I hung up. That was as much as I could take of Garret Montgomery.
I grabbed another bottle of whiskey and downed it as well. Screw being the sky. I needed to be the liquor shelf instead.
This was bad. I knew Greg had had his eyes on Willa ever since she bailed her dad out in Vegas. Guess he saw his chance and took it.
I searched through my contacts and clicked on a familiar name. He was the only one I trusted to keep Willa safe. I’d even say he’d protect her with his life.
“Rayna?” Jameson’s surprised voice sounded through the phone.
“Hey. Sorry to call so late. But it’s important.”
“What’s wrong?”
I closed my eyes, pushing down the urge for another drink.
“Garret called. He owes Greg money. And Greg wants Willa as payment if Garret can’t pay him.”
There was a lot of cursing. Then his deep timbre came through again. “That fucking bastard doesn’t know when to quit. He finished his third stint in rehab last week. Good fuck all that did him.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“We’re at Sweet Dreams all the time anyway. Just have to add in a few extra visits. The boys won’t mind.” Jameson owned Drake’s Garage with his brother Mason, and everyone who worked there was like family. He’d make sure that someone was at the bakery at all times to keep an eye on Willa.
I pressed the heel of my hand against my eyes, unwilling to cry over this mess. “Thank you.”
“She’s my wife. No need to thank me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
“I know.”
“How did you find out?”
I sighed. “Garret called.”
There was more cursing, and then he came back on. “How often does he call you?”
Another sigh. They would find out eventually.Time to fess up.“Every few months.”
Not only had I run interference when he was on a bender while with my sister, but especially once she was gone and Willa had to endure his bullshit. My niece thought her dad was a mess, but if she really knew what he’d been up to, she wouldn’t defend him so much anymore.
But we had no other family. And she needed her dad. Even if he was a loser. So I’d taken his calls and straightened out his bullshit for as long as I could remember.
“This ends now. Next time he calls you, you tell me. And don’t you dare give him any money. This is his mess, not yours.”
I knew he was right, but if I didn’t get the money together, Garret would go to Willa. And as much as I trusted Jameson to protect her, she was a stubborn little thing, and if she wanted to help her dad, she would.
“Let’s play it by ear,” I responded, not wanting to lie to him.
“Hell no we won’t. Don’t do anything stupid. You have a great opportunity with the show. Don’t let him mess it up.”
Easier said than done. This was a pattern I’d followed all my life. I called it the Garret waves. He was calm for a few months before something stirred him up and he came crashing back.
After saying good-bye to Jameson, I flopped onto my back on the bed. The loud groan I let out was somewhat satisfying. I knew this wasn’t over. Garret would find someone to get him out of his debt. And I didn’t want that person to be Willa.
I wouldn’t get any sleep tonight, after all. Instead, I’d have to look for a way to come up with the money.
Five
Iwas sure the girl speaking to the cameraman was the same girl hanging off Grayson’s arm when I last saw him three nights ago. I’d been successful in avoiding him, not needing another person to add to my now sleepless nights.
