Page 16 of To Have and To Hold

But now Kaitlyn’s illness was going to drag her back in.

“When you find her, do you think she will come back to take the test for Kaitlyn? Jacob, she hasn’t even checked on Kaitlyn since she has been gone. If she ever cared about her daughter, she would have fought and not given up so easily.” He needed his brother to understand that this wasn’t going to be an easy fix.

“She didn’t have a choice.” His brother continued. “She only needs to come and get tested and if she is a match, give some of her bone marrow to Kaitlyn. She won’t get to see my child or come anywhere near me.”

“What are you going to do if she says no.”

“Drag her back here whether she wants to our not.” His brother vowed. “I will dance with the devil one last time to get what I need for my daughter.”

“Yes, and let me know what you need from me to help find her. With both of us looking, we should be able to find her faster and then I can go and talk to her and make sure she comes back peacefully.”

“Thanks, but I can handle it. Appreciate it.” Jacob said gruffly. “Don’t worry, I doubt she will put up much of a fight.Money is a great incentive especially since she didn’t walk away from all of this unscathed. Sierra was hurt badly in the accident and is scarred now for life. Her being vain about her appearance—this was a blow to her vanity. I am sure she is starving by now for a little semblance of her old life.” His tone shifted to mocking.

Colin suddenly heard through his phone when his brother paused, “Daddy, I had a bad dream about the accident and now I can’t sleep.” His eyes closed again at hearing the pain in his niece’s speech and listened to the low murmur of his brother’s voice trying to soothe his daughter.

“Colin, I will have to call you back later.”

“Yes, don’t worry. Go take care of Kaitlyn and tell her, her red teddy bear loves her.”

“I will. Night.” His brother sounded tired, and Colin suddenly wished he wasn’t raising his niece alone and had that special someone else there to help and give him moral support. Jacob had his brothers and grandfather, but it was different when you had your best friend and lover be there to help you carry the burden day and night and vice versa. His grandfather’s idea was now starting to have some merit.

But Colin and his brothers were scarred and had their father to thank for that. He did not want to end up like his dad. Quickly, he brushed thoughts of his father aside and strode down the hall heading back to Coco, his mood soured by the news his brother just gave him.

When he reached the sea of faces, there were two missing from the room and Jackie was giving him a very satisfied smirk. Colin’s mood darkened further.

Chapter 7

Coco’s hand flew out and she braced it on the wall to keep herself from skidding on the slippery floor. The small red figure she had collided with now gripped her arm tight, trying to not fall along with her.

The pressure released and she felt the woman’s hand slide from her arm. Then she heard a breathless voice say, “Sorry, still trying to walk in these goddamn man-trap heels.”

Coco straightened to glance down at a short, older woman in tall high heels that could be considered hooker shoes. She bit back a snort of laughter because you could see from the woman’s expression that the shoes were paining her.

Coco smiled. “It’s okay, all good, we are still standing on this slippery floor and that is a plus.”

The woman smiled back, softening her features even more. Coco thought the woman to be in her late fifties and she had the most beautiful curls that she kept short, but on closer inspection, Coco could see that there was some gray blended with her brown coloring.

She was again surprised when the woman moved toward the end of the corridor and peeked around it before rushing back.

“Do you know if there is another exit out of this hallway other than the bathroom. The woman gently took her arm and moved her down the hall with her.

“I don’t know the place, why?” Coco’s curiosity piqued.

“Trying to lose my jailer.” The woman muttered as she walked past the women’s washroom and opened another door before closing it and then a couple more, muttering as she moved along quickly. “This could work, but no he will figure that out.”

“Nope, too obvious.” She continued to mutter.

Coco’s eyebrows rose up.Now what is going on here?

The woman looked like someone’s trustworthy aunty and not a jailbird.

Then she heard “Ahh!” and noticed that a security guard was now making his way toward them. Then, she saw the woman rush to where he had just come from and opened the door.

“Perfect.” The older woman grinned and let out a twinkle of laughter.

Coco realized she must have a weirded-out look on her face.

The woman came back and grabbed her hand, shaking it. “Maxine is my name, and if you are ever in need of a private investigator...” The woman fished through the little clutch purse that Coco just noticed was on her other wrist and pulled out a laminated black business card. On the front read, “Private eye Max Holden”.

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