All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) A.D. Justice (short novels to read TXT) 📖

“I know that look, Rod. Let Daisy decide what’s best for her and Landen. Support her regardless of which way she leans. I think she’s ready, but you never know how this will affect her when she learns it’s all very real now.”

“That’s the easy part, little sis. Sharing the details of what he’s been doing since then won’t be easy for her to hear. I just worry about her and the babies.”

“That bastard doesn’t have that much influence over her, Rod. She’ll be angry over what he’s gotten away with all these years, but that won’t be enough to put the pregnancy in danger. Besides, she’s a strong woman who’s already survived a lot. If you don’t tell her, that’ll piss her off more than anything.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I’ll tell her this evening after I finish moving her in here. She knows I hired Justin to find him, so that part is old news. But she’s been hesitant to face this guy, and she’s not sure what to tell Landen.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t tell Landen anything about him. That piece of shit wouldn’t even exist in my world. Landen’s better off without knowing anything about what happened. That sperm donor hasn’t earned a place in their story.”

Juliana’s not wrong.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Daisy

When I arrive at my house after work, I find Rod, an enormous moving truck, and four burly men waiting for me. He wasn’t kidding about how soon he wants me to call his house my home.

“I know what you’re thinking.” He starts explaining before even saying hello. “But these guys are strong. They can do all the heavy lifting and moving your belongings to our place. While they’re getting the furniture moved out of here and set up over there, you and I can pack the boxes. Then they’ll come back to get them. How’s that for organized?” He flashes that damn sexy smirk again.

“You’re lucky I haven’t been in this house for too long, so I’d already gotten rid of everything I don’t use anymore before I moved in. Fine, let’s get busy packing the boxes so they’re not here all night. This explains why Juliana and Louise insisted I hurry home, but wanted Landen to stay with them. Sneaky, employing them against me.”

“Not against you, babe. Only to help. Never against you.” He pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine. “I don’t want to wait one more day to start our life together. You’re all I need, and I need you with me.”

My house is small, so the professional movers make quick work of emptying every room. When they return, two pitch in with packing the last of the kitchen boxes while the other two load the full ones on the truck.

“Look at that. We’re done just in time for dinner. Landen is well taken care of for the next few hours. Let me take you out to eat.” He wraps his arms around my ever-expanding belly from behind, splaying his hands protectively across our babies.

“As long as we’re talking Mexican food, I’m in.”

“All you have to do is say the word. Mexican, it is.”

The movers take the remaining boxes and head to Rod’s. I glance back at my house and think about how much has changed in the short time since I first moved in. I turn to say this to Rod, but his worried expression stops me.

“What’s wrong?”

He hesitates.

“All right, out with it. You’re being much too quiet to be my Hot Rod. So tell me what’s on your mind. Whatever it is, I can handle it.” I fold my arms across my chest and wait for him to confess whatever it is he doesn’t want to tell me.

“I don’t want to ruin our dinner plans, but I don’t want to keep it from you either.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “The private investigator called today. He found the guy who raped you. Apparently, he’s still terrorizing women. He’s been fired from several jobs and accused of sexual harassment by quite a few ladies. He’s also been banned from a couple of area bars, but no charges have been filed against him. Somehow, he keeps getting away with just a slap on the wrist.

“Justin was a detective for several years before he went out on his own. He’s gathered a lot of information for the police, and several other victims are willing to testify against this guy regarding his character and tendencies if we need them. That is, if you want to file a police report and press charges against him.”

I briefly consider the possibility of having to face him in court, but I decide to push my fear aside. After a thorough search, I found out most cases aren’t tried in front of a jury, anyway. With the bevvy of prior victims willing to speak out, he’d be a fool to push for a jury trial. One thing is for certain. He’s not a complete fool or he would’ve been prosecuted before now.

“Yes, I want to go to the police and have him brought up on charges. Karen was also a witness that night and said she’d gladly give a witness statement. There’s no way Tracy will be allowed anywhere near this case since she’s my best friend, but she can help guide us through the process. Since this crime occurred in Athens and that’s a different district, she couldn’t influence my case anyway.”

“Tracy? How can she help when she’s in public relations?” His confusion is so cute.

“Well, that’s a term she uses to describe her job when she doesn’t want to talk about it. She’s actually a prosecutor with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. She worked so hard to put herself through law school, and she always gives me free legal advice.”

“She’s been an assistant district attorney this entire time, and I never knew? How did I not hear of this before now?”

“She