Deadly Coincidence (Brantley Walker Off the Books #4) - Nicole Edwards Page 0,85
in his little hand all day if they’d let him.
He’d then built a block fort with Haden, who was two and a half but, based on his little attitude, believed he was five. Moving on from that, he’d spent the better part of an hour with three-year-old Avery, coloring pictures of Disney princesses.
Plus he’d managed to spend some quality time with nineteen-month-old Maddox, who was content to put his chubby little legs to use by wobbling nonstop from one end of the house to the other.
Being here with them wasn’t a hardship by any means. In fact, Travis considered himself truly blessed. He had the greatest roles life could offer: husband to both a beautiful, amazing woman and a ridiculously sexy man, as well as father to five wonderful kids. Some would probably say he had more than he deserved, and he wouldn’t have an argument for that.
However, every time he sat down to enjoy that little bit of family time, it felt as though he was sitting on pins and needles, his entire body eager to move, to do something to eliminate the noise brewing in his head. As much as he loved his wife, his husband, his children, Travis wanted to contribute to the hunt for Juliet Prince. Regardless of whether she was responsible for what had happened to JJ, she needed to be found. Dead or alive, he no longer cared, as long as she was no longer a threat to his family.
And as of an hour ago, Brantley had confirmed that this was a legit kidnapping, one that had resulted in a two-million-dollar ransom for Dante Greenwood’s safe return. He had also informed him that Juliet Prince was not part of that plan, but no one seemed to have an answer for who lured Travis over to that house. They only knew that it wasn’t JJ.
Was he disappointed that this incident wasn’t spearheaded by Juliet Prince? Yeah, he figured he was. While he didn’t wish harm on anyone, he figured the only way he was going to get any sort of closure was for the woman to make another move. She would. He knew that much.
Which, for him, meant that crazy, psycho bitch was out there waiting, probably watching, preparing to pounce. The very reason Travis was in his office, scouring the internet, looking for anything and anyone who could help him find her.
And yes, he’d gone back on his promise to Gage. But in his defense, he’d been on his best behavior for the past three weeks, and he’d promised himself he wouldn’t allow this to fuck up his relationship with his family. Not this time. But he couldn’t sit on his hands any longer. Not if he was expected to maintain his sanity.
His cell phone rang, the sound startling him enough that he flinched before glaring down at the device sitting on his desk. He saw his dad’s name and picture on the screen, so he picked it up, answered.
“Hey, Pop.”
“How’s it goin’? Any news on that house fire today?”
“Not yet,” he said with a sullen sigh. “Brantley’s still workin’ to figure it out.”
“They’ll find him,” Curtis said reassuringly.
Him. Right. His old man was worried about Dante Greenwood while he was an afterthought for Travis.
“You talk to Governor Greenwood?” Travis asked.
“I did not, no. I tried but had to leave a message.”
He turned in his chair, stared out the window to the front of the house. It was already dark out but not quite six o’clock.
“What’s on your mind, boy?” Curtis asked, his tone sympathetic.
“Nothin’,” he lied.
“What’d I tell you about that?” his father said, his tone stern. “Lyin’ ain’t gonna solve the problem.”
Travis felt the same wash of shame he’d felt when he was a kid and his father had caught him in a lie. He had a deep love and respect for his father, which meant being admonished by the man had the same effect it’d had as a child. Even at the ripe young age of forty-two.
“If Dante was kidnapped,” he wondered aloud, “who texted me to send me over there? And why?”
“You think she had somethin’ to do with it?”
“I don’t know what to think,” he admitted. “I just need this to be over. I need them to find her so my life can get back on course. With her out there, I can’t…” Eat, sleep, work. Breathe. “There’s this feelin’ I’ve got. I don’t know what it is, but it…” Travis lowered his voice. “It scares me, Pop.”