Hollywood by Rose Middleton

Author:Rose Middleton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Shadow Soldiers, suspense
Publisher: Rose Middleton
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

As the sun rose above the tree line to bathe them in heat, Bob held Mia to him with a force he knew was too great. Though she let him embrace her in a fatherly hug, she’d been all too clear about him going home to let her fix the mess she was in. He smoothed a hand down her fiery red hair. Too much like her mother, she was stubborn to a fault. He smiled. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You’re sure?”

She leaned back and nodded. A half-hearted eyeroll preceded a smile. “Yes. Go home to Mum. I will be fine.” She blinked, glancing across the tarmac.

He followed her gaze to see Hollywood and Damien huddled. Behind them, a sleek black plane loomed like a bird ready for flight. The twin propellers reminded Bob of old times and he had to hand it to Damien to procure such a beast. Part transport, part home, the large plane had clearly seen some action. Scrapes, dings and bullet holes marred her flank.

Turning back to Mia, he saw something pass through her eyes, an emotion he couldn’t quite name but he couldn’t tell who had her attention more, Hollywood or Damien. Bob had suspected she loved Damien like the father she’d wanted him to be. It had always played on his mind, wondering if he should’ve treated her more like the way Damien treated Hope, but he could never quite bring himself to drill his daughter in the ways of combat and martial arts. But then, it hadn’t occurred to him that Mia would need it.

“I’m sorry,” he heard himself say. She turned to him, her face soft and warm. “I haven’t been the best father.”

A blush colored her cheeks. “Dad?”

“I know you envied the relationship Hope had with him. After raising your brothers, you were a complete mystery to me.”

One corner of her mouth lifted. “When this is over, we’re going to have a good, long talk.”

Anticipation bloomed in his chest. “You’re coming home?”

She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Maybe not forever, but yes, I will come home.”

He pulled her against his chest and embraced her once again, savoring the feel of his daughter in his arms. He’d been honest, admitting he hadn’t known how to raise her. What else could he do? The regret threatening to drown him was useless. No point wallowing in it. He needed to look to the future, and with her in it, he desperately prayed they’d find a comfortable father-daughter relationship.

He couldn’t stand to lose her again.

Damien and Hollywood neared. While his old friend smiled at him, the former soldier focused on Mia. Though the years had aged him, he still wore those movie star looks with pride and strutted like he owned the world.

His attention on Mia seemed too close, too intense to be the mere interest of a bodyguard. Discomfort settled over Bob. He wanted better for his daughter, a man who only had eyes for her. Hollywood’s history suggested he could never be happy with one woman.

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