Run, Hide by Carol Ericson

Author:Carol Ericson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Tension crept through every muscle as Cade stared at the display.

Jenna’s words flowed from across the table. “Your father? How...why?”

He stabbed the talk button. “Yeah?”

“Son?” Kevin cleared his throat. “It’s your old man.”

“This is not a good time, Kevin.” Cade refused to call the man father.

“When is it ever a good time when you’re in the spy business, eh?” He coughed his smoker’s cough. “But you gave me your private number and told me to call when I was ready to see you.”

“Maybe I’m not ready to see you.” The lie rolled off Cade’s tongue. He’d been the one to initiate contact with Kevin Stark, more for his brother Kyle’s sake than his own. But once he’d heard Kevin’s voice, heard that infectious chuckle again, the childhood memories had come streaming across his brain. Good memories. Memories of a life lived with a devil-may-care father who’d been the life of every party and every schoolboy’s best friend.

Until he’d gone on the lam for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving his family to deal with the fallout.

“I know. I know. I don’t blame you, but the truth is, boy, I don’t have much longer.”

Cade couldn’t help the sick feeling that roiled his gut, so he clenched his jaw. “What does that mean?”

“It’s these damned cancer sticks.” He coughed for effect because the old man was all about the performance. “Never thought they’d get to me, but it turns out I have throat cancer.”

Cade’s eye twitched. Ironic to think the man with the silver tongue might be silenced. “Sorry to hear it.”

“No, you’re not.” Kevin chuckled, and Cade gripped the phone harder. “Like I said, I don’t blame you, but I would like to see my boys once more before I kick the bucket.”

“Kyle’s still in Chicago.”

“I know. I’ve already spoken to him. Your brother is more forgiving than you.” He clicked his tongue. “Not that I blame you.”

Cade had been willing to see Kevin when Kyle had located him, but Kevin had had some business to clear up first. Shut down again. Cade had shrugged it off at the time, but his father’s rejection, his second rejection, had wounded him. Now his instinct told him to return the favor, but Kevin’s chuckle and all it represented lingered between them.

Cade shifted his gaze to Jenna, who spread her hands and raised her brows. “Like I said, not good timing.”

“I’m in Vegas, Cade. I’ll meet you anywhere. I can be on the next flight to anywhere, unless it’s overseas. Then I’m off to Chicago and...who knows how many weeks or days I have left?”

He should just tell the old man he was in Europe. Squeezing his eyes shut, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maybe you could see Kyle first and circle through the southwest in a few weeks.”

Maybe he’d at least have Jenna and Gavin in a safe location by then. Maybe the person who had the plans would reveal himself by then.

“So you are close by.”

“Close enough.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.