Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.”
“Change your feelings,” Ally said. “I want a girl.”
“Then get pregnant,” Sophie said.
“Shush.”
“Why do you think it’s a boy?” Mandy asked, curious.
“I don’t know,” Emma replied. “I just … it feels like a him.” She clamped her hand over her flat stomach. “I don’t like saying it.”
“I get that,” Ally said. “Start saying her, though. I want a niece.”
Mandy chortled. “Yes, Emma, force your womb to accommodate Ally.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Ally said.
“Oh, he’s moving,” Sophie said.
Mandy and Ally discarded the argument.
“What’s he doing?” Ally asked.
“He’s heading in our direction.”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s about ten feet behind Mandy.”
“When he’s close, nod,” Mandy ordered.
Sophie blinked her eyes in rapid succession.
“Yeah, that’s normal,” Ally deadpanned.
Sophie nodded suddenly.
Mandy jumped to her feet, swiveling, and grabbed the man behind her by his hair. “You scum-sucking loser.” She slammed her knee into his nose as she pulled his head lower. “I hope you get raped by a whole gang in prison!”
“Omigod!”
Ally was on her feet, and Sophie was inches behind her. They were purposely building a wall between danger and Emma.
“What did you do?” The man was howling.
“You stay away from us,” Sophie ordered.
“We’ll kill you,” Ally added, looking around for a weapon. She grabbed the fake set of books on the coffee table and brandished it threateningly. “I’ll … book you to death.”
“You’re crazy,” the man said, taking a step back and rubbing his nose.
“We’re crazy protective,” Mandy said, waving her hands in front of the man’s face. “I’m not afraid to slap the shit out of you.”
“You’re a … freak!”
“You have no idea,” Ally said, stepping up next to Mandy. “She’ll slap you, and I’ll bite you. My molars are crazy tough.”
“Stop talking,” the man said. “I … .”
Mandy reached out and slapped him across the face. Hard. Ally followed suit, just from the other side.
“You are evil,” Mandy said.
“You’re a bad man,” Ally said, lashing out with her foot and kicking him in the ass. “You’re a very bad man.”
“You’re devils!” The man reached forward, his fingers brushing against Mandy’s hair. Another set of hands shot out and stopped him in his tracks.
“You’re going to wish you’d never touched my wife,” James warned, his face grim. He slammed his fist into the man’s face. “Or my sister.” James punched him again for good measure, the force propelling the man over the arm of the chair next to the couch.
“Don’t ever touch our women!” Finn yelled.
James cast him a sidelong look. “That was a little much.”
Finn ignored him and rushed to Emma’s side. “Are you okay?”
Emma was flabbergasted as she collapsed in Finn’s arms. “Mandy and Ally beat the crap out of him.”
“Hey, I helped,” James said, affronted.
“They were better,” Emma replied. “Can I take a self-defense course?”
Finn smiled, pulling her to his chest and kissing her forehead. “You can do anything you want to do, sweetheart. Anything.”
“I’M pressing charges.”
James rolled his eyes, fixing the man with a hard look as consciousness reclaimed him. “Go ahead. You attacked four women in a furniture store. I’m guessing I’m going get off light.”
“You’re totally getting off tonight,” Mandy offered, brandishing her clenched fists. “I’m completely turned on.”
James couldn’t help but smile. “You fill me with joy, baby.”
“You, too.”
James turned back to the man on the floor. “Do you want to tell me why you were attacking my … women?”
The man rubbed his jaw. “You have more than one woman?”
“I have a lot of women to love,” James said. “You went after most of them tonight, including my wife. Why don’t you tell me why I shouldn’t kill you?”
“I didn’t go after anyone.”
“That’s not what they say,” Finn said. “Who do you think the cops are going to believe?”
“I think they’re going to believe the woman who protects an evil minion because she’s her mother, of course,” the man said.
James narrowed his eyes. “What’s your beef with Sheila Archibald?”
The man made a face. “Her name is Sheila Davenport.”
“We know,” James said. “The question is, how do you know?”
“Because she married my father,” the man spat out.
James straightened, exchanging a look with Finn. “Well, this just got interesting.”
“I’M really sorry,” Mandy said, her face full of contrition. “We just thought you were trying to hurt Emma.”
“We didn’t know you were Nathan Davenport’s son,” Ally offered. “What did you say your name was, again?”
“Seth.”
“That sucks,” Sophie said. “I’m sorry your dad gave you such a stupid name.”
Seth shot her a hateful look. “There’s nothing wrong with my name.”
“Except it sucks,” Ally said, rolling her eyes.
“You suck,” Seth shot back.
“You suck,” Ally said, sticking her tongue out.
“You’re crazy,” Seth said. “I hope you rot in Hell.”
James wagged a finger in his face. “Don’t talk to my sister that way.”
Seth made a face. “You people are crazy.”
“We’re not crazy,” Mandy argued. “We’re … proactive.”
“You’re a cu-- … .”
Mandy reared back as James slammed a fist into Seth’s face.
