One by one, Mike pulled each item he’d collected out of the box, knowing it was time to come clean with his siblings. Four years ago, when he’d started investigating his father’s murder, he’d realized that his family had all had the same idea.
But they had full-time jobs, too, just as he did.
His only advantage was that he worked for himself. Oh, he still needed to eat and pay his mortgage, but he could pick and choose what cases to take on. The flexibility of his private investigator role offered him opportunities his brothers and sister didn’t have.
He wasn’t proud of how he’d taken the information his siblings had uncovered without their knowledge, but reviewing everything together had been the best way for him to wrap his mind around all aspects of the case. Each of his siblings had identified specific details pertinent to the investigation.
Clues that he now had here at his fingertips.
He glanced over to make sure Brodie was okay in the living room, then sat down to begin reading.
The bedroom door opened abruptly. Shayla emerged, looking pale and shaken. She held one of the disposable phones in her hand and he quickly went over to her.
“What’s wrong?”
She lifted her stricken gaze to his. “I heard from Duncan. He told me to stay with you, to not go anywhere alone.”
“Duncan?” He tried to tamp down the incredulous tone in his voice. “He called you on the disposable phone? How is that possible?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “But I know it was him. Who else knows I’m with you?”
He cupped her shoulders in his hands. “Shayla, this is important. No one has that number. So how did your brother use it to reach you?”
“I gave the number to the hospital,” she offered. “I made sure the nurse had it and asked that she write it down for my dad, too. Maybe Duncan called in to check on our dad and got the number from them?”
“I guess that’s possible.” He felt relieved at the explanation but still didn’t like it. What if someone else used the same tactic? The very idea made his blood run cold. “Tell me exactly what Duncan said.”
She shook her head and set the phone on the kitchen table. “I already did! He didn’t say much of anything, other than asking if I was okay and still with you. He told me to stay close and not go anywhere alone. I begged him to tell me where he was, so that we could come get him, but he refused and basically hung up on me.”
The hurt in her voice made him wince. He gently pulled her into his arms, wishing he could say something to make her feel better.
To his surprise, Shayla wrapped her arms around his waist, burrowed her face into the hollow of his shoulder and hung on tight. He reveled in being able to hold her in his arms again, after four years of being apart.
She fitted perfectly, as if this was where she belonged.
He closed his eyes, wishing for a moment he could go back in time to do things differently. Having Shayla and Brodie here now was a second chance he was eternally grateful for. Yet he still grieved for everything that he’d missed.
Regrets were a useless waste of time, so he did his best to keep himself focused on the future.
Stroking his hand over her back, he rested his cheek against her hair. “I promise to do everything possible to keep you and Brodie safe, Shayla.”
“I know.” Her words were muffled against his chest.
He couldn’t help himself from kissing her temple, the way he had earlier.
She lifted her head to look up at him. He lightly pushed the hair away from her forehead. “At least I know Duncan is still alive. That’s more than we knew a few days ago.”
He nodded, cupping her cheek in one hand. “I’m happy to know that, too. Don’t worry, we’ll find him.”
“How?” she whispered. “We don’t know anything about who’s behind all of this.”
It pained him to admit she was right. He knew the Dark Knights were involved but obtaining the proof he needed to convince his cop brothers to take action was proving impossible. He lightly stroked her silky-soft skin with his thumb. “I don’t know, but I won’t stop until I figure it out.”
The corner of her mouth tipped in a lopsided smile. “I’m so glad to be here with you, Mike.”
“Me, too.” He searched her gaze for a moment then gently leaned down to capture her mouth with his. She tasted wonderful, exactly the way he remembered.
And when she kissed him back, his heart soared with hope and anticipation. Was it possible she still had feelings for him, the way he did for her?
The sound of wheels crunching on the gravel driveway had him reluctantly raising his head. “Sorry, Shayla, my brothers have rotten timing,” he whispered.
“It’s fine.” She looked flustered as she pulled out of his arms, smoothing her hair away from her face and taking a step back. “I have to check on Brodie anyway. And get the pizza in the oven. He’ll no doubt be complaining that he’s hungry soon.”
Mike nodded, watching as she walked away to check on their son. He stood for a long moment wondering how she felt about their kiss. She hadn’t pulled away, but she hadn’t looked him directly in the eye afterward, either.
Did she regret kissing him? He sincerely hoped not. Shrugging off the hint of unease, he headed over to the door to greet his brother Mitch and brother-in-law, Noah Sinclair. Shayla disappeared with Brodie into the kitchen to cook the pizza.
“Thanks, guys,” he said, taking the keys to Hawk’s SUV. “I appreciate the help.”
“Not a problem,” Mitch assured him. “You helped bail me out of trouble when I was framed for murder, remember?”
“Yeah.” He’d always been there for his siblings and it struck him how much easier it was for him to offer his help than to accept it. “I may need more assistance from you tomorrow. If you’re up for it?”
Noah and Mitch exchanged surprised glances. “Absolutely. I can free myself up tomorrow,” Mitch said. “I’m sure I can convince the others to come out, too.”
