She dropped her chin to her chest and slowly shook her head.
“Cleo. Go wait outside.”
She didn’t move until Inez slammed her hand on the counter. “Don’t make me tell you again.”
Cleo slipped off the stool, but kept her hand on the girl’s back. Her body started to tremble and Cleo couldn’t bring herself to walk away.
“Tell her she’ll be fine, Cleo.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Will she?”
Inez scoffed, narrowing her gaze. “I let you live, don’t I?”
True.Cleo was still at odds, glancing over at the girl. It was as if she was looking to her for reassurance. She was putting her faith solely in Cleo. It wasn’t something she could take lightly or carelessly. Cleo drew in a deep breath and slowly turned to Inez.
“Do you promise?”
Inez’s brows shot up to her hairline. In all her time with the MC and around Inez, no one had ever given pushback on her direct orders.
“Is your crazy ass questioning my fucking word?”
She swallowed the knot in her throat. “Yes.”
Inez’s gaze darkened with the temperature in the room dropping ten degrees. Inez shifted her eyes to the girl, who seemed to shrink slightly. Cleo was mentally regretting her choice in phrase. Maybe if she had worded it differently, it wouldn’t have come across as doubtful.Oh, who am I kidding?This was Inez. She could make anything combative. Still, she couldn’t regret her need forreassurance of the girl’s safety.And I won’t backpedal.Cleo swayed on her feet, darting her gaze around the room through the lingering silence. So awkward.
“Hey!” Inez snapped, and Cleo jerked her head.
“She’s. Safe.”
Inez was a lot of things, not many good. But her word was trusted by everyone. But…
“You swear?”
“Girl!” Inez’s eyes went wild, waving her hand as the cigarette ashes fluttered around the room like flurries of snow. “I gave you my fucking word. That’s all you get. We’re not locking pinkies and making fucking vows. Now get your skinny ass out in the hallway and wait before I throw you out of my fucking window.”
That was fair. At least for Cleo. The girl, however, had a different reaction. She sucked in an audible gasp and gripped tightly to the edge of her seat. Her face had paled, and fear seemed to immobilize her.
Cleo ignored the threat and mustered up a smile. “She’s just teasing.”
“The fuck I am. Five…four…”
“I promise you’ll be okay with Inez. And I know you don’t know me” —she rested her hand on her chest— “But youcantrust me. Okay?”
The girl looked at Inez then back to Cleo, whispering. “Okay.”
Cleo was about to give one more parting reassurance. She never got the chance.
“Three!”
Cleo spun around and quickened her steps to the door and walked out into the hallway. Wraith was standing just outside, and she closed it behind her.
“Inez asked me to wait outside.”
Ace snorted. “She asked?”
It broke some of the tension as they waited. She noticed all the stares coming from the members but she kept her eyes locked on the faded carpet. Even if they had asked what happened, Cleowasn’t sure she’d be able to explain. The conversation seemed simple but hard to follow. It was clear the girl was afraid of her dad and didn’t want to be found. Other than that? Cleo didn’t know much more than the club at this point.
After about fifteen minutes, the door opened, and Inez waved her inside.
