Page 93 of Sins of the Father

I have meetings the rest of the morning, so I put the jewelry, Harper’s phone, and the confirmation number of the wire transfer in a large envelope. In a smaller envelope, I put five hundred dollars cash in it and slide it in the bigger one. I call Shira into my office.

“I need a big favor.”

“What is it?”

“It’s personal.”

She raises her eyebrows. I never bring personal into work, so I can’t say I didn’t expect her surprise. “What do you need?”

I hold up the envelope. “This envelope contains extremely important items. I don’t trust it with a courier or anyone else for that matter. I need it taken to this address.” I point to the paper. “I know it isn’t in your job description, but can you help me out while I’m in my meeting?”

She smiles. “Sure. But you have to tell me who Harper is first.”

“Is that all?”

“Yep.”

“Okay. She’s my girlfriend.”

“As in, serious girlfriend?”

“Yeah.”

Shira stands and smirks. “It’s about time you got a life. Give it to me.”

I hand it over to her. “Please put it directly in her hands. Don’t leave it with anyone.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” she teases and salutes me.

“Thanks.”

I head to the conference room for my meeting. Before I step in, I realize I missed my nine a.m. text to Harper. She doesn’t have her phone yet, but I decide to send her a message for when she turns it on. I make a goofy face and take a quick picture then send it to her with a message that says, “Sorry I’m late. Here’s my selfie. Kiss Hope for me, and I’ll text you later about dinner tonight. Btw, you’re allowed to be human, too. XOXO.”

14

Harper

Never in mylife have I felt so humiliated. It grips my soul, and no matter how much I try to squash it, it only mortifies me more.

And I’m scared. I have hardly any funds left and need to transfer them over but can’t until I can get on the internet. I don’t know the password for Jamison or Quinn’s computer.

I need my phone.

Quinn left a list of emergency numbers, including all their friends and the driver. I pick up the house phone and am about to call Vivian when the intercom buzzes.

I press the button. “Hello.”

“It’s Anna. Let me up.”

Bring on more embarrassment.I cringe but hit the button to let her in.

She walks into the house, and I wince further when she removes her oversized sunglasses. Her face isn’t quite as swollen, but her bruises now have yellow along with the black and blue.

“I’m not here to talk about me,” she chirps.

“Anna—”

“Nope. You had us worried half to death yesterday. Then you don’t even come up. What’s going on?” She smiles and holds her hands out to Hope, who’s on my hip. “Come here, gorgeous.”

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