Rowdy(94)

It was official, I was part of the family. Cora was swooping in to take care of me just like she did the rest of the crew. I could have kissed her for it. I looked at my sister and had zero doubt a nap would do her some good. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked worn down and empty. I could literally see the way her heart and soul were hurting in her shadowed gaze.

“I think that’s a good idea. I’ll call Royal on the way and see if they have any information on Oliver as well.”

Cora told me solemnly, “This isn’t the first time a guy that just couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer has wreaked havoc with one of our girls. I know how stressful and dangerous the situation can be. You need to take care of her.”

I walked around the lounger and wrapped Cora in a tight hug, and something really struck me as permanent and definite when I told her thank you and she pulled back and told me point-blank, “We take care of our own.”

Poppy climbed to her feet as well and offered Cora a wobbly smile. “I’m so glad my sister found you guys and this place. I really think it was where she was always destined to be.”

Cora laughed and followed us down the stairs as we headed back into the shop. “Of course it’s where Salem was supposed to be. Rowdy is here and I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone that’s been paying attention that they were bound to end up together.”

We went downstairs and I had to wait a second for Rowdy to look up from what he working on. When he did, those summery eyes chased some of the chill of fear and worry away.

“I’m gonna take Poppy to your place. She’s exhausted and hanging on by a thread.”

He looked around me at my rapidly wilting sister and nodded his head. “All right. Wanna give me twenty minutes and I’ll follow you so that I know you’re safe? I can cancel my last two appointments for the day.”

I would feel better with him there, but I figured Poppy and I would be okay as long as we stuck together and we weren’t going to my place but to his. “I think it’ll be fine, but if you want to come home early when you’re done, I won’t complain. Poppy really needs to rest. Can you stop by my place and grab Jimbo and some stuff for her on your way?”

He told his client to give him a second and set the machine he was using down and snapped off the black latex gloves covering his hands. He got to his feet and dug his keys out of his pocket. He fiddled with the ring until he handed two loose keys over to me. He placed them in my palm then bent low so that his mouth was right next to my ear and whispered, “Another first. No girl has ever had the keys to my place before.”

I got hot all over and wanted to kiss his face off, but we were at work and it wasn’t the time. I curled my fingers around the metal and smiled at him. “First and last.”

He lifted his chin in agreement and turned back to finish the impressive geisha tattoo he was putting on his client.

I went back to Poppy and hooked my arm through hers after thanking Cora again as I guided my sister out of the shop. She sort of shuffled alongside me, and once we got to the car she slumped down in the passenger seat and didn’t say anything to me as she gazed out the window. It was depressing and disheartening, to say the least. I just let her be, and once we got to Rowdy’s apartment complex, it was by some unspoken agreement that we planned to hustle inside just to be safe. Neither of us wanted to linger out in the open until we knew for sure the authorities had located Poppy’s soon-to-be ex-husband..

I had some stuff scattered around Rowdy’s place already. I had been making my way into his life, into his space, subconsciously for weeks and weeks. I was making myself at home without even realizing that’s what I was doing. I just needed my dog and some provisions for my sister and I could camp out there indefinitely.

I was just about to shut the car door and click the locks closed behind me when another car motor revved and screeching brakes made me pull up short. I looked over the top of the open door I was holding and felt all the blood rush out of my face.

A sedan stopped right next to my car and the driver’s-side door swung open violently. Before I could react in any way other than to freeze in surprise and shock, a short man got out of the car and pointed at my sister where she was hovering nervously next to my car on the curb. I knew this wasn’t a good situation.

“Get in this car, Poppy.” He didn’t yell, didn’t posture, he just told her what to do in a coolly clam voice that was terrifying.

“No.” Poppy didn’t say it. I did. But there was no way I was letting her go anywhere with him. He looked unkempt and crazed and there was obvious danger stamped all over him.