Read Dare to Dance: The Maxwell Series for Free Online Page B

the father, I contacted Tasha’s brother. He confirmed that Ruby told him a Kross Maxwell was the father. Part of me believes him. She wasn’t the type to sleep around. I’m such an idiot. She’d been calling me and leaving messages shortly after we moved home from the academy. I didn’t return her calls. I was… I don’t know what I was.” I glanced at Kade. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I fucked up. I didn’t use a condom. I didn’t follow what Dad taught us about safe sex.” My stomach heaved, and I swallowed the bile.
    Kade’s eyebrows hovered at his hairline. “You never kept in contact with her?”
    Cars six stories down crowded the busy Boston streets.
    My gut twisted in several directions. “No. Look, Ruby was beautiful, fun, and she helped me through the dark days at the academy. But when we moved home, I wanted to put my life at the academy behind us. I wasn’t ready for love. If you want to beat my head in, go right ahead. I deserve every ounce of punishment you want to give.” Or at least one round of punishment. The second round would be more painful when I told my parents.
    Kade sauntered up to me. “Brother, I’m not going to beat your head in. However, I can’t say I’m not shocked. Regardless, we need to find this girl and find the truth. If she gave birth to a Maxwell, then she and the kid belong with us.”
    My head spun as I made my way back to the couch. I had to sit down before I collapsed.
    Kade caught my arm. “We’ll find her.”
    I laughed out of sheer panic. “What happens when we find her?” I would go to the ends of the earth to find this woman and my child. “I don’t know the first thing about being a dad. Besides, it’s clear in my mind that Ruby doesn’t want anything to do with me. Otherwise, she would’ve contacted me again.”
    Kade drew me in for a hug. “Regardless, we’re here to help you no matter what.”
    I hugged him back with all the strength I had. I almost bawled like a damn baby. “What about Mom and Dad? I can’t imagine telling them.”
    Kade let go of me. “We will do it together, but not before we find Ruby. There’s no sense in getting them all worked up if you’re not the father.” He pinned a look on Kody and Kelton. Both nodded.
    Dillon sat, observing and pensive. I imagined he was thinking of his own family. He fought every day to keep his spirits up while continually searching for his sister. He had brothers, but he didn’t talk much about them. “So, I take it I’m here because you want me to help find her,” Dillon said.
    Kade stalked over to the coffee table and took a swig of whiskey straight from the bottle.
    “You do have a ton of connections,” I said to Dillon as I walked on shaky legs back to my seat. “I’ve been thinking.” My brain hurt from all the images, scenarios, and ways to find Ruby. “We might be able to start with her old man. Tasha told us he was busted for drugs. I’m not sure if he’s still in jail, but maybe we can find out. If he is, then I can pay him a visit. He might know where she is.”
    “If the dude’s in jail, then there’s a public record of what went down.” Kelton finally relaxed into the couch. “Well, maybe. If the feds were involved, then they could’ve sealed the records, depending on the drug bust. I’ll look into that when I go into the office tomorrow.”
    I hadn’t thought of that. Regardless, I was grateful that Kelton was working at a law firm while he studied to get his law degree.
    “I just thought of something. I’ll talk with Detective Rayburn.” He and I had met when Kelton, Lizzie, Dillon, and I were at an illegal gambling game, and the cops had hauled us off to jail. Mark Rayburn was a fan of mine too. “He probably has easier access to get information on inmates than what you would find,” I said to Kelton. “He also might be able to search his database for an address on Ruby.” As soon as my excitement stirred, it was quickly squashed. Detective