Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Standing behind the long counter at Deep Dive, Tazzy focused on creating the May coffee specials, the ones she usually made downtown at the coffee shop.
Georgia had convinced Hutch to let her bring everything she needed from Books-N-Brews.
Now the counter was cluttered with colorful syrup bottles, small flavor shot containers, and rows of sample cups.
Familiar scents of vanilla, caramel, and fresh espresso should have relaxed her, but they didn’t. Not today.
She was thankful for the distraction. Truly, she was.
No distraction, however, was effective enough to keep her from worrying about Jaxon.
Fears kept creeping into her thoughts like a shadow that followed her even in the dark.
He had been on edge for the past few days.
Every time he came back from a meeting or took a phone call, his shoulders were tense, and he had a dark look in his eyes.
She hated seeing him like this. Her big, strong Daddy was carrying the weight of the world, and she wished she could lighten his load.
After three straight days of full lockdown, everyone was starting to feel a bit stir crazy.
The walls seemed to close in on her more and more with each passing hour.
Although they were safe inside the Sabre warehouse, the constant awareness of being watched and not being able to leave gave her a small taste of what Jaxon must have been through in prison.
The thought of how much tougher it must have been for him riddled her with guilt.
Not just about what he endured, but how she had treated him when he first returned to Darling.
She needed to talk to her Daddy about that when all this was over. There had to be a way to make it up to him. Creativity was her specialty, after all.
Speaking of which, her confinement turned out to be an opportunity to develop new drinks.
The Musketiaras sat on the tall stools in front of her, taste-testing and giving their honest opinions on her new creations, just like they did anytime she wanted to experiment.
Georgia took a careful sip of the Brown Sugar Blueberry Latte and hummed happily. “This is really good, Tazzy. The blueberry flavor is amazing, but the brown sugar takes it to another level. I’d definitely order this one.”
With a foam mustache on her lip, Winnie held up a finger.
“Hold on, I need one more sip.” She picked up her third sample of the Violet White Chocolate Mocha Frappe next, and groaned with pleasure.
“OMG! This tastes like a chocolate spring in a cup. The white chocolate is perfect with the chocolate sprinkles on top. You have to add this one.”
“Let me try,” Breezy called out, stealing a sip from Winnie’s cup and nodding. “Holy mocha, Batman! It’s yumalicousness in a mug. It’s criminally sweet. Everyone’s gonna love it.”
Laughter rang out at Breezy’s Batman joke. Even though she had to force it, Tazzy managed a smile. She loved these girls so much. They were her safe haven, her posse, her family. But even their laughter and teasing couldn’t fully ease the heavy knot of worry in her chest.
Jaxon had barely slept the past two nights.
That meant she hadn’t slept well either.
She kept waking up to find him pacing the floor, looking out the windows, or checking the security cameras.
When he realized she was awake, he’d lie back down beside her and wrap one arm around her waist. He pretended he was just restless or thinking about something else.
And although she never challenged him, she knew he was worried about her.
She was ready for this to be over. Her Daddy needed to smile again before he forgot how. That hard edge in his eyes was practically a permanent feature. All she wanted was to go home and curl up in his lap without worrying if someone was coming to hurt them.
For now, though, she picked up another sample cup and forced herself to focus on the flavors.
The Musketiaras had been locked down, too.
With the General being so unpredictable, their Daddies had felt it best. Feeling happy about that might make her selfish, but she didn’t think she could handle it if they weren’t here.
If they weren’t, who would tell her how fantastic her newest coffee creations were?
She just hoped Jaxon was okay. Right now, they mostly kept in touch through texting whenever he was out. It was better than nothing, but she really wished she could be with him more.
Georgia lifted the warm mug to her lips again, taking another slow sip of the Brown Sugar Blueberry Latte, and let out a pleased little hum.
Her eyes fluttered closed for a second before she grinned at Tazzy.
“Okay, I had to try it one more time to be sure, but now there is no doubt, this is my favorite so far. The brown sugar flavor is subtle, but it works. This is the best of them all.”
Winnie was shaking her head. She grabbed the tall glass of the Violet White Chocolate Mocha Frappe and held it in front of Georgia. “This is the best! Try it again.”
Georgia shook her head, “It’s too sweet, I almost went into sugar shock after tasting that.”
Breezy leaned over without asking, stole a loud slurp from Winnie’s glass, and nodded in approval. “I agree with Winnie. It’s sweet all right. Just how I like it. The girls are gonna lose their minds over this one.”
“We can do both, if Hutch and Vivi approve. Are you willing to try a few more later?”
Georgia held her cup high. “I volunteer as tribute.”
Again, everyone laughed. Again, Tazzy barely managed a smile. She wiped her hands on a towel and tried to sound upbeat. “Thanks. I’m glad you like them. I just hope the customers do, too. Well, if we’re ever allowed back in the shop.”
