Page 110 of Melt For Us, Daddy
“Like hell we will.” Folding her arms, Ivy perched herself on Jacob’s knee, a fury that matched Cordelia’s own burning in her eyes. “We’re a part of this. You’re not going to make this decision behind our backs.”
Another of those adjustments Cordelia had been thinking about before. Even though she was the one ultimately in charge, Ivy felt just as protective as she did of Jacob. “You’re right, blossom. You are a part of this, and I promise no decisions will be made behind your back. But right now I just need a few minutes to talk to Holden, Daddy to Daddy.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Holden’s brows raise even higher but he wisely didn’t say anything.
Ivy held her gaze, and for a moment Cordelia thought she might refuse. But then her shoulders slumped slightly forward and she nodded. “All right. If you promise no decisions will be made without us.”
“I promise, baby. If you go peek in the pantry, I think Kestrel got the stuff you asked for to make chocolate chip cookies with Jacob. Why don’t you get those started and we’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay. Come on, Jakey. Guess it’s time for the adults to talk.”
Though he didn’t look any happier about it than Ivy, Jacob did as he was told and followed her into the kitchen. Leaving Cordelia behind with a very, very curious Holden.
“Daddy, huh?”
“Yes. I would have thought your men would have kept you informed on… all of this.”
“Their job is to report anything that could impact your safety. Anything else, they tend to stay out of it. Should I bother asking how all of this happened?”
“It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you once we’re all home and safe and Harlan Redding is behind fucking bars.”
“Fair enough. But if you want me to put him there, I need Jacob.”
“No. Find another way.”
“Do you think if there was another way, I would be here, asking this of him? He’s just a kid, Delia. I don’t want to dangle him out there any more than you do.”
“What about me? Harlan came for me once, he could try for me again.”
“Maybe. But he’s been careful since you left. We need something that’s going to provoke an emotional response. A big enough one for him to fuck up and give us a shot at him.”
“And you think letting my boy wander the streets of Charleston alone is going to get that response.”
“No. I think him seeing your boy entering and leaving Club BDE right under his fucking nose is going to get us that response.”
It wasn’t often Cordelia Summers found herself stunned speechless. But for a long, long moment all she could do was stare at the man in front of her. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
Unable to sit still any longer, she jumped up from the couch, pacing the small living room. “Even without the issue of using him as bait, he’s not ready for the club, Holden. We’ve only just started showing him the ropes, and we haven’t even gotten to the actual ropes yet. He’s not prepared for the level of depravity he’ll see at the club.”
“I can work something out with Braden, maybe have the club closed to everyone but our people for a couple nights.”
“Okay, well, that still doesn’t address the issue of you using him as bait.”
“I know it’s not ideal but?—”
“Would you let Frankie do it?”
Because she was watching him, she saw the truth on his face. Hell no. “If there was no other way, yes.”
“But you’d fight like hell to find another way. Wouldn’t you?”
“Do you really think I haven’t already done that? Delia.” Rising to his feet, he placed his hands on her shoulders, and it felt like the weight of the world had come to rest there. “He might not be my boy, but he is my responsibility. And you and Ivy? You’re family. If there was any other way, I swear I wouldn’t be asking this of him. Of you.”
“Fuck.” Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back as her mind raced. When she came up empty, she opened her eyes, lifting her head to meet his dark gaze. “Give me a week. If I can’t draw him out, we can talk about using Jacob.”
“We might not have that long, Delia. If Silas passes and Harlan takes up the helm, he’ll be even more untouchable than he is now. He could hole up in Arizona, wait for the heat to die down and we may never get another shot at him.”
