Page 10 of Broken Daddy

“Right, which is a diplomatic way of avoiding my question. Because you dislike me.”

Hayes sighed. This happened more than he would like. Where a client would get obsessed over whether he liked them or not. He didn’t know why they cared. He was no one. So what did it matter to them?

But in this case, he didn’t dislike Sondra. And there was something almost vulnerable in her face that had him wanting to put her at ease.

“I don’t dislike you.”

“Really? You never really talk to me. If I fell over in a café would you rush to help me up or leave me there?”

Huh?

What did Devi falling over have to do with anything?

“I’d rush over to help you up,” he said.

Sondra eyed him for a long moment then nodded. “All right. I believe you. Sorry, you probably think I’m ridiculous. I think I’m ridiculous.” She smiled tightly. “The way you looked at that girl, though. You’re always so stoic and hard to read. But for a moment, you softened. Have you met her before?”

“Never met her in my life,” he said gruffly. “But she’s been serving us every day at the cafe this last week. And she fell over right in front of us. I was simply helping her up.”

“Hmm. Sure, of course.”

“Sondra, your room is ready,” the woman called out.

“Right. Thanks, Jen,” Sondra replied.

She waited for him to check the room and once he was satisfied, he stepped out.

He’d already been informed of this appointment and he knew that Kent had one of his guys do a background check on the people that worked here. As long as he watched the door to the room, he was certain she’d be fine. But he also told them both he wanted it kept slightly open. Not enough to see in, but enough to hear if she called out.

Grabbing his phone, Hayes checked in with Donovan who was guarding Alan. The lawyer spent most of his time in his office and Donovan was bored out of his mind. Donovan would probably rather guard Sondra. At least her days were slightly more interesting.

And you get to see Devi each day.

Yeah, he needed to stop thinking about her. She was no one to him. Just a slightly clumsy, cute girl who was way too young.

And, more importantly, not his wife.

Donovan:Bored out of my fucking mind. This guy is extremely paranoid and jumpy. Where are you?

Hayes:The beauty salon.

Donovan:Lucky.

Hayes rolled his eyes;no doubt Donovan would have charmed all of the women in the salon by now. People liked Donovan more than him. Probably because he smiled. And didn’t grunt all the time.

Donovan:Already been to get your caffeine fix?

Hayes:Not my caffeine fix. Sondra is the one who wants to go there every day. You heard from Kent? We any closer to finding out who is threatening Alan?

Donovan:Talked to him earlier. Still no updates from the cops. You wanting to finish this job? Ready to go home?

Hayes:You saying you aren’t? Sondra is worried about the cost of keeping us here. She thinks the money will run out soon.

Donovan:Hmm. Interesting. From what I understand, their finances are in good shape.

Yeah,he’d wondered that too. Which made him consider if Sondra had just been saying that. Or if she had no idea about the state of their finances.

Maybe they had the sort of relationship where Alan was in charge of the money and she didn’t care. Or maybe she simply didn’t know because Alan kept it from her.