Page 121 of Heartless

“Yes, I’m in the bathroom.Joel ordered the food, so I just had water,” she whispered.“I have to go back to the table.How long will you be?”

“Ten minutes, baby.Stay where people can see you.”

“Sienna, are you all right?”a female voice I recognized asked in the background.

Sienna’s voice came out muffled.“I’m fine, Kimberly.My boyfriend and I have plans, and he’s picking me up.”Her pitch was clear again.“I’ll see you shortly, Jake.”

“Hang in there, baby.”

The motherfuckers had ambushed her.I knew they’d try some fucked up shit.That was the last time I’d leave her to fend off those fuckers alone.

Parking at the front of the restaurant, I tossed my keys at the valet.“Keep it close, I won’t be long.”

I clocked Kimmy’s red hair, but the other side of the table was concealed by a tall plant.Bypassing the hostess, I headed toward them.Morrison Junior spotted me first, and there was a flash of recognition in his chin lift.When Kimmy saw me, she got busy ordering a server around.Sienna was sitting across from them, cornered.

“Baby.”

Her head twitched, and she smiled.“Jake.”

She unfolded from her seat, and when I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, unaware of our history, she introduced us.

“Jake, this is Joel, Nigel’s son, and Kimberly, Nigel’s wife.”She touched my chest.“Joel, Kimberly, this is Jake Rhodes.”

Joel got to his feet and shook my hand.“We’ve met.Jake.Small world.”

Kimmy’s focus was on Sienna.And her expression made the back of my neck tight.It was time to remind the bitch what she had to lose if her fucking husband learned of her indiscretion.I looked the redhead dead in the eye.

“Small world, indeed.”

Her fake smile died.Her eyes darted to Joel, and when she paled, I knew she got the message.

I needed to get Sienna away from that shitshow.I tucked her to my side.“Ready to go, baby?”

“Yes,” she replied.Then she flicked her fingers in a wave at the table.“Bye, Joel.Kimberly.”

I started to lead her away when Morrison’s son blocked our path.

He touched Sienna’s arm.“Think about it, Sienna.And call me.”

Sienna’s tone was soft.“I’m sorry, Joel, but I won’t change my mind.”

Joel Morrison flinched.“Just think on it, Sienna.Please.”

****

We’d been on the roadfor ten minutes, and she hadn’t said a word.When I took her hand, she turned toward me.

“Did you know that Nigel wasn’t Joel’s biological father?”

Fuck.“He told you that?”

She nodded.“They found out when Nigel was diagnosed.”After a little sigh, she said, “It’s so weird that he had all these illegitimate children, and his only legitimate child isn’t actually genetically his.”

Karma was a bitch.And a fucking Goddess.

She sighed again, and there was sadness in her voice.“He asked...he begged me to save his dying father.”

When she looked away, I kissed her knuckles.“Have you eaten, baby?”