Page 168 of Broken Daddy

“You just threatened me! If anything happens to me it will be on you!” Detective Brown said, spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke.

“I didn’t threaten you. No idea what you’re talking about,” Hayes said.

“Nice try, but Gray is here,” Detective Brown huffed.

“I didn’t hear him threaten you,” Detective Williams said.

“W-what?” Detective Brown gaped at the younger man.

“Leave!” Detective Williams barked.

Detective Brown turned and strode out, slamming the door behind him and making her jump.

She let out a pained moan.

“Shit, baby. Are you all right?” Hayes turned to her. Picking her up, he sat on the chair with her on his lap.

“I’m okay. I just moved too fast.”

He cupped the side of her face and drew her head back so he could look down into her eyes. “I didn’t just mean physically.”

Right. He was talking about emotionally too.

Because that asshole detective had just told her that her father had been found . . . murdered.

Devi sucked in a breath and waited for the sadness to hit her.

But it didn’t.

There was horror at what he might have gone through. And maybe a bit of regret at the loss of the father she could have had.

Devi turned to the detective. There was some sympathy on his face.

“Was it . . . how was he found? I mean, where, and did he . . . how did he die?” She knew that she wasn’t making a lot of sense. She couldn’t even manage to get a full sentence out.

“I think it’s best I don’t go into too much detail,” the detective said.

Right.

Because that meant it was bad and he didn’t want to upset her.

“A member of the public found him when they were on a trail walk with their dog. It seems that his body had likely been hastily dumped.”

“Have you been able to find the assholes who kidnapped him and hurt Devi?” Hayes asked.

“They’ve yet to be located,” Detective Williams said. “If you hear anything from them, please let me know right away. I’ll leave you my card. I’m sorry about my colleague. If you wish to file a complaint, I will support you.” His face tightened. “I’m getting tired of making excuses for his behavior.”

“He should have been stopped a long time ago,” Hayes said.

The detective just nodded.

“What about the body? Do I have to . . . to identify him?”

He shook his head. “Not necessary. But there will need to be an autopsy before the body can be released.”

“Do I have to take care of that?” she asked. “The body? A funeral?”

Detective Williams appeared startled. “Urgh, yes. Next of kin normally arranges to have the body sent to a funeral home.”