The phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out and read the message.
“Oh, fuck. King is on his way.” He looked at Summer again. “I’m not sure how many more people she can take.”
“It’s better to face this stuff head-on.”
His father was right, but he couldn’t stop worrying.
It took less than twenty minutes for King to arrive. He gave Summer a heads-up and made it clear to Dottie he wanted her to stay close to run interference just in case.
He met King at the door. They shook hands, exchanged a couple of snarky quips, and then it was time.
“Come on. Meet the family,” he said with a sweeping wave. “They’re in the living room.”
King grinned. “You sound nervous.”
“I’m essentially fucked if you two don’t hit it off.” He raised one brow. “You’re not known for your social skills.”
“Be nice. I put on real clothes and everything, you fucker.”
“Did the wife pick out your clothes?”
Sniggering, King murmured, “Picked and approved via selfie.”
Without waiting, Kingsley Maddison strode into the living room and proceeded to charm the crap out of Summer.
As far as first meetings go, this one was a complete success. Somewhere along the line, King grew a personality. He made a fuss over the baby, kidded around with Summer, got into a debate with Dottie about disposable diapers, and beat Stan at one-handed thumb wrestling.
His friend and boss also came bearing tacky New York City gifts he’d grabbed at the airport. A coffee cup for Summer and a bib for Ari. Summer reacted as if he’d given her the keys to a Bentley.
Through everything, Arnie stayed close. Close enough to keep tabs on how Summer was doing. He felt the first cracks appear late afternoon. Dottie cornered him in the kitchen and asked what he was going to do about it. She sensed something too.
“I’m going to throw everyone out.”
“Advice?”
He eagerly nodded. “Please.”
“Don’t ask her how she’s doing. Just assume she needs you and then be there.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
37
“Reed, it’s all so weird,” she told her brother in a fast phone call. “I have whiplash.”
“If it means anything, I like the guy,” he admitted. “It took balls for him to call me.”
“Did you threaten him?”
“Don’t you know it,” he replied with a snort. “Told him he’s a dead man if you or my niece get hurt.”
“How did he react?”
“To be honest, twerp, he freaked out a little. I don’t think he’s used to being called out.”
“Hmph.” She wished she’d listened in on their conversation.
“I think he took me seriously, too.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Let’s just say he or his pals sent an emissary. I don’t get a lot of two star Major Generals dropping by my fucking house for no reason.”
Summer struggled to wrap her mind around what Reed was trying to say. “Are you saying he … wait, what?”
Reed chortled. “I know how you feel. Gave me a slight heart attack when an SUV and security escort pulled up out front. In a nutshell, the Major General offered a platinum endorsement of your boyfriend’s business, offered to pull back a corner of the curtain, and rather bluntly spelled out his personal connection to some dude named King. Navy SEAL with a legendary status.”
“Kingsley Maddison,” she told him. “I had the honor. He’s nothing like I expected.”
Reed laughed. “How so?”
“It was the tattoos,” she admitted with a quick giggle. “I have no idea what was going on under his sweater, but I could see enough on one side of his neck and a forearm when he pushed his sleeve up to give me some pause. The word fierce kept flashing in my brain. He comes off rather scary, so I’m glad he’s on my side. He didn’t strike me as someone you wanted to piss off.”
“Yes, well, he’s the brain behind this NIGHTWIND thing. Or one of them. I’m not gonna lie, Summer. The four-one-one on those guys came as a huge relief. They’ll keep you and Arianne safe.”
She sighed, and Reed immediately jumped. “What’s wrong?”
“My daughter is an heiress.”
Silence.
She lifted the phone from her ear and looked at it to make sure they were still connected.
“Reed?”
She felt the whoosh even through the phone. Her brother was having deep, secret thoughts. Thoughts he wasn’t about to share. Not with her.
Finally, he murmured, “Explain.”
“You already know about the Wanamakers. It turns out, there’s more.”
“How in the world is more even possible?”
She groaned. “I know, right? It turns out, Arnie’s deceased mother was the