Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,55
handed me over $800 yesterday?” Sapphire asked him.
“I am and you aren’t giving it back.”
“Tarron, that’s too much,” I protested.
“She put up with me all day yesterday. It wasn’t enough. She earned every penny of that.”
“And today I’m eating too. It’s on the house. Just comp it, Sapphire.”
“Do I need to run it buy Jimmy first?”
I laughed. “No, the paperwork hasn’t finalized yet. It’s still in process. I’m still the boss until it’s official that I’m not.”
“Good enough for me.” Sapphire hesitated. “Will I see you before you leave?”
I looked at Tarron. My eyes filled with questions.
“What time do you get off today, Sapphire?”
“One.”
“We’ll see you at one then. I have no doubt that you and Susan need to talk as well.”
My heart soared. I did need to talk to Sapphire. How could I possibly explain to her how I’d had our mother committed for help and that I took guardianship of Sage and hoped that I would be taking her away with me?
We left the restaurant. Nonna volunteered to drive my car so Tarron and I could ride together in his. When we got back to the hotel she quickly made herself scarce.
“The two of you need time alone to talk. I’ll just be in my room.”
“I already arranged to stay another night,” Tarron said.
“Really?” I asked.
I knew Tarron was from California and I assumed he’d want to get back home quickly.
Neither of us spoke until we were inside our room with the door closed and Tarron verified the dampener was on.
“I have to get back. My team leader only gave me one week. Four days has now passed.”
“I assumed it would be something like that.”
“I want you to come with me,” he said as he sat and waited for me to respond.
“You say that like I have a choice.”
“Susan, I’m your mate, we’re in this together. I thought we went through this already.”
“I know what you said, Tarron.”
“But you don’t believe me?”
I shrugged. I was confused. The mating and newly bonded feelings were strong. I wanted to believe him, but years of Shay’s warnings against mates were making me question everything.
“Things changed today,” I said instead.
“You aren’t leaving here, are you?” he asked sounding crushed.
“I just sold the business. I have nothing to stay here for.”
“Your sisters are here. Your mother is here.” There was a bit of disdain in his voice.
“I called the local fox council in and had my mother committed. She was denying everything of course but it took little provocation before her true colors shone through.”
“When she struck you?” he asked in a harsh voice.
“Yes,” I said softly. “I did something else too and I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it.”
“What did you do?”
“I couldn’t leave Sage with her. Things have gotten so bad, and if I’m not around, who will she unleash on next? I never dreamed she’d actually hit me, but three times it happened in just the last few days, Tarron. I couldn’t risk having her do that to Sage next.”
“If your mother is going away, who’s going to watch out for Sage? Will Sapphire stay with her?”
I sucked in my bottom lip and shook my head.
“I love Sapphire, but Shay treated her like a princess her entire life. Yeah, she’s my older sister.”
“She is?” Tarron interrupted sounding surprised.
“Yes, but she still has a lot of growing up to do. I don’t even think she knows who she is yet.”
“You took guardianship of Sage, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “I had to, Tarron. I know you didn’t sign on for this, but I had too.”
“Of course you did. I would have been concerned if you hadn’t.”
“Really?” I asked, my heart starting to melt a little.
“Really.” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. “I don’t know what there is around here for me, but I can look if it’s best for us to stay. Nonna won’t be thrilled about it and Silas will be pissed, but I think they’d let me work remote for a bit at least.”
He was ready to uproot and move here for me.
“You would do that for me?”
“Susan, you’re my mate. It’s not about what’s best for me anymore, it’s about what’s best for us.”
“I just sold the café. The only for me here is my sisters. I’ll talk to Sage tonight. I don’t know how she’s going to feel about all of this.”
“And Sapphire?”
“That’s why I said I needed to talk to her before we leave. I assumed the decision was already made.”