“I agree.” Montana agreed. “We’re going to have to find out where they’re sourced and take that out.”
“What about my father?” Ellie asked. “I mean, if you take out wherever they are, he could die.”
I rose and finished my drink. “If God’s merciful, he’s already dead.”
Ellie
The momentI woke up that morning, I kept wishing the last few days had been a horrible nightmare. But as I awoke in a strange bed with unusual air and walls around me, I knew it was no figment of a dream world.
My mother was dead, and my father was missing.
Tarek Jonas was my protector and he was very unwilling.
I reluctantly climbed out of bed, showered and dressed in a black dress I had grabbed when the Protectors came to my aid. It was handy when I was frantically shoving things into the little bag I’d managed to yank out of my closet. Thankfully, it seemed appropriate for a funeral, but I didn’t feel like burying anyone that day.
As I walked through the cemetery to where my mother would be laid to rest, I was flanked by Kujo and Tarek’s friend, Maia.
The moment I met her, I knew why I didn’t stand a chance at turning Tarek’s head. She was gorgeous—with long black hair tied up in a sensible ponytail. Her dark eyes sized me up with silent contemplation. leaving me feeling uneasy and invisible. But it didn’t stop there. Maia had flawless caramel skin wrapped in curves that could make the sexiest supermodel jealous and a grown man cry.
Yes, I felt like an insignificant ogre next to her.
Every time I think about her, I thought of Pocahontas wrapped in John Rambo. Then she hunched down to tie the laces of her combat boot and I caught sight of her badge and gun.
I had to laugh.
Of course.
As we approached the area for my mother’s burial, I tucked my jealousy to the very back of my mind and focused. I didn’t really have a choice in where I buried my mom. The funeral was planned in two hours for the next day. Although I realized I had been an asshole to the people around me, even I recognized my mother was worth more than a few shitty hours.
But I didn’t have a choice.
My life had imploded, and I couldn’t seem to go anywhere without bullets flying.
I hadn’t cried for my mother after she died. Her murder did hurt but I was pretty sure I deserved that pain. To say I was unsure of how to take it all must be the understatement of the year.
“What’s wrong?” Maia asked.
“What?”
“You keep looking around.” Maia didn’t look at me. “Is something wrong?”
“I just thought he’d be here. That’s all.”
“Cobra?”
I nodded.
“Just because you don’t see him, doesn’t mean he’s not here.”
I wouldn’t have been offended if Tarek hadn’t come. It would suck but I would have understood. Everyone else I called said they would attend but so far, not one of them had bothered showing up. My friends, Jennifer and Susan had cut off all communications with me after the murder and I was basically left to deal.
In fact, I was pretty sure Susan had changed her number. I tried checking them out on Facebook and to my horror, it seemed they had me blocked.
These two women were supposed to be my best friends.
The thought made me sad. She’d spent her entire life with my father and his people. All hers were left by the wayside and after a while, they stopped caring. It wasn’t their faults. Life got in the way.
That, and my father had systematically eliminated everyone from her world until all she had was him.