“Agreed,” Noah added. “Do you want to start tonight?”
It was a good idea. Mike hesitated and then shook his head. “No, I need to do a little research on my own first. Get my thoughts together. Tomorrow afternoon will be soon enough.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” Mitch grinned. “Two requests for help in one day, must be a new record.”
Mike rolled his eyes at his brother’s lame attempt at humor. “Whatever. Oh, and let me give you a different number for you to use to reach me.” He crossed the living room to pick up the second disposable phone. Returning to where they stood, he rattled off the number. Noah and Mitch dutifully typed the information into their respective phones.
“I’ll pass this along to the others,” Mitch said, replacing his phone in his pocket.
“I’ll make sure Maddy has it,” Noah added.
“Thanks again.” Mike knew he was fortunate to have such a supportive family. And as he watched Mitch and Noah drive away, he couldn’t help but wonder if Shayla’s family had once been the same way.
He knew what he’d overheard the day of his father’s funeral. The words had echoed over and over in his mind. Was it possible there was a logical explanation?
Deep down, he prayed there was. He needed to understand what had happened to his father and why.
But even more so, he needed to find a way to keep Shayla and Brodie in his life. And uncovering the truth about her father and brother being involved in criminal activity would not help.
In fact, it could ruin his relationship with Shayla forever.
* * *
Disconcerted by Mike’s kiss, Shayla put the pizza into the oven without preheating it. Mumbling “Idiot” under her breath, she pulled it out and turned the oven on.
She found comfort in the muted voices of Mitch, Noah and Mike coming from the living room. Knowing that the Callahan family was rallying around Mike provided a feeling of security.
They weren’t in this alone.
Her brother and father would have done the exact same thing. If her father wasn’t in the hospital recovering from open-heart surgery. And if her brother wasn’t hiding from imminent danger.
Unfortunately, Mike didn’t believe in her family the way he did his own.
“I’m hungry,” Brodie announced, interrupting her thoughts.
“I know,” she responded. “The pizza will be ready soon.”
“Goody,” Brodie said clapping his hands. Normally she didn’t like giving him junk food, especially since he was already big for his age. She winced whenever the pediatrician weighed him. Dr. Pikna has assured her that Brodie was fine, despite being off the charts for both his height and his weight, but she still worried about him.
Yet, today wasn’t the time to be concerned about junk food. Not after the way they’d barely escaped with their lives.
When the oven had preheated, she placed the pizza inside and set the timer. Mike returned to the kitchen and began packing everything back inside the box.
“Are Mitch and Noah gone?”
“Yep.”
“You’re not going to review that stuff tonight?” she asked, her brow wrinkling in confusion.
“Not until after we eat.” After setting the box aside, he pulled out plates and cups and silverware, setting the table as if they were a family.
Which, technically, they were. She drew in a deep breath, reminding herself of her earlier promise. After dinner she and Mike would sit with Brodie to tell him the truth about Mike being his father.
Fifteen minutes later, the pizza was done. She pulled it out of the oven and sliced it. She cut Brodie’s into smaller pieces, so that the sauce would cool and to encourage him not to eat too fast.
She carried the plates to the table while Mike filled their glasses with milk. Then he sat and held out a hand to her and to Brodie.
Confused, she placed her hand in his.
“Dear Lord,” Mike said, bowing his head. “Thank You for providing this food we are about to eat. We also thank You for keeping us safe in Your care today when danger was near. We ask that You continue to bless us and to keep us safe from harm as we seek the truth. Amen.”
“Amen,” Shayla murmured. Mike’s prayer touched her heart. She lifted her gaze and gently squeezed his hand. “That was nice, Mike. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His smile reminded her of happier times. The few short days they’d had together when they’d promised to marry each other, to care for each other and to love one another.
“Dig in, Brodie,” Mike said, releasing his son’s hand.
Brodie didn’t hesitate. “Yum.”
Shayla shook her head wryly. “He acts as if he hasn’t eaten in days rather than hours.”
“He has one voracious appetite,” Mike agreed.
“We’ll, um, talk after dinner, okay?”
He glanced at her curiously before recognition dawned in his green eyes as he understood the implication. “I’d like that.”
She smiled and nodded, unable to shake an odd sense of uncertainty. Telling Brodie was the right thing to do, but even though she’d promised to find a way to make things work, she wasn’t so sure there would be an easy answer.
Shared custody? The thought of giving Brodie up for weekends with his dad was unnerving. She told herself plenty of people did it all the time and survived, but the mere thought of spending so much time without her son had her curling her fingers into fists.
Would she have to move back to Milwaukee? Give up her life as she’d known it for the past four years in Nashville? And what about Aunt Jean? She depended on her aunt to help care for Brodie while she worked.
Her heart tripped and stumbled in her chest and she felt short of breath. Really? Another panic attack? What was wrong with her?
Stop it, she told herself sternly.
Mike frowned when he noticed she was picking at her pizza. “Something wrong?”
Wordlessly, she shook her head.
“More pizza?” Brodie asked hopefully.
