Read Online Daddy Devastating by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online Page B

meeting?” Silas asked.
    “She is,” he said, though he was beginning to have more doubts about it all. “Please don’t tell me Milo’s made any other crazy requests.”
    “No. Not so far. But there has been a hitch. I’m in the lobby of the hotel where you’re staying.”
    “Why?” Russ demanded. “You know Milo has a man watching us.”
    “I do. And he’s still there, parked less than a block up the street. I came in through the back. Neither Milo not his man would recognize me, and I didn’t know if you wanted to keep it that way.”
    “I do.” Since Silas was going to pose as the buyer for the infant, Russ didn’t want Milo asking questions about why Silas had been at the Wainwright, where Julia was staying. “So why did you come?”
    “I had no choice. Twenty minutes ago I got a call about someone else who was already here at the hotel.”
    “Not Milo?”
    “No. The stolen baby’s parents, Aaron and Tracy Richardson. I have them waiting in the manager’s office, but I don’t know how long I can talk them into staying put. The mother is nearly hysterical.”
    Russ almost dropped the phone. “The parents? How the hell did they end up in the Wainwright Hotel in San Saba?” Russ tried to keep his voice down, but it was hard.
    “My fault. They’ve been calling me for updates every hour, and yesterday I let it slip that we were in San Saba.”
    “You what?” Russ couldn’t help it. He cursed.
    “I didn’t mean to tell them,” Silas insisted, his voice suddenly louder. “It just happened. The mother was crying. The father was yelling. I was just trying to assure them that we were close to finding their baby.”
    “And you did that by giving away our location,” Russ growled. “Did you also let it slip that I was here at the hotel?”
    “No. But when they told me they were coming to San Saba, I said I’d meet them. I just went there to calm them down. Russ, they were scared, and I didn’t want them going to every hotel in town looking for me. That would have sent plenty of red flags up for Milo’s men.”
    Yeah, it would have, but the parents’ arrival at the Wainwright would be a massive red flag on its own.
    Russ had to get his teeth unclenched so he could speak. “Please tell me you didn’t meet the parents here, when you were trying to calm them down?” One meeting was bad enough, two would be a disaster.
    “No. I met them at a café on the other side of town. I was careful, but the parents had someone follow me. And he must have been good, because I didn’t make him. He followed me straight to the Wainwright Hotel.”
    Russ shook his head. “When were you here at the Wainwright?”
    “Last night.”
    Well, that was news to Russ. “Why?”
    “I was going to do the security detail to escort Julia Howell, but by the time I arrived, I got the call about Milo and the meeting.”
    And Silas hadn’t told him this, even though it could be a huge problem. “You risked Milo and his men seeing you here twice,” Russ pointed out.
    “That’s why I went in the back. I was careful. But if Milo brings it up, we can just say that since I’m the buyer, I’ve been meeting with you to discuss the money and the details.”
    That sounded logical, unless Milo was already suspicious of Silas. “This changes the plans for the meeting. Even if the deal closes today, I don’t want you to come waltzing in there while Julia’s around. We’ll wait until she leaves.”
    “If Milo agrees to that,” Silas said.
    Yes. Milo might be a problem, but they were going to have an even bigger problem on their hands if their covers were blown.
    “I hope you told the parents they put their baby in more danger by coming here,” Russ asked.
    “I told them, but they aren’t listening. They aren’t leaving either. They’re demanding to talk to you now.”
    “Why me?”
    “Because they believe you’re the one who’ll be in direct contact with the seller.”
    That was true. Russ would be in direct