Page 52 of Broken Halo
I flip farther through the file. “I’ll look into the firm.”
He tosses another stack of papers in front of me. “Now, your dad. Ray Barrett has a Tarrant County parole officer assigned to him. I’ve got an in there and am waiting on a call back. I should have an address and place of employment soon, if he has either.”
I run my hand through my hair and shake my head. “I won’t need a home address. I know where he’s going.”
Eli lifts a brow.
“The property across from the Montgomery ranch. It’s where I grew up, but trust me, it doesn’t compare. It’s a shithole.”
Eli nods. “I’ll look into it. That might make things easier. I can use Kipp’s property to put up cameras if you want eyes on him coming and going.”
“Cameras would be good. Add it to my bill.”
“No bill.” He picks up a backpack and swings it over his shoulder. “This is for Ellie.”
I shake my head. “You’re just getting started and I’m used to paying for information. You can bill me.”
“My client list is growing. Trust me, I’m good. You and I don’t know each other well, but after what I saw the other day between you and Ellie on top of what Jen’s told me, I’ve gotta ask, does she know Ray Barrett is on his way back to town?”
I grab the files and turn for the door because this is something I not only don’t want to talk about, it makes me fucking sick to my stomach.
“Trig?”
I stop and turn back to look at him but don’t answer.
He raises a brow. “You’re not going to tell her?”
I shake my head. “My shit with Ellie is complicated.”
He exhales. “I know.”
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell Jen because it’ll go straight to Ellie,” I add.
He shakes his head. “That, I won’t do.”
I shouldn’t be surprised. Why would he keep a secret for me from the woman he’s going to marry? “I need time. I’ll tell her but I need to get to a place where she quits cussing at me first.”
A smile creeps from his eyes, and fuck me, he’s amused. “I’ll give you a day.”
Dammit. “I need at least a week.”
He shakes his head and now I know he’s amused because he all but laughs at me. “I know Ellie and suspect you need more than a week but I’m still only going to give you a day. And when Jen finds out I kept it from her for that long, I’ll pay for it. Be grateful for the twenty-four hours.”
“Shit,” I mutter, turning for the door and stairs. I’m a fucking attorney and negotiate for a living, but there’s no way I was going to win that.
“Good luck,” he calls but I don’t look back when he adds, “you’re gonna need it.”
I pull out my phone and cue up the text string that has more fucks than any other in the history of the cell phone.
Pettit is not wrong. At this point, I need all the luck I can get.
14
Hate and Love
I feel sorry for those with an apathetic heart. I want to live and feel everything—all the good and all the bad.
Ellie
