Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
D eke walked Suzi to the door of Books N Brews, holding her hand extra tight. Neither of them had gotten much sleep the night before. All the guys had stayed to help them clean up the wreck the Warriors had made of the cabin. They’d worked for hours. Suzi had worked hard, too.
Deke did everything he could to make her feel better, but she still felt guilty. It was her fault the Warriors came in the first place; she was sure of it. They wanted those stupid files. Part of her was glad they had them now. Maybe now they would leave her alone.
And then what? If the danger was over, would Deke want her to move back to her house? She hoped not, but she wouldn’t blame him. Everything in his life had gone to hell in a handbasket since she’d entered the picture.
She wished she could smack Rickson Everett. Really, this was all his fault. She’d never asked him to send her those stupid files. Of course, if he hadn’t, Deke might not be her Daddy now. Her head hurt. Her heart hurt. And her tummy hurt because she still felt guilty about using her phone when she wasn’t supposed to.
She should tell him. That could make the yucky feelings go away, but he was dealing with enough. She couldn’t add to everything else he was going through.
Because of her.
“I’ll pick you back up here as soon as I’m done at Sabre. Do not get into any trouble,” he said.
“I know, Daddy. I’ll wait at Books N Brews for you to pick me up. You’ve told me a dozen times already.” At his narrowed eyes, she decided to change tactics. “I won’t get into trouble. And before you say it, I won’t answer the back door if anyone bangs on it. I have my new phone with all the numbers if I need anything, and if I see anything suspicious, I’ll call you.”
Deke lowered his forehead to rest against hers. She got tingles from that, too. “I know you think I’m being over the top, Rosebud. But it’s my job to worry about you. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go with me to Sabre?”
Um, go sit with a bunch of ticked off commando dudes while they hash out a plan to get her laptop back and get rid of the Warriors? No, thank you. “I’ll be fine, Daddy. All the Musketiaras are here. They’ll keep me safe.”
His lips twitched at that. “They probably would, but I hope you’re not insulted if I tag someone else to keep an eye on things as well.”
“I don’t mind, but Georgia might. I think she wanted to talk everyone into joining in on whatever her next bucket list adventure is.”
“You’re not going,” he said without hesitation.
“Daddy! You don’t even know what it is.”
“It doesn’t matter. I know Georgia, and that’s enough.”
She hid her smile. She’d already told Georgia to count her out of the next escapade. But her Daddy didn’t need to know that. A Little had to keep her Daddy on his toes.
One deep and dreamy goodbye kiss later, and Suzi was seated on a barstool at the counter ordering her favorite drink, a Mermaid Sparkle Frappuccino.
“I can’t believe those Warrior douche canoes found out where you were,” Tazzy said. “Do they know how it happened?”
“I don’t think so. There’s no telling.” Suzi had wracked her brain trying to figure it out.
Vivi sat down on the stool next to Suzi. Leaning over, she gave her a tight hug. “I’m just glad you’re all right, precious child. Speaking of which, I couldn’t help but notice you and your bodyguard are on better terms now.” Vivi pulled back with a smile and stared at her expectantly. When Suzi didn’t say anything, Vivi added, “No secrets in the coffee shop. It’s time to dish out the details. How is life with a Daddy?”
If it were anyone but Vivi, Suzi might hesitateVivi had stepped in when Suzi’s mother had sent her BonBon away. She couldn’t replace her grandmother, and she hadn’t tried, but she’d poured love into her. After her mother moved, Vivi was the one who’d helped her through all those embarrassing “girl moments” of puberty.
Suzi couldn’t hold back her smile. “Life with a Daddy is amazing. He takes care of me and helps me. Even though right now I think I’m more of a burden than anything else.”
“Sweet child, I think you need to let that thought go. Not everyone sees the world the way your poor mama does. Most people, especially Daddies, don’t think of people who need them as an inconvenience. Helping the people they care about is a blessing. It completes them because it gives them a purpose. From my vantage point, I’d say Deke doesn’t have any complaints at all.”
“Really? I feel like I take so much more than I’ll ever be able to give. The scales don’t seem very balanced.” Suzi worried about that all the time.
“My precious girl, caring for someone isn’t like a pitcher of sweet tea that will eventually be emptied out. Caring is a muscle. Strong people like your Daddy work that muscle every day. They want that muscle to be as big as possible because they know if they don’t use it, it will atrophy and leave their heart crippled. From what I see, your Daddy is the Mr. Universe of caring, especially for you. So, you put that worry right out of your head. You hear now?”
Something that had been frozen in Suzi’s chest for as long as she could remember melted like snow on a warm day at Vivi’s words. “Yes, ma’am,” she said. “I’ll remember.”
Vivi patted her hand. “Now, on to the important stuff. Based on his overall physique, I’ve always thought Deke was equipped to perform some heavy lifting in the bedroom. Enquiring minds want to know, as far as delivery is concerned, what is the size of his package and how effectively can he move it around? If you know what I mean.”