“Holy crap,” Seth said, covering his nose. “I think you broke my nose.”
“Don’t call my wife that word,” James said. “I happen to love her.”
“So, who here isn’t related to you?” Seth asked, affronted.
James scanned the four female faces as they watched him. “They’re all related to me,” he said. “They’re my family.”
“Your family is crazy,” Seth said.
“Your family consists of a murderer who masquerades as a loan shark,” James countered. “You have no room to talk.”
Seth’s shoulders slumped. “My father is an ass,” he said. “I’m not going to deny it.”
“Then why are you here?” Finn asked.
“I’m looking for my father,” Seth said, swiping a finger under his nose. “You people are animals.”
“You should see what happens when we’re threatened with a weapon,” Ally said. “I bite.”
“She does,” James confirmed.
“Why are you looking for you father?” Finn asked.
“He’s been missing for a month,” Seth said. “I know that she-wolf he married is responsible.”
Emma stirred. “Sheila?”
“Yes.”
“She’s my mother,” Emma said.
“I found that out on my own,” Seth said. “I thought I made that obvious. You’re the fruit of her poisoned loins.”
“Way to be subtle, man,” James said, rolling his eyes.
“My father is missing,” Seth said.
“Your father is a suspect in three different murders,” James replied. “It’s not like he’s a good guy. Maybe he just ran.”
“He’s … complicated,” Seth said.
“I know about complicated,” Sophie said, narrowing her eyes. “Why do you think your father is missing?”
“You know about complicated?” Seth scoffed.
“
My foster father is Peter Marconi,” Sophie said, her voice even. “He’s … complicated.”
Seth’s eyes brightened with recognition. “He’s a mobster.”
“He’s a good man,” James interjected. “He does … things, but he doesn’t act out of malice. He’s a businessman.”
“Oh, so some assholes are fine in your world, but others are disposable,” Seth shot back.
“Shut your mouth,” James warned. “I’ll have you arrested.”
“You don’t have the power,” Seth countered.
“You’d be surprised by what power I have,” James said.
Seth opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. “What do you want?”
“Information,” James said. “Why did you come here?”
“I’m looking for my father,” Seth said.
“Do you know Sheila?” Finn asked.
“I know her,” Seth said, scowling. “My dad brought her home a couple years ago and told me she was going to be his new wife. She was a two-bit whore even then. She was a master manipulator. I could see it.”
“Were they … romantic?” Finn asked.
“They were odd,” Seth said. “My dad said they were in love, but there was something else going on.”
“Like?”
“I don’t know,” Seth admitted. “It was just … weird. She’d make a show like she cared, but her eyes were empty.”
“Welcome to my world,” Emma muttered.
“Were you aware of your dad’s operations?” James asked, forcing Seth’s attention back on him.
“Listen, I know my father had his faults,” Seth said. “He was a bad man. He was still my dad.”
“I understand that,” James said. “I honestly don’t care about your dad. I do care about Sheila. She’s … trouble.”
“She’s evil,” Seth growled.
“I agree,” Finn said. “What’s the deal with your father? Public records say he’s on trial for racketeering. I would guess that he’s on a tether. Why aren’t the police looking for him?”
“His tether is still active,” Seth said. “That doesn’t mean I think my father is.”
“Wait,” Mandy said. “How is that possible? Tethers are monitored by companies.”
“His tether is still active,” Seth said. “I don’t think it’s my father, though. I think they’re fooling the company somehow. I’m not allowed into his house to check. Sheila made sure of that.”
“How?” Finn asked.
“Listen, my father is a dick,” Seth said. “I’m not saying he’s Father of the Year. He still called me once a week. I haven’t heard from him in almost a month. I keep getting Sheila on the phone.”
“Why are you looking for him?” Sophie asked.
“Why does it matter?”
“I’m guessing you’re looking for him because of the money,” Sophie said, refusing to rise to Seth’s attitude. “Since he married Sheila, what is the financial outcome?”
Seth made a face. “She gets everything as long as she’s alive,” he said. “When she’s dead, I get my inheritance.”
“Well, that explains faking Nathan’s survival,” James said. “How can she hide his death, though?”
“That’s a pretty interesting question,” Seth said. “So, wait, you guys aren’t working with her?”
“We want her gone,” James said. “She’s a blight on humanity, not to mention my family.”
Seth shifted his attention to Emma. “You’re her daughter.”
Emma squared her shoulders, sudden strength coursing through her. “She watched my father rape me for five years. I have no love for her.”
Seth’s face shifted. “I’m … sorry.”
“You didn’t do it,” Emma said.
“So, what are you doing?” Seth asked.
“We’re trying to figure out what she’s up to,” James said. “Right now, all we know is that she’s tried to access our business information twice. We still don’t know what her endgame is.”
“That makes three of us,” Seth said.
“That makes nine of us,” Mandy countered.
Seth scanned the crowd. “Nine?”
