Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (summer reads .TXT) 📕

Gabe. I know you don’t believe that, but I won’t have her irritated because you’re here. Surely, you can understand that? She’s walking around, and should go home in another day.”

“I need to speak to her, sir. She doesn’t know—”

“She doesn’t need to know anything right now except how to get better.”

I trudged into the room. “What don’t I need to know, Dad?”

When Dad turned around, I was stunned at how much older he appeared. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Oh, honey. You do not know how relieved I am to see you up and walking. My God, if that bullet would’ve strayed—”

“It didn’t, Dad,” I whispered.

“Thank God, it didn’t, honey.”

He led me to the bed. I sat down, and I noticed he aimed a pointed look at Gabe.

“Cassie, Gabe and I are both glad you’re doing better. You keep getting better, you hear?” Brock said to me. He looked at his brother. “Let’s go, Gabe.”

“Cassie?” he asked, his voice sounding shredded.

I shook my head. “Gabe, please. Go.”

Wimp that I was, I turned away so I didn’t have to watch him leave.

Dad squeezed my hand. “They’re gone, honey.”

I turned and settled myself back into bed. With a few deep breaths, I didn’t cry in front of Dad.

A police officer dropped by while my dad was there, and I answered as many of his questions as I could. When Dad heard that Asher had started working at Club Eclectic, he said he’d be having words with Ryan.

“No, Dad. I never told Ryan about Asher or the restraining order. I suppose I should have, but it didn’t cross my mind that he might try to work at the same place as me. So, it really isn’t Ryan’s fault.”

My father’s lips pressed into a thin line. I knew he had more to say on the subject but wouldn’t speak in front of the officer.

Once the officer left, I asked, “Where’s mother?”

“She’s at the house getting your room ready for you. Climbing stairs at your apartment is going to be cumbersome for a couple weeks at best.”

I closed my eyes and sighed because I hadn’t thought about that. No doubt it was the truth though seeing as just walking up and down the hallway took it out of me.

“Thank her for me if I don’t get the chance to do it first, okay?”

He grabbed my hand. “Honey, she loves you. I know she doesn’t show it very well, but she does love you.”

I nodded.

“Now, why don’t you want Gabe here? The reports I’ve been given by the officers on the scene and the nurses here, he’s been nothing but adamant to be at your side. His brother had to hold him back from Asher when he saw you wounded.”

My eyes slid to the side. “That’s surprising.”

“Talk to me honey. I know you’re not going to share with your mother, so tell your old man about it.”

I sighed. “I heard him. When I had come to, after Asher stunned me, tazed me, whatever he did to knock me out. I heard Gabe in the breezeway. He went by my place, dropped off my brush –the very reason I was at Gabe’s when Asher found me– and he said that was done, now they could go get pizza. Like that last act of finality was that. He didn’t care that he hurt me the day before.”

“How did he hurt you the day before?”

I shrugged a shoulder.

“Cassandra Ivy.”

I looked at him. “He... I walked into Ryan’s office and overheard him and Gabe talking about Gabe investing two hundred thousand in the club.”

“You did?”

I nodded. “Problem was, my dismay was written all over my face and Gabe knew that. He came to my office to ask what the problem was, and I told him it wasn’t a good idea to invest in the club.”

“Why’s that?”

I looked into Dad’s hazel eyes. “I didn’t tell you this yet because I didn’t have enough proof, but my gut tells me Ryan’s laundering money.”

He nodded like he knew that.

“You knew?” I asked.

His head tilted for a moment. “Not exactly. I hired Otero-Silva Investigations to look into it officially, but I couldn’t tell you because, like you said, you do wear your reactions on your face. Clint suspects something similar, but he hasn’t gotten a lead on the money just yet.”

I let the silence stretch between us, but Dad gave me a look.

“Tell me about your issues with Gabe.”

I sighed, which caused a twinge of pain in my ribs. “Well, Gabe accused me of trying to control him. Said I didn’t know what I was talking about, and why was it okay for you to invest in the club but not him. I told him he needed to talk to you because Ryan had said he owed you two hundred grand to get you out as silent investor. I knew you wouldn’t—”

“That’s actually correct, sweetie.”

My eyes widened. “You’re kidding,” I breathed.

With his lips pressed together, Dad shook his head.

I sunk into the bed feeling like an imbecile. “Guess I really didn’t know what I was talking about,” I mumbled.

Dad squeezed my hand. “No, honey. If you suspect Ryan of money-laundering, you were protecting Gabe.”

I dipped my chin and gave Dad my biggest eyes. “You think.”

He chuckled. “Why didn’t you tell him what you suspected?”

I arched a brow. “Gabe’s temper... actually, all the Sullivan men are known for their fierce tempers. If I’d told him then, he’d have stormed into Ryan’s office and demanded answers. Hell, he’d probably have dragged Ryan across the desk.”

Dad asked me for more details on my suspicions and I gave it to him as well as I could. He called Otero-Silva to let them know where to look in terms of the money trail.

When he ended the call, he kissed my forehead. “You look wiped, sweetie. Get some rest. Seeing as they plan to discharge you tomorrow, you’re gonna need it.”

31Make It Matter

Gabe

MY TEMPER HAD TO BE controlled, but that wasn’t going to happen today.

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