Page 252 of Swallow Your Sorries

“Gant!”

I’d know that voice anywhere. That build anywhere. Broad shoulders, a tailor-made dark suit, a coiffed head full of dark silver hair streaked through the sides in moonlight silver.

I straighten and try my damndest to compose myself. “What are you doing here?”

I know it’s damn sure not because he wanted to see me prance around in tights.

My father turns around without a smile or a greeting after a year apart, barring phone calls. “Don’t ask stupid questions. You bought the girl here.”

Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem livid that I’dwastedsix figures.

I don’t think I could’ve ever made a better investment.

“Only as bait.”

“I don’t see what you’ve caught.” He lifts a brow.

“I haven’t reeled him in yet. I need more time.”

Bart’s expression shifts from stony coldness to smug amusement. “There’s nothing to reel in.”

My eyes snap to his.

“I’m Bart Auclair. Do you really think I need the help of a brand-new adult?”

“You haven’t been able to locate them for years.”

Bart looks at me piteously. “I could locate a dust mite if I wanted to.”

I pause. “You didn’t want to.” It’s not a question because it all makes sense now. “This whole time you didn’t want to find her.”

Bart just stares, his eyes twinkling as if watching two things finally click for an absolute idiot.

“Finding her would only benefit me. Not you, because she couldn’t help you find Jarett…she couldn’t help me find Jarett because you already know where he is.”

“That trap with the newspaper article and her pathetic mother was a good idea. Just two years too late.”

Two whole years...

“Why? If you’ve known his whereabouts this entire time, why not just tell me? Why not intervene in my plan?”

“Because even I can admit when I need help. The girl’s legal but too young for my tastes, so who better than a younger version of me?”

I’m nothing like him.

“I knew the girl would fall for you, Gant, no questions asked. It’s a part of the Auclair charm.”

I don’t feel charmed. I feel revulsion.

“Why?”

“Because stupid little lovebirds sing, and sing and sing. Make her sing.”

“About what? She doesn’t know anything about her father—”

“But she can find out.”

“I don’t understand. Why not get the answers straight from the source? You know where Jarett is.”

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