“Vivi!” Tazzy cried out. “You can’t ask that!”
Vivi waved her off. “God made me right before he made dirt, child. I can ask anything I want.”
Suzi just grinned. Vivi was a card. And she wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Oh, good, you’re here,” Georgia said as she walked up with a three-legged easel in tow. “Can you help me get my presentation up?”
“Well, now,” Vivi said, hopping down from her barstool and straightening her cardigan. “That is my cue to leave. I don’t want to be around to be called as a witness when you’re brought to task by your Daddy, precious girl.”
Georgia grinned and kissed Vivi on the cheek. “I’m going to get you involved one day.”
“Possible,” Vivi agreed, “but not today.” And with that, she bustled into the kitchen.
An hour and a half later, Suzi sat on the sofa with the other Musketiaras who’d shown up. She credited the high turnout to most of the girls not reading Georgia’s text explaining what the meeting was about.
To be fair, Georgia’s presentation had been fantastic. If she had any desire to contract dengue fever, she’d jump right on the opportunity to tour the Amazon River basin on a rafting trip.
“I thought the trifold brochures were a tad over the top,” Rory said.
Winnie groaned. “I love her, but I’ve never wished for Hutch to show up so hard in my life! How long have they been back there discussing her latest bucket list wish?”
Suzi gasped. “You shouldn’t wish for a sister to get a spanking.”
Tazzy snorted. “I’m pretty sure that’s one of the reasons she has a bucket list in the first place.”
That couldn’t be right. No one would manipulate a situation to earn a punishment. She was about to say as much when the door to Books N Brew flew open so hard it banged against the wall.
“Gabriella Renee Schwindler, what in the world?” Vivi said from behind the bar. “You go back outside and come in again like a proper lady.”
“But—” Gabi tried to protest.
“Right now, or I will call Raleigh to come deal with you.” Vivi didn’t get vexed often, but when she did, she kicked butts and took names.
Gabi huffed, muttering, “Raleigh isn’t the boss of me.” But she said it as she obediently went back outside and came in again.
Raleigh Stevens was totally the boss of Gabi, figuratively and literally, since he owned the law firm where she worked. Suzi had always sensed there was more to that relationship than either of them let on, but Gabi never wanted to talk about it.
Once the door was closed, her friend racewalked straight to Suzi and sat on the coffee table facing her. “I came as soon as I had verified everything. You should have called me right away. We can handle this.”
Okay. Wow!
Clearly, Gabi heard about what happened at Deke’s cabin. It was sweet of her to want to help. That being said, her friend’s help wasn’t always exactly, well, helpful. Better to put a stop to it now.
“Thanks, Gabi. That’s really sweet, but we really aren’t sure exactly what they took or who it was.”
Gabi shook her head. “They do not deserve your protection. It was a clear violation of Code 39, Article 14-364, section 1729. Not to mention more hacker laws than you can shake a stick at. Then, we can sue for emotional and mental distress, loss of current and future income and opportunity, and that’s just for a start.”
Wait, what?
“It wasn’t really my loss. It was Deke’s. Except for my phone and computer, but insurance will cover that.”
“They got into your phone, too? That’s great! We can get the Federal Telecommunications Commission involved. Federal is way better than state.”
“Wait, what?” Suzi allowed the words to escape that time. She could usually keep up with Gabi better, but her friend wasn’t making any sense.
“Holy shit!” Morgan said. She snatched the newspaper from under Gabi’s arm. After glancing over the front page, she stared at Suzi, her expression unreadable. “Have you seen this?”
Suzi was struggling to hold her irritation at bay. “Seen what?” she demanded. Someone needed to start making sense.
“This,” Morgan said, waving the paper in Suzi’s face.
Suzi took the copy of The Tennessee Gazette Morgan was waving at her and read the headline. Corruption Rocks State at Highest Levels: District Attorney General Alex Boucher Under Investigation.
Her gaze flew to Breezy, who sat frozen, white as a sheet, betrayal clear in her eyes. Suzi’s stomach lurched. She was going to be sick. Shoving to her feet, she raced to the restroom.
“Suzi, wait,” Breezy called after her.
Suzi ignored her, not wanting to hear the harsh recriminations her friend had for her. She made it to the toilet just in time to throw up the breakfast muffin she had enjoyed earlier.
This was awful. Hands shaking, Suzi tried to splash water on her face but got more on the counter than anything else. What had happened? She hadn’t thought Carly would blatantly disregard her instructions. Betrayal clawed her chest. Suzi had trusted her. Pain and humiliation made it almost impossible to breathe.
And this wasn’t just The Daily Nugget . That would have been bad enough, but Carly had sold the story to the major papers. If The Gazette was carrying it, then it was only a matter of time. This had all the intrigue and scandal of a national story. She’d seen much smaller ones capture the attention of the country. Everyone loved a good fall from grace tale.
