Page 21 of Blood (A Killer’s Love #4)
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kaleb
Well, that didn’t go as planned.
I run a hand through my blond hair as I watch my girl storm off, grateful when Shelby all but wrestles the car keys out of Sam’s hand.
Angry Samantha, plus a car never equals a good idea.
I really did fuck up with her driving lessons.
My heart shreds when I see her shoulders shake the minute she climbs into the car. Body-wrenching sobs.
How the fuck am I going to fix this? She’ll get used to it.
Waiting to see her car pull off the lot safely, I hear my name being called somewhere behind me.
“Kaleb. I thought that was you.”
Dad?
Turning, I greet him with a smile that even I think looks fake. “Hey.”
He joins me in front of the diner.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
“You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”
This time, my smile is genuine. “I know.”
But I won’t . I enjoy chasing and killing prostitutes, oh and I fucked your daughter are really things you never bring up. Ever.
Instead, I motion to the building behind us. “You here to eat?”
“Actually, I was looking for you. I asked Pauline to call me the minute you got back.”
Does he know? No, he’d have beaten my ass by now if he did.
“Oh?”
“Listen, kiddo . . .” He looks around uncomfortably, running a hand through his graying hair. “I meant what I said. You can tell me anything.”
Where is this going?
“Walk me to my car?” he asks but starts moving before I can answer.
“Dad,” I urge as we get farther away from the diner, “you’re freaking me out.”
He stops short.
“I know, Kaleb.”
My heart stops.
“Dad . . .” What the fuck am I supposed to say? I love her?
“Why didn’t you tell me? No, it doesn’t matter now.” He shakes off the question. “How bad is it? Whatever it is, we’ll fight it as a family.”
I stare at him blankly; my heart starts beating for the first time in minutes. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The doctor, Kaleb. I mean, did you really think I wouldn’t notice? At first, I thought you used your company card to tell your mother and me without telling us, you know?”
No.
“But then the accounting team mentioned your cards were stolen. You used the company card because you had to. Would you have ever told us you’ve been seeing a doctor out of town?”
“What?”
“Dr. Brown. The bill came through.”
Oh!
I sigh in relief. “It was nothing, just a checkup.” I wave it off.
“A checkup out of town?” Dad sighs, blinking quickly.
Oh shit.
“Okay.” He nods, but he doesn’t believe me.
“Dad, I’m okay.”
He nods again.
Meeting his gaze, I promise, “I’m okay.”
Dad’s eyes soften, and he steps forward to cup my cheeks. “I’m sorry to pry. I just saw the nineteen grand charge and thought the worst.”
“Nineteen grand?” I practically shriek.
Fucking hell, no wonder he didn’t believe me. Probably thought I was dying.
Stepping back, he leans against his car.
“I was out of town and needed a consultation. There’s nothing to be worried about.” Not a complete lie. “Except maybe the price of medical care in this country,” I joke. Nineteen grand? Greedy little fucker.
I feel guilty keeping the truth to myself, but my birth mother isn’t someone I want to share with the Cromwells. I won’t let her ruin that part of my life.
“No medication?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Nope, and no follow-up.”
“You look tired,” he observes.
“I am.” I sigh, leaning on his car beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Just thinking about the last two occasions I’ve spoken to Samantha deflates me.
She’s not going to make this easy for me. You wouldn’t enjoy it if she did.
“I could sleep for a week,” I mutter into my hands as I scrub my face. Digging the heel into my eyes, I sigh again.
I really am tired. Tired of running from what I feel, tired of fighting it, tired of not having what I want most in this world.
“So do it.”
My eyes spring open at his words. Did I say it out loud?
“Go to the cabin. No work, no stress. Relax and just do whatever you want. I’ll send out a family text. No one will go there. You’ll be by yourself. Sleep until your body is rested.”
I open my mouth to argue.
“No,” he interrupts, holding up a finger. “I’m not asking. I’m telling. I’d say two weeks, but your mom will probably give you a week, ten days tops.”
I laugh because it’s true. Helen Cromwell likes her babies close.
“Daniel and Charlie will be home with the baby.”
“They’ll understand. Besides, you can do what you want, go where you want, see who you want. But that cabin will be a no-go zone for at least seven days. I want you healthy and happy, Kaleb. If that means having time to yourself, then so be it.”
“Work—”
“Can manage,” he interrupts. “You work more shifts than anyone there, but we have new hires and plenty of drivers. I’d rather lose contracts than lose my son.”
His words fill me with love. I couldn’t have asked for a better family or a better father.
Pushing off the car, I hug him. His arms instantly wrap around me.
“I love you,” I breathe.
Christopher holds me tighter. “I love you too, kiddo.”
I pat his back and try to step away, but he hugs me for a few more seconds.
“You’re really okay?” he asks, releasing me.
“I am. Nothing rest and a mini staycation won’t fix.”
“Good.” He smiles.
“Can you ask Lara to keep sending me daily pictures of the baby, please? And will you tell me when Daniel and Charlie are home, and I’ll come over? I don’t want to miss it.”
“Of course. You won’t miss anything,” he promises.
I go to leave, but Dad hesitates while opening his car door.
“I know what happened at your house last week with the burglary probably added to the stress and your health. Is it wrong of me to be thankful that you were there to protect your sister?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m glad I was there too.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that, Kaleb. Take as long as you need. I’ll make sure no one bothers you. Except your mother. After about a week, she’ll hunt you down. Like a lion with her cubs, that one.”
“You love her for it.”
“One of many things I love about her,” he agrees.
I want that. I want someone to love me for who I am. My strengths, my flaws, all of it. Not just anyone, I want Samantha to love me that way.
How am I supposed to do that when she won’t even talk to me?