Free Slow Burn: A Texas Heat Novel by Octavia McKenzie Page B

Gilbert!” Allister yelled. She came running. “Get our boy a pot of coffee.”
    “Yes, right away.” She dashed off. Allister helped his son up the stairs. He turned on the shower. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
    Donavan took a cold shower and got dressed. He still had trouble with quick movements but after a pot of strong coffee, a vile tomato concoction of Mrs. G’s and a plate of food, he sobered up. Son whatever it is, you need to fight . Damn straight! Donavan rapidly explained the situation and picked up the phone.
    Carl and Lindsey Grant stood bleary eyed in robes and bare feet. “It’s four in the morning,” Carl groused. “What in the world?”
    Donavan entered the foyer. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the framed pictures of Harper in family photos mounted on the walls.
    Lindsey frowned. “What is it? Is Harper all right?” she asked, alarmed.
    “I don’t know,” he said honestly.
    Carl’s face went ashen. “What do you mean?”
    “Did she call you or text you about her trip abroad?” Donavan asked.
    Carl looked baffled. “Harper left a voice message, right hon?”
    “Yes,” Lindsey said. She finger combed her brown hair. “I thought it was weird, just out of the blue, you know?”
    “May I hear the message?”
    The odd request didn’t faze the couple. Lindsey went for her cell phone. Carl and Donavan exchanged a pointed look, man to man.
    “You’re going to bring our girl home,” Carl said.
    “If she’ll have me,” Donavan said gruffly.
    Carl’s lips quirked. “Oh, I have feeling she’ll have you.”
    Lindsey came down the stairs. She pressed buttons on the phone before handing it over.
    The sound of Harper’s voice sent a tremor right through him.
    “Hi mama, daddy, I’m going on a trip overseas with some friends, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Sorry I didn’t tell you about this earlier, I-I love you both very much, bye.”
    Donavan listened to the message again. There! “You hear the rasp in her voice?”
    The Grants shook their heads. Donavan put the message on speaker. Harper’s voice broke into a deep rasp when she told her parents she loved them.
    “Oh,” Lindsey said. “That sound she makes in her throat.”
    “When she’s afraid,” Donavan said.
    Lindsey held her husband’s hand. “Carl,” she whispered. She visibly shook with a mother’s fear.
    “What are you thinking?” Carl asked, his voice unsteady.
    “Where’s her biological father?”
    Lindsey gasped. Carl stiffened. “H-He’s a convicted felon serving a forty year sentence.”
    “What prison?”
    “Fort Douglas Maximum Security.”
    Donavan was on the phone with the Department of Corrections. He gave his badge number and waited.
    “Let’s see,” the officer said, “Colt Billings was granted parole two months ago.”
    Donavan’s jaw clenched. He hung up. “He’s out, early release.”
    “What?” Lindsey gripped the stair rail and sat down hard as if she’d collapse. Carl tried to hold it together. Tears filled his eyes.
    “Oh God.” The older man doubled over. He gripped his knees with both hands. “My little girl,” he choked.
    Donavan couldn’t be the man deeply in love with Harper right now. He had to be police officer McClain to distance himself. He scanned Colt Billings rap sheet online. Five counts of aggravated child abuse, theft, assault, money laundering and attempted murder. If Donavan allowed himself to feel he would implode.
    He had the bastard’s mug shot. It took an hour for Donavan to track Colt Billings to a roach motel on the edge of town and to have his partner in custody. The other man claimed he knew nothing until he faced Donavan in the interrogation room. He took one look at that lethal face and spilled his guts. He had orders to hurt The Grants, Emerson, Sawyer and Donavan himself if Colt didn’t receive Harper’s trust fund in full.
    A tick leaped in Donavan’s jaw. His icy blue gaze lanced the other man until he gulped.
    “Where