And what must Breezy think? Suzi didn’t have to guess. She knew exactly what her friend thought. She’d seen it. She believed all the same things Deke had thought of her all those months ago.
At the thought of Deke, her world fractured even more. He would see this as a betrayal. She’d finally lived up to his negative expectations. He wouldn’t be willing to put her out if she was on fire, much less love her and be her Daddy.
How had her entire world crumbled in a matter of minutes? Happiness had been just within her grasp, and now it was gone. She would be a pariah. No one would want to be associated with someone who sold out a friend for their own gain.
And that was when the tears came. Heaving, wracking sobs that hurt. She was going to lose everything that was important to her.
Her career? Gone. No one would buy a paper put out by a selfish jackal, and that’s all they’d see when they looked at her. No one would buy ads or allow her to cover their event.
Her friends? Gone. Why would anyone trust her? Why would they risk investing in a relationship with someone capable of throwing one of her closest friends under the bus? She would be alone. Leaving the only home she’d ever known was her only choice. There was no place for her here. Not now.
The cruelest blow would be losing Deke. And she would lose him. He was so noble, and kind, and brave. She knew he cared about her, but he’d been with his brothers at Sabre for a lifetime. She couldn’t compete with that. Blood didn’t make a family. Love did. She couldn’t rob Deke of his family, and she wouldn’t survive him choosing them over her. Justified as it was, she was a coward. She’d leave and spare them both.
Ultimately, it was her fault. She should have deleted that stupid article when Deke warned her of what could happen. But The Daily Nugget was her paper. Carly was her employee. She should have had better control. Made better choices.
No. This was all on her.
What she needed to do now was leave and spare everyone the drama of telling her to get out. It was the least she could do. And thanks to Deke’s instructions that morning, she knew just how to escape.
Steeling herself for what she had to do, she left the bathroom and headed through the supply closet to the kitchen and the door that would provide her escape to the only place she needed to be— The Daily Nugget office.
Suzi did her best to keep her head down as she made her way across town.
Don’t make eye contact. Don’t say anything. Just get to the office.
She had no idea what she would say to Carly. You’re fired came to mind. She’d never been more disappointed in someone in her life. Not to mention surprised. She considered the girl her friend. Evidently not.
She turned the corner, glancing down the block. Rory was having a sale today at Second Hand Glam and seemed to have a crowd.
Crossing to the other side of the street, she caught the back of a man turning the corner and heading down the alley. As the man disappeared around the corner, he glanced over his shoulder.
Suzi froze in place. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her because she could have sworn the man was Alex Boucher. But that couldn’t be right, especially given the breaking news. This is the last place he would be welcome. Not to mention that Sabre Security was looking for him.
Quickening her pace, she hurried to the corner, but when she scanned the alley there was no one there. She must have imagined it. Instinct had her reaching for her phone in her pocket, only to find it empty. She’d handed her new phone to her friends so they could enter their numbers and forgotten to get it back.
Daddy is going to be so upset.
Only she probably didn’t have a Daddy. Not anymore. Shaking her head, she blinked her eyes and did her best to keep the tears from falling. The only thing she could do now was damage control at the paper. That wouldn’t help her get her Daddy back, but maybe it would help Breezy.
It wasn’t lost on her that Breezy hadn’t come to check on her when Suzi had bawled her eyes out in the restroom. No one had. They probably all hated her. Her tears won the battle and streamed down her cheeks.
Continuing down the block toward the Daily Nugget, she saw a man cross the street and head toward her. By the markings on his jacket, he was a member of the Warriors. She wasn’t sure what they might want with her now. That ship had sailed. But she didn’t want to find out.
She took the next corner and walked as swiftly as she could to the next street over. There was more than one way to get to her office.
Only at the next corner, another Warrior leaned against a building halfway down the block. He watched her approach, glaring at her the entire time.
Her heartbeat ticked up a notch. What were the odds of two Warriors being in her path? But they didn’t know she’d be coming that way. It had to be a coincidence, but she really wished she’d remembered her phone.
Crossing the street again, she repeated the move she’d made before. But Darling only had two main streets. There weren’t nearly as many people now, but enough she tried not to worry.
Then, the third biker stepped out of the doorway of a vacant building. He walked toward her with a menacing stride to her way of thinking. She tried to cross back to town, but a fourth man stepped from the shadows.
Crap. The was not good. It finally dawned on her she wasn’t being stalked. She was being herded. So, so not good. Crossing the street again, she darted into the only alley available to her.
Had the men followed her? Even as she ran, she looked back over her shoulder to see if they were there. Not only were they running after her, they were gaining ground.
She spun forward, intending to take off at a dead run, only to crash into someone standing in her path. Strong hands locked her arms in place. Her first thought was maybe whoever had her could be her salvation. Looking up into his face, she eked out, “Help me, please!” before she realized who he was.
“My pleasure, Ms. Daily.”
She’d been right. Alexander Boucher had returned to Darling.