“Is Portlandhome?” Daisy asked me.
“Is that whereyou’re gonna be?”
She nodded witha grin.
“Then that’swhere home is.”
“Glad to hearit.” Hatch smiled. “Flea and I are gonna take off. We’ll see you in a fewweeks.”
They walked out,followed by Razor, leaving us with Booker and Cash.
“So the braceletworked, huh?” Daisy asked Booker.
“Baby girl, thesecond you hit that button on your bracelet, Melody was filing a flight plan toget us here. You’re just lucky your mother didn’t come with me.”
“How does thatmake me lucky? She’s the only one who can control you,” she complained.
I chuckled. “I’mgonna book us a room real quick. Do you want to stay here, or come with me?”
Daisy pointed toher bruised face. “I’ll stay here.”
“Okay, I’ll beright back,” I promised and headed down to the front desk.
* * *
Daisy
Huck left theroom, and my dad wrapped his arms around me. “Fuckin’ scared the shit out ofus, Ducky.”
“Not myintention,” I grumbled.
“I’m notblamin’, you sweetheart.”
“Sorry.” Isighed. “I know. I’m just a little keyed up.”
He gave me asqueeze. “Understandable.”
A knock at thedoor made me jump and Cash frowned as he pulled open the door. Archer walked inand I rolled my eyes. “Great. The gang’s all here.”
“Jesus, yourface,” Archer hissed.
Cash reachedover and smacked the back of his head.
“Ow, fuck, Cash,what the hell was that for?”
“Maybe not startby pointing out the fact our sister’s face is beat to shit?” Cash snarled.
“Well, look atit.” Archer waved his hand toward me.
“Yeah, but youdon’t need tosayanything.”
I fisted myhands at my side and let out a quiet squeak. “How about neither of you discussthe state of my face at all!”
“Enough!” Dadbellowed as he pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket. “Jesus, you three.Boys, leave your sister alone.”
I scowled at mybrothers as Dad took a phone call.
“Hey, baby.Yeah, she’s good. Swear to Christ, beautiful, she’s perfect. Sure.” Dad handedthe phone to me. “It’s your mom.”
