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“Just ducky, and before you ask, Trinity is still sound asleep.” He set the wine on the table. “I put my stuff in your guest room. I assumed that’s where I’ll be staying.”
“Yeah. I’ll take the couch.” Keaton nodded.
Monty laughed. “I doubt that, and she’s going to need you. When my daughter had troubles with Charlie, her ex, she had nightmares. While the situations are vastly different, and in so many ways this is worse, what she went through because of that asshole was traumatizing.”
Keaton cocked his head. “She told me what he did and how she fought back. How he never bothered her again. But I’m starting to wonder if she downplayed it.”
“I doubt that. But I also doubt she told you the whole story, and that, young man, isn’t a confidence I’m willing to break.” He brought the wine to his lips and chugged like it was whiskey. Then he made a funny face.
“Speaking of Charlie,” Dawson said. “I’ve requested the police files. They might be sitting on my desk by now. I am looking at him as a possible suspect.” He held up his hand. “It doesn’t matter she’s had no contact with him for three years. He could’ve been stalking her. Watching and waiting. I’ve seen that shit before.”
“Wonderful. One more pissant to deal with.” Monty sipped, this time more slowly.
This was not a side of Trinity’s father that Keatonwas used to. While the man could be a little rough around the edges for a rich dude, this man was on edge. And not just because someone had tried to kill his princess—twice.
“Monty, what’s going on with you tonight?” Keaton asked, making sure he used the man’s first name. He didn’t want to cause more conflict, even though “sir” still rolled off his tongue easier.
“Fenton has been up my ass since he left the hospital today. The man has been relentless.” Monty pointed his index finger at Keaton. “And boy, does he dislike you. He thinks you’re nothing but trouble. He told me I needed to talk some sense into Trinity. Tell her to go home to my place or stay with him—that no way was she safe with you.” He let out a long, exasperated breath. “I’ve known Fenton for eight years. That’s how long he’s worked for me. He started as a salesman at my dealership over in Orlando. I brought him to the Marco Island one three years ago as a manager. He’s good. Real good. But things have been weird ever since he got involved with my kid.”
Keaton did not want to have this conversation.
Fenton was an arrogant prick with an ego that did nothing but make him look like an asshole.
“Weird how?” Dawson asked, shoving aside his food and clasping his hands together.
Monty shrugged. “For as long as I’ve known Fenton, he’s been a driven man. Hardworking. Always wanting to please me. He worked his way from being in sales, to finance, to service manager, to finance manager, and finally, running one of my most prestigious dealerships.I always thought I’d lose him one day to opening up his own dealership. I can’t blame the guy, but it’s a tough gig. Then he started dating Trinity.”
“I’ve got a dumb question,” Keaton interjected. “Who initiated that relationship?”
“He did,” Monty said. “But I know she wasn’t uninterested.”
“They didn’t last very long,” Hayes added.
Keaton squeezed his beer. He’d heard all about Fenton and what Trinity suspected he’d done. He knew Fenton had denied cheating and, technically, Trinity couldn’t prove anything, but still, there was some pretty damning evidence.
“I don’t know what she told you about that, but my daughter tends to tell me everything about her life.” Monty stared at Keaton.
More like, he chuckled with his eyes as if he found humor in what he thought he might know. Then he glared. More like, hosed him down with fire instead of water. Again, as if he knew, but this time, he didn’t find it so amusing.
Keaton swallowed. Hard.
“So, I know that she believes that little shit cheated on her and only wanted to be with her so that he could have access to my money.” Monty polished off his wine and poured more.
The man hadn’t slurred a single word—yet. But soon, he would if he kept drinking like that.
“She begged me not to say a word to Fenton, and well, I couldn’t fire him because unless he laid a hand on my girl, which he didn’t, I don’t have cause, so I’ve actedlike nothing happened other than my kid doesn’t want to be with him anymore.” Monty waved his hand in the air.
“She doesn’t,” Keaton said under his breath. “But she’s too nice in her delivery.” He chuckled. “Though she did tell him to shut up today.”
“Good for her.” Monty nodded. “When it comes to Fenton’s employment, I can’t complain. Not one bit. But I don’t like him sniffing around my daughter. Not even when they first started dating. But she’s a grown woman, and I learned a long time ago not to butt in where I don’t belong.” He lowered his gaze. “Unless I think she’s going to get into serious trouble, but even Charlie the creep didn’t come off that way at first.”
“Most guys like that don’t,” Dawson said. “They ‘love bomb’ to get what they want.”
“Yeah. Unlike Keaton, who acts like a Neanderthal for a year.” Hayes leaned back, folded his arms, and smiled.
Keaton ignored him, but it was hard not to ignore Monty’s laugh.
“Oh, I heard all about it,” Monty said. “I tried to tell her he was just like little Tony on the playground.”