I was in a fucking awful mood. Not only was I in so much pain that I couldn’t wear knickers, but I’d had to wear a pair of harem pants that I only had for when I was on my period to work.
And to top it off, Dad had called to say they’d been intercepting postcards from home to my apartment for the last five weeks, and no one had told me. Normally hearing postcards would be a good thing because someone was thinking about you, but these were all of West Wickham and only had my name and address on them. With how worried Dad was, I didn’t even ask what they were photos of. Sometimes not knowing kept you sane.
They could only have come from one person, which meant that Orson Riley knew where I lived now.
To be honest, I was tired of it all. I’d moved countries, left my best friends and Nan behind, left my home behind, and it still wasn’t enough. Granted, I’d met amazing people and was closer to Dad and MeeMee, but all of the emotional stress had been for nothing. Now I had a choice–leave and move again, or stay and say fuck-you-very-much.
I was going with the latter, but I’d promised him I’d update the Townsends about what was going on. He thought they were adequate protection for me, but I was doing it for their own safety. I’d seen what Parker had gone through after we’d been taken. If Orson hurt one of them because of me, I don’t think I’d come back from it regardless of what they said.
So, I was walking into work—well, waddling—with a sore crotch, a pissed off mood, and my boobs hurt and were getting bigger, so I was also due on my period while a psychopath sent me fucked up postcards. Happy day to fucking me.
And today, I was working with Lily, Tate, and Levi. This was something I loved about the family. They had a large oil company that they all worked hard for, but their woosah oneness time seemed to come from helping out with other things like Lily and her dad’s bar. They obviously all had private time away from each other, but the family was like a tight-knit unit.
It made me wonder what mine would’ve been like if Mum was still here.
A couple of days ago, I’d remembered one of the things she’d repeated to us frequently. “Laugh, love, and live, my precious babies. That’s how life’s meant to be.”
I needed to get that back into my life, and I’d planned to start by spending more time with my family. My brother, Craig, had called me last week to let me know he was near the States, doing some sort of training with the US Navy. My sister had been in touch as well and had been planning to come and visit me. I’d been so excited about seeing her and my nephew when she’d said it, but after what I’d found out this morning, it was probably better that she kept Wick away from me. I’d speak to Craig and find out if he still wanted to come, though.
I was damaged, and not just my poor fandola.
Dropping my bag off in the office, I made my way slowly to the bar, focused on getting through another day. I refused to think about him and my problems and cooch gave me a good excuse today.
I was just raising the bar flap thing when someone made a choking noise next to me, drawing my attention to a good looking guy with brows I’d give my pubes for and hair that was so perfectly styled, I had follicle envy.
“You’re freakin’ adorable,” he chuckled, looking over at the others and shaking his head. “I see why, now.”
Blinking, I glanced at my bosses and Levi, then back at him. “Do I know you?”
Surely Orson wouldn’t send someone like him after me? And why would he send a guy who had an obvious familiarity with the Townsends?
With a grin that looked relaxed and genuine, he reached his hand out to me. “I’m Jackson, and you must be Sadie.”
Would a kidnapper be so polite and want to shake my hand? Like I could answer that, I didn’t have any experience with the psychology of one.
So, deciding it would be wiser to endear myself to him, I shot him a smile and shook his hand. “That’s right. How do you know these guys?” I nodded my head at Tate and the others, noticing that they’d joined us.
Well, at least I had backup if he grabbed me. Hopefully.
“Uh, Sadie, this is our cousin,” Tate explained, and it all made sense.
“Ah, now it makes sense. Hi again, and welcome. It’s great to meet you. Are you one of the Piersville ones?”