“We’re a family,” James said. “We’re a few members short right now. Actually, we’re a tribe. I’m not going to lie and say we care about what happened to your father.”
“I get that,” Seth said. “As long as you’re not on Sheila’s side, though, I’m going to consider you allies.”
“We want Sheila gone,” Finn said.
“We don’t want her gone,” Emma corrected. “We want her locked up … and punished.”
Finn kissed her forehead. “We want her to pay.”
“We want Emma avenged,” Mandy said, hunkering down so she could meet Seth’s gaze head on. “How can you help us?”
Seth smiled. “Do I need to help you?”
“If you want to play the game you do,” Mandy said. “We don’t need any dead weight.”
James’ heart swelled. His wife was … breathtaking.
“Maybe you’re the dead weight,” Seth said.
“Then go,” Mandy said. “We don’t need you. We’re a family. We’re strength.”
“You think I need you?”
Mandy glanced around the store dubiously. “Where is your family?”
Seth shrugged. “I’m alone.”
“Then you need our family,” Ally said.
“We’re not just a family,” Mandy said. “We’re an unstoppable force.”
James smirked. “You’ve got that right. Tell us what you’ve got. Otherwise? Get the hell out of my town.”
Twenty-Three
“This is a nice surprise,” Sheila said, pushing a cup of coffee toward Emma and fixing her with a bright smile. “I wish you would have told me that you were coming. I would have fixed the room up.”
“Isn’t that what the maid service is for?” Emma asked.
“Good point.”
Emma pushed the coffee away. She was seated at the small table in Sheila’s hotel room, and she was ready to start manipulating the woman who had given birth to her. Finn hadn’t been happy when she’d laid out her plan earlier in the day – but he had finally given in. Now Emma was ready to start working the master. She could only hope that the acting skills she’d learned to bolster her modeling career would finally come in handy. So far, she’d only used them to pretend the leeches who stared at her body while she paraded around in a bikini at various jobs weren’t disgusting perverts. That hadn’t always gone well.
“Don’t you want any coffee?” Sheila asked.
Emma made a face. “The doctor said I shouldn’t have any caffeine.”
Sheila rolled her eyes. “Doctors say stuff like that all the time,” she said. “They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“Well, I don’t want to risk the pregnancy,” Emma said. “I worked too hard to make sure it happened.”
Sheila narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I shouldn’t have said that,” Emma said, biting her lip. “That’s not what I meant.”
Sheila was shrewd, and Emma knew she had to play her part better. She was in danger of overplaying her role.
“I didn’t mean that I tried to get pregnant,” Emma said hurriedly. “I didn’t try to get pregnant on purpose. You can’t tell anyone that I said that.”
Sheila grinned. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“It’s not a secret,” Emma said quickly. “I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”
“Oh, Emma, who do you think you’re trying to fool?”
Emma’s heart skipped a beat.
“I’m your mother,” Sheila said. “I know when you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Oh, just tell me, why did you purposely get pregnant?” Sheila asked. “I honestly don’t understand. Modeling was going to be your way out of here.”
“I’m never going to make big money modeling,” Emma said, w
rinkling her nose and inwardly sighing as relief washed over her. “I can make adequate money, but I’ll never make enough to provide a comfortable life for myself. At best, I only have five years of good jobs left. I need to think of my future.”
Sheila rubbed her index finger over her bottom lip. “So, wait, you’re saying you got pregnant to trap Finn?”
“His family has a lot of money,” Emma said.
“Then why do they live in that shithole town up north?”
“His parents don’t have money,” Emma said. “The security business has money, and a lot of assets. They’re building a brand, and it’s a very good brand. They’re going national next year – and then they’re planning on going international in five years. It’s a long game, but I’ve decided to play it.”
“But how much money are we really talking about here?” Sheila asked, her tone purposely cool. She was trying to hide her interest in a sea of maternal concern. “You deserve the best life ever, Emma. How long are you going to have to wait for it?”
“As long as it takes,” Emma said. “I see potential in the Hardys.”
“Maybe if you had snapped up the oldest one,” Sheila said. “He’s the one holding the purse springs.”
“Only until they go national,” Emma said. “Then the business is being separated with equal shares for all three brothers.”
“Really?” Sheila lifted her eyebrows. “How much money are we talking about? Finn can’t even afford a house yet.”
Sheila was dubious, but she was interested. Emma was sure of that. She just had to approach this the right way.
“I don’t want him to buy a house right now,” Emma said. “I want a big house. I’m the one who put the idea in Mandy’s head to expand the apartment above the security office.”
“You want to live there?”
“I want to hear everything they’re working on,” Emma said. “If they need to be pointed in the right direction, I want to be the one to pick the coordinates.”
“Why would they listen to you?”
“Because I know the players in this town,” Emma said. “I’ve met even more through them. My little black book is bursting at the seams.”
“How?”
“Well, for example, Sophie’s foster father is Peter Marconi,” Emma said, expanding on the story Finn had concocted. “Do you know who that is?”
Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) Page 17
