Chapter 20
Sienna watched out the passenger window as Ryan maneuvered through Nashville traffic.
Tourists walked along the main drag, pointing excitedly at the various hot spots before stopping to take selfies.
Sienna wished she could be that carefree.
When was the last time she just enjoyed herself?
It had been two days since Megan sent her response to Mia.
But unlike the first time, Mia hadn’t answered back yet.
And sitting around waiting for a response was not going to get all the clan work done.
Worrying wouldn’t help either, even though the longer they waited, the more she feared John would start talking about leaving or offering himself as bait again.
Since he had dinner with her and the girls, he’d gone back to his cold and grumpy self.
“You okay?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. Just have a lot going through my head.”
He stopped at a light. “Does the ‘a lot’ you’re referring to have a perpetual scowl and want to be left alone except when it comes to you?”
“Ry—”
He smirked. “I mean, from what I hear, you two were quite the dancing duo the other night.”
“‘Dancing duo’? Are you serious right now? How could you not let me know that John was coming to the house for dinner?”
“I texted you.”
And she’d missed it. “You should have called me. And then you let him in the house and just left without letting me know?”
He shrugged. “Enchiladas were calling my name.”
She growled at him.
“Apparently shaking your groove thing was enough to get the hermit to lighten up.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“You are no longer my best friend. I disinfriend you.”
The light turned green and he started driving. “That’s not a thing.”
“It is now.”
Ryan chuckled. “Okay. I’m sorry. I should have made sure you knew he was coming so you could have holstered that booty of yours.”
“I’m done with you. Drop me off on the corner.”
“Nope. I might no longer be your friend, but I’m still your guard. No can do. And stop glaring at me. You should be excited. Today’s meeting is a good thing.”
Sienna sighed. “I know. But it’s only the first step.”
Ryan looked at her. “And you’re the one taking it. Your mom would be so proud of you.”
Sienna swallowed back the lump that began to form in her throat.
Her mom had started working on a clan initiative to create a safe place for all children, from babies to teens, to learn, grow, and be loved and accepted.
But she hadn’t had a chance to finish it.
That’s where Sienna came in. She’d found her mother’s notes and had made it one of her priorities as clan leader.
She’d worked with Ryan to scope out the right clan members who would be willing to help.
Today Sienna was meeting with Colleen Crenshaw.
Colleen owned several event spaces that hosted anything from weddings, parties, and small concerts.
She was very successful and knew the ins and outs of working with the city for permits and building specs in Nashville.
She had invited her close friend Amanda Cummings, a former teacher who would be invaluable as well to determine what would be good to have for the kids in the space.
And Sienna had rounded out the group by inviting Susanna Dawson, who was a real estate agent.
A group of powerful women working to uplift the children in their clan.
Sienna hoped this would be the first of many successful meetings.
“I’m surprised Tessa and Megan didn’t want to come today.”
Sienna hesitated. “They’ll be part of the plans when we’re further along.”
“I get it,” Ryan said as he put on his turn signal.
“Get what?”
“You want to start this on your own.”
She looked over at Ryan. “Is that bad?”
“No. I understand you wanting to stand on your own, Sienna. But you don’t have anything to prove.”
She shook her head. “How do you know me so well?”
He grinned. “From spending way too much time with you.”
She grinned back. “Well, now that we’re no longer friends, you won’t need to worry about that.”
Ryan pulled into the parking lot. “Still your PA and guard. Not sure how we’re going to reduce exposure time.”
Sienna chuckled. “I guess you’re right. You ready?”
Ryan nodded. “Let’s go, Madam Clan Leader.”
She sighed. “Remind me why I put up with you again?”
An hour later Sienna sat back with a smile.
The luncheon and meeting had gone much better than Sienna could have hoped for.
Susanna had already taken the initiative to start looking for properties.
The hope was to possibly refurbish an already existing building.
Depending on the condition, that could save them time and money versus new construction.
Colleen had broached the subject of the safe space initiative with some city council members to start greasing the wheel, as she called it.
