.

Only one person has the number.





Chapter Five


Melissa

“Where the hell are you?”

His deep, angry demand makes me laugh and cry at the same time, and I realize that I’m on my knees behind the bar, laughing and crying like a loon when I hear him start cussing and the sound of sheets rustling.

“Baby girl, I asked you a question. Where the fuck are you?”

“I-I’m at the bar,” I choke out, answering on autopilot because I feel so happy right now. I’m struggling to get my brain back into working order.

He starts swearing violently.

“You were supposed to stay at the fucking cabin where you’re safe!”

“Oh yeah? Well I didn’t fucking want to. Do you have any idea what it’s like being shut away from the world for weeks, not knowing what’s going on? I couldn’t do it anymore without at least knowing what is going on, and…and Daddy…”

Do not start crying, Mel. Pack it all away and keep it for later.

I hear a curse and his tired sigh before he starts talking again.

“Baby girl, I know I failed you, and I am so sorry for not being there when the chief needed me. I-I know I can’t make this up to you, but please do not do anything to put yourself in danger. I’m so close now,” he begs and I can almost see him pulling at his hair in that way he always does when worry and frustration overtake him.

“Babe, Daddy knew.” I stop and clear my throat to steady my voice. “He knew what he got himself into from the beginning. This isn’t on you. It’s on him and whatever animal killed him. I know that. Just, just please come home now.”