“I don’t –” Daisy started, staring at me closely.
“Let her alone,” Jet cut her off.
“But –” Daisy went on.
“Give her time to think,” Jet interrupted again and looked at me. “You need to talk, anytime, day, night, whenever, you call one of us. We’re here, Sadie. Always.”
I pulled my lips in and didn’t have to pretend or force the tears that were shining in my eyes at what she said. I was wishing this could be real, could be my life but I knew it couldn’t.
Unable to speak, I just nodded again.
“We’re done here,” Jet told Ava and Daisy.
“We’re not done,” Daisy pushed.
“We’re done,” Ava announced firmly.
Daisy dropped my hand but only to cross her arms on her chest.
“I’ll be watchin’ you,” she warned.
I decided to set this firmly aside and go back to the enjoying the drunken portion of the night.
“Okay,” I told her like I could care less.
Jet smiled at Ava.
Daisy narrowed her eyes at me.
We heard Stella’s voice and I knew the band was going to start again.
“Rock ‘n’ roll!” I shouted, whirled and used that as my excuse for escape.
I threw open the door, flew out of the restroom, got two steps into the hall and slammed into something solid.
Hands came to my upper arms, I looked up and all my breath left me in a rush.
“Jerry?” I whispered, not believing my eyes or my f**king terrible luck.
I mean, seriously!
Why me?
Out of the frying pan and into the fire!
I looked again but my eyes did not deceive me. It was Jerry, one of the henchmen in my father’s gentleman army. Tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed, good-looking and, normally, mostly silent. He’d disappeared the minute the DEA moved in and I hadn’t seen him since.
“Sadie,” Jerry replied.
“Who’re you?” Ava said from beside me.
“Stand back, now.” Daisy didn’t care who he was and at her words all the girls got close to me.
Jerry ignored Daisy. “Your father’s got a message for you.”
My eyes went wide.
Then my back went straight and my chin went out.