CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dalton

 

Chase told me to meet him at Scratch, the tattoo parlor owned by Cami’s father.  I took that to mean he planned on calling Cord Gentry as soon as he got off the phone with me.  I was right. 

The two brothers were standing outside the building when I pulled up. I hadn’t told Chase much on the phone, just that there was a problem and Cami was involved. 

Chase smiled and shook my hand when I approached.  Cord nodded coolly. 

“Hello, Dalton,” said Cami’s father. “Let’s go around back.  That way we don’t have to parade through the place and leave everyone to wonder what the hell is going on.”  He nudged Chase. “Did you call the monster already?” 

I wondered who or what ‘the monster’ was. 

“I called him,” Chase replied.  “He’ll be here.” 

As if on cue a silver Ford pickup rolled into the parking lot.  Chase and Cord paused while the man exited the driver’s side.  I hadn’t met him before but I could see the resemblance immediately.  Between all the colorful tales Chase used to entertain his students with in class and the stories Cami had told me about her family, I would bet my left hand that the tall, powerfully built man glaring at me as he crossed the parking lot was the brother I’d heard so much about.  He was Creed Gentry. 

“Who the hell is this guy?” he demanded before he said hello. 

Chase ignored his brother’s rudeness. “Dalton, this delightful individual is my brother, Creed.  Dalton is a former student of mine and now he coaches kids’ baseball.  Thomas attends the baseball summer camp he runs.  He’s also Cami’s boyfriend.” 

Creed offered a barely perceptible nod but his blue eyes became a trifle less menacing.  It probably helped to hear that his brother had known me for years. 

Cord was getting impatient so we followed him around to the back door and straight to the office.  He closed the door immediately and stood in front of it with his arms crossed. 

“Sit down,” he ordered, pointing to a chair. 

I didn’t want to argue with a worried father. 

Especially not the father of a girl I was in love with. 

I sat. 

“Now what the fuck is going on and what the hell has it got to do with my daughter?”

“Take it easy, Cord,” Chase said.  “Dalton’s here because he cares about Cami.”

“Where is Cami anyway?” Creed wanted to know. 

“She’s at work,” Cord replied. 

I sighed.  “Actually she’s not.” 

Cami’s father was surprised.  “I saw her leave this morning.  She was wearing her work uniform.” 

“She was let go.”

“You mean fired?”

“Yes.” 

He frowned.  “When?”

“Today?”

“Why?”

“Because she pissed off a man who’s very well connected and doesn’t appreciate being confronted in public.” 

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Chase said to his brother.  He was standing at Cord’s side now. 

“You shouldn’t,” I said.  “That’s why I’m here.” 

“Did someone threaten her?” Creed asked in a low, deadly voice.  He stood in front of his brothers and challenged me.  “Anyone who threatens my niece is sure as fuck not going to skip away unscathed.  I’d be happy to rip the bastard’s arms off.” 

“I’d be glad to help you,” I said. 

Creed focused on me.  He must have decided I meant it because he offered a nod of approval.     

“Settle down, big guy,” Chase said, slapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder.  

 Creed backed off and went to stand beside his brothers.  They faced me, a formidable union. The bond between these men was almost palpable.  From everything I’d been told about the Gentry triplets and everything I was seeing here today I felt like I understood them.  These three men had been born together and faced everything together throughout their lives. If one of their children was in danger they’d face that together too.  As long as they were breathing they’d have each other’s backs. 

This was what brotherhood looked like. 

And in spite of the grave circumstances I kind of envied them. 

 “Where is my daughter now?” Cord wanted to know. 

“At the moment I don’t know.  She said she had some errands to run but refused to let me come with her.”

He pulled out his phone.  I assumed he was calling Cami.  I watched the disappointment register in his face when her voicemail picked up. 

“Cams, it’s Dad.  Call me right away when you get this.” 

Then he made another call. 

“Hey babe, I know you’re working but did Cami come home at all by any chance?  No, I just needed to ask her something.  Everything’s fine.  I love you.” 

He ended the call with a frown. “Dalton, I take it Cami doesn’t know you’re talking to us.” 

“No.  And I’m sure she won’t be too excited when she finds out.”

“That’s probably an understatement.” 

“It definitely is.” 

He cocked his head.  “And yet here you are.” 

“Yes.” 

“Why?”

Because the idea that any harm might come to Cami made me want to commit murder. 

Because I was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe even if she spit nails when she found out I went behind her back and sought out her father.   

Because…

“Because I love her,” I said. 

He didn’t look shocked.  He nodded with understanding and maybe a small amount of grudging respect.

“Did you tell her that yet?”

I coughed.  “No, sir.”

“You should,” he said bluntly.    

Creed sighed and went to sit down in the chair beside me.  When he looked my way he no longer seemed suspicious.  “Then I guess you better start talking so we can all figure out what we’re dealing with.” 

So I didn’t waste any more time.  I told the Gentry men everything I knew.