Page 82 of Sinner's Storm
“Sit down, Delany. You look ready to collapse.”
Doing as he suggested, I sat in an over-stuffed chair as I watched the older man hold my sleeping daughter while he paced the floor with her.
“You are a natural,” I whispered.
“Not really. I just have a soft spot for Harlow.”
“You saved her.”
“Not just me, Delany. There were many others who had a hand in that.”
“I never told you thank you for what you did. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It all worked out and that’s all that matters.”
“Dr. Lansing, why are we here? Won’t they look here?”
Dr. Lansing grinned. “No. In fact, this will be the last place any of them look.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because Montana and I have history. I may be a brother in the club, but I have no love for any of them. As far as I’m concerned, they all deserve what they get. Montana the most.”
“Alright.” Marco smiled, walking into the room, reaching for Harlow. “I’ve got my little biker girl all set up.”
“Thank you, Marco.”
“No problem, Doc.”
Standing, I walked over and kissed Harlow’s forehead. My poor girl had been uprooted so much over the last few months. She was plum exhausted.
She needed stability.
Not uncertainty.
Sitting back down, Dr. Lansing walked over to the small bar and poured himself a double scotch before taking the seat next to mine, undoing his black tie, and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. “God, I hate charity functions. Have the utmost respect for what they do. I just hate all the pomp and circumstance.”
Leaning forward, he took a swallow of the amber liquid before adding, “Delany, the reason you are here, besides knowing they will never find you here, is because I knew your father. The first time I met your dad, he was a firefighter recruit and had cut himself. Fifteen stitches on his arm.”
I smirked. “I know that scar. Dad told me he was being stupid.”
August grinned. He truly was a handsome man when he smiled. Which he didn’t do often.
“He told you the truth. His class was practicing holding the hose when a recruit lost his grip. The hose went wild. Your dad jumped on the thing and in the process, the nozzle cut him. Never met a bigger cowboy than your dad. Over the years, we formed an easy friendship. He was a good man. An honest man.”
“Thank you for that. I needed to hear that.”
“He didn’t set those fires, Delany. You have to believe that.”
“I know he didn’t. It’s just hard because everyone believes he’s an arsonist and murderer. I don’t understand how they could believe a decorated hero was capable of such atrocities.”
“The papers are only going to believe what they know. Unless someone tells them otherwise.”
“Jason said the same thing.”
“He’s right.”
“Why didn’t he tell me, August?”