Haunting Me (A Completed Steamy, Romance)EDITING

Part 37

Hudson

My shaking hands pulled out my cell phone.

"Where is he?" I asked as soon as my dad answered.

"The feds decided to take him, I'm waiting on them now."  He said.

"Do you have to hand him over or can he disappear?" I asked.

"Anyone can disappear, why?"

"He touched her," I said.

"Who, Joey?"

"Your granddaughter." I said.

"Fuck!  I wanted him to die because of Joey!  Consider him gone." He said.

"No!  He has to be legally dead so Joey can start over.  No waiting seven years bullshit. He got away and crashed a car or something.  Joey's mother is alive, try to get it out of him first." I said.

"Nobody gets away from us, Son.  Where's Rob?"

"I haven't seen him yet." I answered.

"I'll take care of it, they can't fire me now if they don't like it. I'll let you know when it's done."  He said.

"I want photos"

"It won't be pretty." He warned.

"Good."

I walked over to the girls.  "Where's Rob?"

"He said he had business in the study."  Joey said.

I ran into the house, and about took out the door when I swung it open.

"Your mom is alive!  Old man Beaumont has her somewhere!"  I said to him as soon as I saw him.

"What?  No, there were photos." He looked up at me. 

"It wasn't your father, Beaumont had your mom the whole time." I went on and told him the whole story.

He jumped up and grabbed his keys. "Take care of the girls, but call your Dallas office and let them know I'm on my way."

"Dad? What's going on?"  Mason asked.

My heart just stopped, and I turned to see my son.  That word has never sounded so wonderful, not even when Jake said it the first time. 

"We need to talk."

I led him out to his mother.  "Mason needs to know what's happening." I said.

Serenity actually for once hugged her brother.  "Mom, you should talk to him,  I need to go to my room for a little bit." She wiped a tear away, then walked away.

"Joey, I need a minute with our daughter if it's okay." I asked.

"Please do." She said, and I walked inside with Serenity.

"You were hoping all along he would just disappear?" I asked.

She just looked down at her feet.  "Is that bad?"

"No, your mother and I both have the same thoughts, come sit with me."  I said.

She followed me to the study and sat next to me. 

"I'm not sure if you'll ever accept me as your father, but I need you to know, that ever since I learned about you, its all I wanted."  I said.

"I know if things were different, you would have been there for me." She said.

"You're so mature." I had to smile at her. "I didn't want to scare you away, so I kept my distance.  To me, you are my little girl, and I would be so happy if you would accept me.  We can take it at your speed, but most of all, until you are ready, I will be there at an instant if you need me."  I said.

I pulled out what I bought her.  "Nobody, other than my dad and your uncle will ever know what you just told us, not until you are ready to talk about it."  I assured her.

I handed her a tiny box.

"Your mother will always be the love of my life, and I will always be grateful she brought you into this world.  I have fought wars, fed the hungry, taken bad men off the streets, but the best thing that has ever happened to me, is being a father.  I love you and Mason no differently than Jake."  I said.

I took the necklace and put it on her.  "This is the father-daughter Celtic knot.  It's to remind you that you do have a dad, and when you are ready, he is waiting with open arms." I said.

She looked down at it.  "It's the most beautiful gift I've ever received."

"Thank you for being so brave today," I said.

"It hurt to see Mom fall to the ground." She said.

"You gave her the strength she needed to fight back," I said.

"Are you going to go kill him?"  She asked.

"No, I don't want you to think of that when you see me.  Your grandfather and Uncle will make sure he is brought to justice in one way or another." I said.

"Have you ever killed someone?" She asked.

I wasn't expecting that at all.  "I was a Marine and I did several tours, I did my duty, but I've never taken a life as a cop."

"When do we get to see Jake again?" She asked.

"I have him from Sunday till Wednesday every week, but since I had him for longer than that this time around, I'll get him again in a few weeks.  You're more than welcome to come to D.C. anytime." I said.

She gave me a sly grin.  "Does this mean you get my atrocious shopping bills every month?" 

"Just how atrocious?  I have a lot of years to make up for, but I'm just a cop."

She laughed.  "I'm totally kidding, Mom's loaded."

"That's so not cool," I said, and she gave me a pat on the back. 

"You're pretty cool for an old guy and a cop."  She aais.

"I'm not old!  I'm only 35, kid." I said.

"Twice my age, old man. I think that's what I'll call you from now on.  Isn't that what Americans say?"  She asked.

"I'm only 35," I said, and she laughed and stood up.

"Come on old man, let's check on the love of your life, which is really gross by the way." She got up and led me outside.