Page 27 of Gray Dawn

“Do you have any idea how long ago you overheard the conversation between Clay and the director?”

“Good point, Asa.” A timeline could answer a lot of questions if we could nail down one. “Colby?”

“I’m not sure.” She rubbed her hands together. “I really did hide in that drainforever.”

A kid’s idea of forever wasn’t the same as an adult’s perception of time, but what we had so far made it a crapshoot which came first. The director. Or Luca.

“No worries,” I assured her. “We’ll figure it out.”

“About that.” A devious glint made her eyes gleam. “The timing doesn’t matter.”

The soft laugh from Arden proved she had learned just how resourceful our girl was in a pinch.

Asa, whose lips began contemplating a smile, asked, “Why not?”

“I cast a spell on his wig.” Pride ruffled her wings. “Now we can track him.”

Robo-Clay, as she called him, wasn’t vain. He was practical. He would wear the wig until it got dirty or he got itchy. Then he would tear it off and toss it. That meant we had a small window of opportunity to benefit from Colby’s wits before we found an expensive ball of hair in a trash can.

But to track Colby’s magic, I would need Dad’s help.

That meant, ready or not, I had to introduce him to Colby.

CHAPTER TEN

No one tells you how awkward it gets when you introduce the daughter of your heart to your father.

Especially when one qualifies as a delicacy for the other. I was just glad Derry carried a packet of wet wipes for cleaning Marita’s fingers when she ate sticky foods. I used one to scrub down Colby so she made a proper first impression.

To make their first meeting as low stress as possible, I invited my parents to join us at Freedom Park. With ninety-eight acres to choose from, we had plenty of privacy. And space. In case anything went wrong. I also had the Mayhews patrolling to watch our backs.

As much as I wanted to believe Dad wouldn’t hurt Colby, I wasn’t willing to take the chance. Both our lives were at stake if he acted before thinking. But, assuming we made it past the initialhellos, we ought to be golden. I had to drive home the wholekill her and you kill mething. Fast.

Not that I envisioned Dad as a ravening beast (anymore), but this was Colby. Fear for her safety, worse so soon after being reunited, overrode any rapport I had built with Dad.

“You know you can tell us anything.” Mom stood with her arm looped through Dad’s, either out of habit or to restrain him. I wasn’t sure which. “What’s got you so worked up, sweetheart?”

“I want to introduce you to my daughter.”

The air thinned until it hurt to breathe.

Oh. No. It didn’t.

Oops.

I forgot to inhale.

“Yourdaughter?” Mom dropped Dad’s arm like a bad habit, clasping her hands at her chest. “Where is she?”

“Dad.” I couldn’t read his expression. “I’m going to need your word that you won’t harm her.”

A flicker of hurt shadowed his expression. “You think I would harm my own grandchild?”

“It’s complicated.” Asa stood behind me with his hand on my shoulder. “You’ll see after you’ve met her.”

“I assume this child is his?” Dad growled the accusation. “Well?” He glared at Asa. “Is she?”

“Yes.” A smile played on his mouth that I wanted to kiss right off him. “She is.”