matter how lovely it was, people stopped to stare, some of them smiling with a knowing grin and others, mostly women, glaring at her with jealousy. Marissa preferred to be a bit more circumspect, not liking to be the center of attention.
It took his driver less than fifteen minutes to make it across town to the hospital where the mysterious Dave had mentioned Sierra was visiting her stranger.
When they found her in one of the waiting rooms, Sierra took one look at her sister and burst into tears. “Mari! I’m so glad you’re here!” she cried, throwing herself into her sister’s arms as if she were a lifeline.
Marissa wrapped her arms around her sister and guided her over to one of the waiting room chairs. “Tell me what’s happening,” she urged, trying to infuse her voice with strength. Sierra cried for about fifteen minutes, telling Marissa about the man going into their father’s office, then the black Lincoln driving away and her frantic chase to keep up with them. By the time she was finished, Marissa knew more about the man’s injuries than she ever wanted to know. She couldn’t believe that her father could do something like this, but apparently, he was just as cruel and heartless as they’d suspected.
When Zeke handed Sierra a cup of coffee, she smiled gratefully up at him.
Sierra sniffled and took a sip of the coffee and a tissue, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Okay, I’m fine now,” she said. Looking at Marissa, she said, “I think most of those tears were just due to stress so please don’t think I’m breaking down, Mari. I just…” she searched for the right words. “I can’t believe that the man who did this is our father. It’s just too horrific to believe.”
Marissa looked suspiciously at her sister, not sure if she believed her mental state or not. “What are you going to do?” she asked soothingly.
Sierra was quite firm about her plans. “I’m going to stay here and make sure no one else hurts that man. He didn’t deserve any of this.”
Marissa eyed her sister cautiously. “How do you know he wasn’t part of the problem?”
Sierra was already shaking her head, denying that the man fighting for his life in the hospital bed was like their father. “No. He’s innocent in all of this. I can’t explain it to you. I just know it, Mari.”
“His name is Drake Harrison,” Zeke explained. “And according to Dave, he has no ties with your father or any other criminal enterprises. He’s a good man,” Zeke assured Marissa.
“See?” Sierra said triumphantly, as if Zeke’s statement was fact simply because it coincided with her own opinion of the stranger. “Listen, Mari. You have to trust me. I’m going to be okay. I’m going to make sure this man survives, I’ll pay for all of his hospital and doctors’ expenses on the credit cards Dad gave to us and then I’m going to head off to school. I don’t care what Dad says about my education. I’m done listening to him and following his commands. As far as I’m concerned, our father is dead to me.” Her chin jutted out stubbornly and Marissa prayed that Sierra’s instincts bout the man were on target.
“And if he has other plans for you?” Marissa asked worriedly, thinking about the predicament she was currently in.
“Then I’ll go into hiding. I don’t care anymore. This was the last straw, Mari. I’m moving out and I’m not going to watch as Dad does these kinds of things. Nor am I going to live off of the largesse of his criminal enterprises anymore. I’m out,” she stated emphatically.
Marissa knew that Sierra would have a fight ahead of her. She wasn’t sure what she could do, but Sierra was strong. “We’ll do this together,” she said, deciding that her sister was right. It was time for both of them to move on with their lives.
Sierra smiled slightly. “You’re a great sister, Mari. But I don’t want you involved in this.”
Marissa shook her head adamantly. “I’m not leaving you.”
Zeke cleared his throat at that moment. “I’m sorry to contradict you, Marissa, but you’re coming with me.” Turning to Sierra and before Marissa could contradict him he said, “Sierra, I’m going to leave some bodyguards with you. They will be here to protect you and help you with whatever you need. Do you understand?”
Another tear slipped from Sierra’s eye. “Thank you. But could they guard Mr. Harrison? I don’t