The girls exchanged quick glances. The energy in the room shifted as the weight of the lockdown settled over them again.
Suzi twirled her straw in her drink, her usual bright expression dimming as she let out a long sigh.
“I’m so sick of this lockdown. Three days stuck inside, and I’m already climbing the walls.
We need to plan our next protest soon, or I’m gonna lose my mind. ”
Lovie perked up from her stool, eyes sparkling with mischief. “We should do 'Littles Against Liver.’ Make it completely different from the Candy First one. You know, have signs that say ‘Liver is a Crime Against Littles’ or something silly like that.”
Bliss giggled and clapped her hands. “We could wear green outfits and carry fake livers on sticks! That would be hilarious.”
Rolling her eyes didn’t help Georgia hide her grin. “That sounds like a terrible idea. When can we get started?”
At last, Tazzy laughed despite herself. “You’re all terrible. But I like the idea. We need to make it fun and loud, so people actually pay attention.”
They kept brainstorming while Tazzy tidied up behind the bar, wondering where in the world Jaxon was. Normally, he would have checked on her ten times by now.
As if in answer, her phone buzzed on the counter. Picking it up, relief swept over her when she saw it was a text from Jaxon. Finally!
Jaxon:
Pulling up outside in Ravage’s SUV. Wait for me by the door.
She frowned. SUV? What happened to his bike? She didn’t even know Ravage had an SUV. She guessed everyone needed something besides a motorcycle, just in case it rained.
Tazzy:
What color is the SUV?
It didn’t take Jaxon long to answer.
Jaxon:
It’s black. I’m almost there. I’ve had a long day, and I’m ready to head home. Just get your stuff and wait outside.
Glancing at the bar, Tazzy bit her lip. She still had to clean up her mess.
Tazzy:
I have to clean up behind the bar. Protest planning is a big job.
His reply came fast and sharp.
Jaxon:
They’ve got people for shit like that. We’re almost there. Get your ass outside.
She stared at the screen. Her Daddy must really be stressed out.
He’d never talked like that to her before.
Her stomach twisted again with guilt, but she shook her head.
That wouldn’t help. Her Daddy was just having a bad day.
Even Daddies got overwhelmed sometimes. It was her job to be understanding and try to make it easier for him. After all, part of this was her fault.
Of course, the Musketiaras noticed her expression.
“You okay?” Georgia asked.
Tazzy forced a small smile. “Yeah. Jaxon wants me to meet him outside. He’s ready to go home. Do you guys mind cleaning up for me?”
“Of course not,” Breezy said. “We’ve got it. Go on.”
Tazzy boxed up her supplies and set them behind the bar. Each girl gave her a quick hug, which she returned. “See you tomorrow,” she said as she waved goodbye.
Pushing her hip against the locking bar on the door, walked out into the parking lot.
Blinding sunlight hit her eyes. Blinking, she reached into her back pocket for her phone to text Jaxon again and realized she had left it on the counter.
She turned to go back inside when a black SUV skidded to a stop right beside her.
Before she could react, the driver jumped out of the SUV. Confusion replaced the smile she had ready for Jaxon when a guy she’d never seen before grabbed her around the waist, clamped a hand over her mouth, and threw her into the back seat like she weighed nothing.
Tazzy’s heart pounded against her chest. She struggled to fight, kicking him and trying to scratch at his eyes. The man pushed her back and slammed the door. She immediately grabbed the door handle and tried desperately to open the door, but the handle wouldn’t work.
“Childproof locks,” another voice said. “Appropriate, don’t you think?”
Spinning around, her heart froze as she looked into the smiling face of the General.
He looked at her with cold, flat eyes, calmly sitting beside her as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Hello, Taziana. I apologize for the rough treatment, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
The SUV spun out of the parking lot, the tires spitting gravel in every direction.
Tazzy’s stomach dropped as they sped away from the warehouse.
She looked back to see the building disappearing behind them, wondering if she would ever see it again.
The idea of being locked behind its doors didn’t seem like such a bad idea anymore.
“Y-you were the one texting me.” Tazzy tried to keep the terror from her voice, but she didn’t succeed.
The General seemed to be enjoying himself. “And here I thought you weren’t clever,” he said. “I’ve found spoofing to be an amazing tool when needed.”
She kicked the seat in front of her. “Are you going to just let him kidnap me like that?” she demanded, but the man ignored her.
“I assure you, Reggie will do whatever I tell him to. Won’t you, Reggie?”
“Yes, sir,” Reggie said without missing a beat.
Tazzy’s heart pounded so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. This was bad. No one knew she’d been taken. Thanks to those stupid texts, no one would think anything was wrong. She’d left her phone behind like an idiot, so no one could even track her that way.
She was trapped, lost and helpless. And before long she would probably be dead.