Page 91 of Knot a Tie
“Of course,” William murmurs, taking his hand and giving it a manly shake.
It jolts something in me that needs attention. “Daddy. Richard is here. I want you two to make up.”
He shoots me a death stare, but gives me a grim nod. “I’ll be downstairs,” he says.
Escaping my room quickly, I give William a shaky smile before I follow and knock lightly on James’s bedroom door.
Pushing it open, I see Richard flat out, having slept through the entire escapade. Mind you, I was so distracted by William, and him me, we didn’t hear a thing until Daddy came looking for me. I’m assuming he arrived with this Eli character and kicked some bum. Or at least took the names of the bums that Eli and his team kicked. Creeping up to Richard, knowing I should leave him but also knowing a chance like this might not come along again any time soon, I stroke his face gently.
His eyes fly open, and he reaches out to grab my hand. “Hi,” he rasps, his voice hoarse from sleep.
“Daddy’s here. He wants to see you.”
His face goes pale. “Why?”
“It’s good,” I say hurriedly, realising I buried the lead there. “Can you stand?”
The withering glare he gives me, reassures me that he is doing okay. He hauls himself to his feet, his eyes on me to see if I’m feeling his pain. It’s only a twinge, something I can cope with, but he lets me take his hand.
“Wait,” he says, pulling away and disappearing into the bathroom.
When he returns a few moments later, he has flattened his bedhead hair with water, and I can smell minty mouthwash mingled with his pinecone scent. I giggle and take his hand again. I lead him slowly down the stairs, seeing my dad in an earnest conversation with James and Spencer. He looks up when he hears us coming. His face goes hard for a moment, but he straightens it with a monumental effort.
He strides over, meeting us at the bottom of the stairs. “Richard,” he growls.
“Halstead,” Richard growls back.
“Daddy,” I warn, not taking any shit from either of them. Not now. Not today.
Daddy takes a second to compose himself, but then extends his hand to Richard. “No hard feelings?”
Richard takes his hand and gives it a solid shake. “Am I off the hook?”
“You saved my daughter’s life. You should never have been on it in the first place. The contract you signed is null and void.”
Richard nods, taking that in. “What about my crimes?”
“Mick is in custody, and that is what we set out to do.” He pauses and gives Richard a meaningful look. “Your actions today were heroic, and your immunity stands.”
“What?” he says, shaking his head.
I glance between the two of them and then over at James. The penny drops and I press my lips together.
“Oh,” I murmur and let go of Richard to run to James, flinging my arms around him.
He catches me and lifts me off my feet, kissing the side of my neck with a soft growl. “You’re amazing,” I whisper.
He lets me go with a secretive smile and I hasten back to my father, who is glowering at us from across the entrance hall.
“Thank you,” Richard says, his eyes on James first, but then going back to my dad’s.
“Thankyou,” Daddy says quietly and to my utter shock pulls Richard in for a manly hug, slapping him on the back as Richard, getting over his astonishment, does the same.
“Yay!” I exclaim, clapping my hands joyfully. “One big happy family.”
“Not quite yet,” Daddy grits out and lets Richard go. “Rayne, can I have a word please?”
I nod and follow him over to the front door.
