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Back Blood in the Water
Chapters (82)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. Praise for Blood in the Water
  81. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  82. Newsletter Sign-up

He uncrossed his arms, stepped forward, and wrapped them around her. She melted into the safety of her father’s embrace, and it made her feel, at least for a moment, like things would be all right. “Don’t worry,” he said. “There are a few bad people who are unhappy with me. But I have the backing of the union, and this will all be taken care of.”

She pushed away from him. “What the fuck does that mean? The backing of the union? Are they all involved in this?”

He crossed his arms again. “It means I’ll take care of this. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Until this is done, though, I want you to stay here. I’ve got a man who will be here, too. Just to make sure nothing happens. He’s with the union.”

“The union?”

“It’s for your own good.” His phone rang and he took it out of his pocket. He held it up to his ear. “Yeah?” he said. “OK. I’ll be there shortly.” He put the phone back into his pocket. “I’ve got to go.”

He started to walk out, and then paused. “The five hundred dollars you wanted…” he began. Then he stopped to regroup. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about that.”

“I don’t want the money,” Diamond said.

“You’ve made your decision, then?”

She nodded. It was true, she had. Without even realizing it, something clicked inside her brain or her heart, or whatever part of her that made the best decisions on instinct.

She saw Cormack allow himself a smile. She also saw that the smile was tinged with regret. She wondered what he was feeling.

“Who’s the father?” he asked.

Diamond just stared at him, not answering.

He nodded. “OK. When you’re ready. Does he know you’re keeping it?”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant.”

“How do you think he’ll react?”

“How did you react when Mom told you about me?” The comment stung him, she could see, and she was instantly sorry she’d said it. “I didn’t mean that,” she said.

“No, it’s a fair point,” he allowed. “Who knows, maybe the world has changed since then. Maybe he’s a better man than I was.” She could tell that he wanted to say more. Finally, he asked, “Do you love him?”

She stared at her father for a moment, afraid of what she would say. Afraid of how he would react. Afraid of how she actually felt.

“More than I ever thought I’d love anyone,” she said at last.

He held her eyes with his for a long pause. “Good,” he said. “It may not make it work, but at least it makes it worth the try. I hope I get the chance to meet him soon.”

“Yeah, me too.”