“Fuck nothing.”
“Bullshit!” I howl. “This is my sting!”
“Was,” Jake says with a glare that would be sexy if I wasn’t so pissed off.
“Come on?” I plead. “Can’t I at least sit in the car with Mall Pig?”
“You’re too noticeable, Ada,” Betty says. “We don’t need anyone recognising you.”
“And you’re a liability,” Davis mutters.
I glare at him. “So I’ll just sit here and twiddle my thumbs, will I?”
“Exactly,” Jake snarls. “You’re not getting done for this, Renaldo.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he closes the space between usand wraps his arms around me. “You don’t have to carry this on your own, remember?”
My frustration battles the sheer comfort of his hug. “That’s never really worked out for me.”
“Until now.” He kisses my forehead. “You’re a brave girl. But you’ve been doing everything by yourself for so long, you think it’s the only way. It isn’t. Let us help you.”
“I want to,” I mumble. “But Jake?—”
“I let you down before,” he says, his voice rough but unflinching. “It’ll never be like that again. Let me start proving it. Please?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Good girl.” He lifts my chin with a finger. “You’re so fucking precious to me. You have no idea how?—”
“Ada’s fine with staying here, Betty,” Davis calls. “Be at yours in ten?”
“Roger,” Betty answers. “See you soon.”
I close my eyes, holding back fresh tears. “Then I guess I’d better let you guys get going.”
Jake drops his finger, glaring over my head at Davis. “Mood killer.”
“Plenty of time for that when we get back. Let’s roll.”
Jake takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Stay here and lock the door, baby. Don’t open it for anyone except me.”
“I will. Please try to be safe?”
“I will.” He searches my face, then a soft smile creases the corners of his dark grey eyes. “I know we haven’t talked about the other thing yet, but I really want to.”
I shake my head. I know he means Jenny, but right now, Jenny Wallis is the least of my worries. We’re all standing in the middle of a storm, and for once I don’t want to step back and start counting lightning bolts. I just want everyone to be okay.
“Go,” I tell him. “Davis is right, we’ll have plenty of time to talk when you’re back. We’ll sort it all out.”
Hehesitates. “But you… Us…?”
“‘Us’ sounds good.”
Jake’s smile becomes a full-blown grin. Sunshine breaking through heavy storm clouds. “I love you, Renaldo.”
I close my eyes and return his smile. “See you soon.”
Davis leaves, followed by Jake, and I press my ear to the door and listen as his footsteps fade, wishing I could go with him. Be by his side when whatever happens, happens. Instead, I hear him walk away, his tread so heavy on the carpeted floor it echoes all the way to the elevator.
