“A stranger in line behind me at the airport for being a bitch, but that’s not what I’m referring to.”
“You made it as far as the airport?”
“I ran away before security pulled me up on a very justified offense, and sawthem.”
“Them who must not be named.”
“They told me it was impossible to run from a man like Conrad O’Neill. They said they were gonna protect me. I was on the fence about it, but they were willing to go all the way to New York for me if that’s what it took to protect me. So, I agreed to stay. We ended up here. Carter was sitting right here at this very table. He stayed to play watchdog.”
“And, let me guess? Dot, dot, dot happened?”
“Yes. And I left Otis downstairs. When we returned, he was gone.”
Sadie goes white. “Is he…?”
“Alive, yes. He’s asleep in the next room. Speaking of…” I jump up to make sure he’s still there. Grabbing the doorway arch for support, I tell her the rest and watch her jaw get closer to the floor.
“No” is all she can say by the time I’ve finished telling her everything.
And I meaneverything.
I tell her about Otis. How the O’Neills tied him to a chair and forced him to watch the gore. I tell her about my temporary home in the shipping container, the bikers storming in and creating a bloodbath.
“The auction was a prison?”
“Yes,” I reply. “To those who wanted to get out, anyway. He wanted me in there. Called the event a fucking bingo night for his employees to let off some steam.”
“Sicko.” Sadie sighs with relief. “Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you’re all okay.” My tilted head tells her not quite. Her jaw hangs open again. “No…which one?”
“None, yet.” I bite my lip to contain the guilt that threatens to destroy me again. One day it will. “Carter got shot in the leg twice. I overheard the club doctor saying he’d lost a lot of blood. He’ll be fine but…he might never be able to walk again.”
“What are you doing back here then, crazy girl? You need to be at his side.”
“I can’t be around them. I can’t let them kill themselves for me.”
“They must love you a lot.”
I grimace. “Huh. I’m not so sure about that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Skipper chased after me, but I heard Vex tell him to let me go. It’s good to hear that one of them has snapped out of their delusions and realized who I am.”
Sadie discards the mug of tea. “And who are you?”
“I’m exactly like my mother. Ruthless. Selfish.”
“If you keep telling yourself that, you’ll turn into those things.” Sadie snaps her fingers right in my face. “Girl, just accept their love and let them put a ring on your finger already.”
“Wow. Hold your horses. Nobody’s getting married.”
“Otis needs his father, Carmen. Does he know?”
I wince again. “Yes.”
“Good. You can stop looking so downhearted now. I get it. For a woman who runs away from commitment, it’s a big step to bring Carter into yours and Otis’s life. But I stand by what I said before. Otis needs his father. They both deserve to know that the other exists.”
“I was thinking about telling Otis the truth. Actually, I had a whole speech prepared. And then Conrad stole it from me. He thought it would be hilarious to tell my son who his father is. Long story short, I killed him with a knife.”
