Rescuing Emily (Delta Force Heroes Book 2)

Rescuing Emily (Delta Force Heroes Book 2) by Susan Stoker Page A

Book: Rescuing Emily (Delta Force Heroes Book 2) by Susan Stoker Read Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Stoker
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There were a couple of hours that had almost broken her, when she didn’t know if Annie was one of the missing students. Thinking she might’ve lost the best thing that had ever happened to her was something she never wanted to go through again—and was what made her go along almost docily with the whole blackmail scheme of Fletch’s friend now. She couldn’t lose her daughter.
    Emily listened as Annie spent more time talking about how happy she was that one of the other first-grade teachers and her favorite gym teacher were apparently now dating after the experience. Fletch didn’t interrupt her, and carefully steered away her questions about what had actually happened that day, which Emily appreciated. It was almost beyond her comprehension how Fletch could be so great with Annie, but be a total dick and insensitive as to what his friend was making her do.
    Emily let Annie talk as much as she wanted, only interjecting a word or two here and there. Fletch laughed at her stories and seemed to enjoy talking to the little girl. Emily would’ve fallen head over heels in love with the man if she didn’t know what kind of person he really was.
    She also might’ve stormed out of his house, but the food had been a godsend. It was not only nutritious, but delicious to boot. Fletch could cook. The seasoning on the steaks was perfect, and the butter dripping off the corn only made it that much sweeter. When he pulled out the brownies he claimed to have made the day before, Emily thought her daughter was going to explode with happiness.
    After they’d eaten and Fletch had read two short picture books to Annie, Emily knew it was past time to get out of there…before her heart took any more of a beating.
    “Time to go, Annie.”
    “Aw, Mom…”
    “Don’t ‘aw, Mom’ me. It’s a school night.”
    “Will I see you tomorrow?” Annie asked her new idol.
    Fletch shrugged. “Not sure, sprite. But you know I’m always here if you need me.”
    Emily didn’t think Fletch would hurt Annie, but she also didn’t want him to give her daughter carte blanche to come over whenever she wanted. No way was that gonna happen.
    “Come on, baby. Bath time, then Nancy Drew.”
    “Yay!” Annie ran over to Fletch and hugged him around the waist. Emily refused to be moved by the soft look that crossed the big man’s face as he put one hand on Annie’s small back and the other on her head.
    “See you later.”
    “Bye, Fletch!”
    “Thank you for dinner, Fletch. It was delicious.” Emily might be upset at the entire situation Fletch had put her in, but the food had been wonderful. It really had been a nice break in her bleak existence.
    “Do you want to take the leftover corn and salad?” he asked, leaning against the counter in the kitchen.
    Emily did, but shook her head anyway. “That’s all right. Thanks though.”
    “I said it once, but I’ll say it again—it’s not fair to put Annie on a diet this young. She was obviously hungry; she devoured that entire steak and the corn, and had two helpings of salad. Eat whatever the hell you want, Emily, but please don’t let Annie grow up thinking she has to be skinny to be a worthy person.
    Emily felt the tears well up in her eyes, but refused to let Fletch see them. Damn him. She was doing the best she could with trying to buy enough food for Annie and pay the damn two hundred a week. It was shitty of him to rub it in her face.
    Her words came out bitter and harsh. “My daughter comes first in all things in my life, Fletch. I’d starve myself before I’d let her go hungry.” The words weren’t a vow, they were reality.
    Emily walked to the front door and left the house, not looking back. If she had, she might’ve seen the frustrated and dejected look on Fletch’s face.

Chapter 9
    F letch smiled at Ghost and Rayne. Truck had been visiting Ghost, and since Fletch was on a beer run, he’d offered to pick the three of them up for his barbecue. He was thrilled beyond belief

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