She stood, took his plate and went over to cut up another slice. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Mommy.” He ate another piece of pizza, grinning broadly. “My favorite.”
“I think all food is your favorite,” Mike said dryly. “Is there anything you don’t like, Brodie?”
He scrunched up his nose. “’Shrooms and ’sparagus.”
“Vegetables,” Mike said with a smile. “Figures.”
“But you like the little trees, don’t you?” There was no reason to feel defensive of her son’s eating preferences, but that was exactly how she sounded. “What about peas and green beans?”
Brodie nodded. “All good. Just not ’shrooms and ’sparagus.”
“Well, then, next time we’re at the store we’ll have to pick up some broccoli,” Mike said with a smile. “Little trees are one of my favorites, too.”
She rose from the table, carrying her half-finished plate to the counter. Nerves had stolen her appetite.
Mike and Brodie chatted while they finished eating, Mike asking questions about how Brodie liked preschool. She listened to her son’s answers with a mixed sense of pride and dismay.
Being a single mother hadn’t been easy, but Brodie was clearly a well-adjusted little boy. She hated the idea of tearing him from friends he’d made at the pre-K program.
“Are you all finished, Brodie?” Mike asked.
She steeled her resolve and turned to face her son and the man she’d once loved. “Let’s sit in the living room for a while. I’ll take care of the dishes later.”
“I can help,” Mike added, searching her gaze. He was so in tune to her emotions now, she found herself wondering why he hadn’t been that way four years ago.
Maturity? Maybe.
She took a damp cloth and wiped the smears of tomato sauce from Brodie’s hands and face. Mike went into the living room and lit a fire in the fireplace.
“Brodie, we have something exciting to tell you,” she said. She sat on the sofa and brought Brodie up next to her. Mike took a seat on Brodie’s other side.
“We’re going to the park?” he asked, his brown eyes filled with hope. “I wanna go swimming!”
“Not right now, it’s almost bedtime.” She looked at Mike and then back down at Brodie. “Listen, Brodie, I want to tell you something important. Mike is your real daddy.”
“My daddy?” Brodie glanced at Mike in confusion. “For today?”
“For always,” Mike said. “I’m your daddy, Brodie. And I want you to know I love you very much.”
“I have a daddy!” Brodie kicked his feet with exuberance. “Just like Joey has a daddy.”
“That’s right. Just like Joey.” Shayla smiled, glad her son seemed to grasp the concept.
“Are you gonna live wif us, forever?” Brodie asked, turning his wide, hopeful brown eyes on Mike.
“Yes,” Mike said at the same time Shayla answered, “No.”
“Joey’s daddy lives with him,” Brodie said, his gaze perplexed.
“But Carol’s daddy doesn’t,” she swiftly pointed out. “Some daddies do but others don’t. It won’t matter, though, because you’ll get to see your daddy all the time, right?”
Brodie seemed to consider that angle. “Right.”
Mike frowned, pinning her with his gaze, but she ignored him.
“Maybe you and your daddy can play for a bit while I clean up the kitchen.” She slowly rose to her feet, forcing herself to give Mike and Brodie some time alone.
“Can we play wif the blocks?” Brodie asked.
“Absolutely.” Mike lifted Brodie down onto the floor next to the blocks, then sat cross-legged beside him.
Shayla hurried into the kitchen, wiping at the sting of tears. They’d cleared this hurdle, but there were many more to come.
As she scrubbed the pizza pan, she grew angry with Mike for rashly insinuating that he’d be living with them. That was something he’d had no right to promise Brodie. They hadn’t even discussed co-parenting arrangements.
She took her frustration out on the pizza pan, washing with more elbow grease than what was required. Just as she finished with the dishes, she felt Mike come up behind her.
“We need to talk,” he said in a low voice.
“You think?” She knew her tone sounded terse and drew in a slow, deep breath before facing him. “I can’t believe you said that!”
“I was thinking we’d find a way to make it work. That’s what you said earlier today.”
“I didn’t say we’d live together,” she responded, keeping her voice down so Brodie wouldn’t overhear. “I haven’t agreed to move back to Wisconsin, either.”
Mike hesitated and then shrugged. “Okay, I get that. It’s reasonable that I be the one to relocate to Nashville.”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “I—we—that’s…” Her voice trailed off. She swallowed hard and tried again. “We shouldn’t make big decisions right now. Not while everything is up in the air.”
Mike searched her gaze, his expression serious. “Is this your way of telling me you don’t have feelings for me?”
The question hit her in the stomach like a sucker punch to the gut. Because the problem was, she did still have feelings for him.
But love? No way. She’d already promised not to give Mike her heart. Not after the way he’d trampled it the first time she’d entrusted it to him.
“I don’t know, Mike. Let me ask you a question. Do you still believe my father and brother have something to do with your father’s murder?”
He opened his mouth as if to deny it and closed it again without saying anything.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She tossed the dish towel on the counter and brushed past him, hoping he’d stop her. That he’d tell her how wrong he was for thinking the worst all these years.
But he didn’t.
And that was an answer in and of itself.