Ryan had taken notes for most of the meeting and then excused himself to take a phone call about another clan issue.
“Thank you all so much for meeting today. I am so excited that this could become a reality.”
Susanna placed her napkin next to her plate. “I can start showing you properties as soon as you’re ready.”
“Ryan has started to fill out the paperwork and requests we’ll need for the city.”
Colleen nodded. “Tell him to reach out if he needs help.”
As they stood and said goodbye, Sienna texted Ryan to let him know they were finishing up and she would be outside shortly.
She headed into the bathroom. Finishing quickly, she stepped out of the first stall to find a woman at the sink.
Sienna went to the other sink and washed her hands.
Feeling the weight of her stare, she turned to the woman.
Was she someone that Sienna should know?
Sienna took a good look at her. The woman had short, chin-length reddish hair and glasses. Even with those changes Sienna recognized her from the few pictures Jonas had found of her online. Her heart ping-ponged in her chest. “Mia?”
“Very observant, Sienna Simonson.”
Sienna’s brain shorted out. Even Veronica had nothing to say. “What…what are you doing here?”
“I thought it was time to meet you.”
Why her? “Adam’s been trying to reach you.”
Mia shrugged. “Didn’t feel like talking to Adam. But Megan was a favorite TA of mine. I regret that knowing me resulted in her becoming a part of this mess.”
Sienna’s hand inched toward her bag. Could she get to her phone and alert Ryan? “I can’t speak for Megan, but I don’t think she feels her life is a mess.”
Mia tilted her head as if thinking through something. “She did get a dragon husband and baby out of the deal.”
They were so not talking about Bella. “Why did you want to meet with me?”
Mia held out a paper towel to Sienna. “I wanted to talk to the person in charge. Rumor has it that you’re the clan leader now, correct?”
Sienna hesitated for a moment before taking it. “I am.”
“I think we can work together.”
She dried her hands and tried to keep her breathing even. “To do what?”
“Figure out the curse, of course. That’s what this is all about, right?”
“And by figure it out, you mean break it?” Sienna said.
Mia stared at her for a moment. “I think we should wrap this up before your bodyguard comes looking for you. I don’t want to have to deal with him.”
What the hell does that mean? Veronica said, finally finding her voice again.
Sienna wondered the same thing, but she couldn’t get distracted. Not while she had a limited time to ask Mia questions. “Why did you reach out to Adam to tell him about the curse?”
“My motivations are too complicated to explain here.”
Sienna turned to face Mia. “Whatever your motivations, thank you for taking care of Lily.”
Mia’s eyes widened for a moment before she schooled her expression. “Is she still a budding artist?”
Cryptic much? “Yes.”
“I’ll be reaching out to you again. Don’t tell anyone we met.”
Sienna looked at her for a moment before shaking her head and hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “I’m sorry, but I can’t promise you that. This is too important to keep from my family.”
Mia’s eyes sharpened on her. “An honest person. A rare find.”
“I don’t like to play games.”
“Wonderful. That should make our meetings more productive. The next time we meet, I want proof that you’re sincere.”
Sienna’s heart beat triple time. Did Mia know about the scroll? “What sort of proof?”
“The second storybook. I gave Adam the first one.”
Sienna frowned. “We don’t have it.”
Mia shook her head. “And here I thought we were being truthful.”
“I am. We searched the entire house when Adam went missing. We only found the book you gave Adam.”
“Look harder. I’ll be in touch.” Mia walked out the door.
Thank the Fates she hadn’t asked about the curse. Was that because she already knew what the curse was? And if so, did she also know about the second paragraph? She obviously wanted to work with them, but for what reason? To stop the curse or make sure it was never broken?
Sienna rushed into the restaurant and glanced around the dining room, but Mia was already gone. Heading for the door, she met Ryan coming inside.
“I was checking on you to see what was taking so long,” Ryan said.
Sienna looked past him but didn't see anyone outside. Where had she gone? “Did you see a woman with short red hair come out this way?”
“No. What’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath before responding, “I just met Mia.”