From the hallway, Charlie bustled in cutting off Mama.
“Hey, sister,” she said, then stopped and looked me up and down the same way that Blessing had. She walked over to me with a huge smile on her face, and lifted her hand for a high-five. I had no other choice but to play along. Everyone knew you didn’t leave a high-five hanging. I bet it was bad luck or something. Either way, I wasn’t going to risk any form of potential bad juju. I’d had enough for a lifetime already.
“Right on, Si. You’re absolutely glowing.” She lifted her hand to Jonah who chuckled but dutifully high-fived her. “Good man. Sealing the deal. I like it,” Charlie added for Jonah’s benefit.
“Mama,” I groaned.
She smiled and waved me into her arms. I went straight in and nestled my face against her strawberry blonde hair. The floral scent I associated with her filled my lungs and I instantly felt a sense of peace flow over me.
Mama Kerri eased back and cupped my cheeks. “How’s my chicklet doing?”
“Oh, you know, besides a serial killer coming after me and my family, I’m hanging in there.”
She grinned and kissed my forehead. “Good.” She let me go and then went over to Jonah and pulled him into a hug too. My heart swelled and I tried not to show how much it meant that she was accepting my new boyfriend into the fold.
“And how’s our favorite FBI hero? Feeling better, I see. Your skin certainly has more color too.” She kept her hands on her shoulders to assess him. “Any residual pain?”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m doing well. Your daughter has been taking good care of me. Except I did hear something about homemade pizzas from a little princess running around here…” He let the words trail off.
“Pizza!” Rory screeched from the other side of the room where she was sitting by Liliana playing Barbies.
I waved at Liliana and she smiled and made the Barbie wave on her behalf. This made Rory giggle which I assumed was the point.
“We have plenty of pizza. I’ve got a large cooling and two more larges ready to go. Would you like a beer or wine?”
“Wine for me, Mama, but I can get it. Jonah?”
“Beer me, sweetheart,” he rumbled and followed me into the kitchen.
“Where’re Sonia and Addy?” I didn’t even ask about Tabitha. We all knew she was avoiding us due to her relapse.
Jonah took a load off on one of the high-backed white barstool seats at the large curved counter. I pulled a Miller Lite from the fridge, popped the top, and handed it to my man.
“Thanks, baby.” He winked. I swooned. My heart pounded a happy rhythm in my chest as I smiled and danced over to where the glasses and wine had already been set out.
“I see someone is in a good mood.” Mama grinned and handed me her glass to refill.
“Sonia and Addy?” I asked my question again.
“Sonia is right here and in desperate need of wine…stat!” My sister entered the room wearing a form-fitting black suit with a gray silk blouse. She shoved off her blazer and hung it over the chair next to Jonah. “Hello, Jonah. You’re looking chipper today.”
He grinned then his gaze cut to mine as a sexy as sin smile slipped across his face. “I’m doing good. Thank you. You seem rather frazzled?”
“Ugh. The media is going bonkers over the Backseat Strangler and my family connection. Ryan did the press release with me today and updated the public the best we could. They’re still ravenous.” She sighed long and deep. “Simone, that wine got a funnel? You could just put it in my mouth and pour.”
I chuckled and used a heavy hand pouring her glass. Instead of the standard four ounces, I went with a solid seven. I carefully brought it over to her and set it down. It barely touched the counter before she murmured, “Bless you,” and picked it up, sucking back a wallop of wine. She winced but did it again.
“We could probably break out the tequila if your day was that bad,” I teased.
She shook her head and took another large drink. “Nope. I’m good. Just needed to get a head start on numbing the many voices swirling in my head.”
I nodded, poured Mama’s wine and my own, then handed Mama hers.
Mama had just cut the pizza and was serving slices to Jonah and Sonia. She set aside a slice of cheese she’d cut into three really skinny pieces then took the plate over to the glass table where Rory’s booster seat already was buckled into one of the chic dining chairs. “Come on, baby, pizza’s done.”
“You spoil her, Mama.” Genesis entered the space, her long dark hair hanging beautifully down her back in a perfectly flat sheet, the white romper she wore with a gold belt tied around her waist giving her a golden goddess appeal. She kissed Mama on the cheek and then came to me and wrapped me in her arms.
I held on to her while Mama fussed over Rory.
“Why do you think I had eight daughters? Multiply that by one or two and you’ve got eight to sixteen grandchildren. I have the rest of my life to spoil my grandbabies and there is nothing any of you can do about it.” She patted Rory’s cheek and gazed at her granddaughter as though she made the sun set each day and the moon rise each night.
There was no “adopted” in Mama Kerri’s world. We were just her girls. Her baby chicks. And any children we had would be her grandchildren. And not a word would sway her differently.
“How you really doin’, Si?” Genesis asked.
I hugged her tight. “Good. Really good.”
“Simone, you haven’t told them your news?” Jonah reminded me as he took a monster bite of pizza and closed his eyes as though he had just tasted a little bit of Heaven.
My temperature rose and excited butterflies took flight in my stomach. “Oh my God! Guess what?”
Blessing entered the kitchen, snagged a plate and a cheesy piece of pizza, and shoved an unladylike amount into her mouth. “What?” she asked around a mouthful.
“I got a new job! One with a real salary and medical benefits. And they are going to let me finish up my last course to get my Associates degree…get this. While on the job! Can you believe it?”
Sonia set her wine glass down. “Does this mean you’re quitting the bar and the waitressing job?”
I nodded excitedly. “Yep! Well technically I already quit the greasy spoon but I’ll be calling Tracks tomorrow. Probably during my lunch break as the office manager in training at A+ Construction.” I let my voice rise with my joy.
Blessing held out a fist and I bumped it with my own. We both allowed them to explode. Genesis held me tight. “That’s amazing, Simone. I’m so proud of you. I know you’ve been having a rough go of it, even before all this stuff,” she waved her hand in the air for emphasis, “was happening. This is awesome.”
“Thanks, Gen.”
Sonia got up from her chair and came to me with her arms out. “I’m so happy for you.” She tugged me into her arms and held on tight.
I patted her back, but she kept holding me. “I hated you working in that bar downtown. You’re finally going to be appreciated for your skills and talents. And best of all, you’ll be safe.” She let out a breath as she looked into my eyes. “I’m happy for you, honey.”
I grinned. “Thanks. I’m excited. But I have to admit, I didn’t just get it on my own. A+ Construction is owned and operated by Jonah’s dad and brother. However, he didn’t even know about the conversation when I spoke with his dad about finishing my schooling and wanting to go into office management. It just happened to be at the same time that their office manager was leaving to have a baby and not planning to come back.”
Charlie entered the kitchen, her red ponytail flapping with her bouncy steps looking cute as a button in her skinny jeans, vintage Pink Floyd tight tee, and bare feet. “Who cares how you got the job? All that matters is you got it and you’re going to slay at managing that office.” She came over to me and hip- bumped me. “Now where’s Addy? I thought her plane landed at noon. It’s six.” A frown marred her peachy lips and pearlescent complexion.
/> Sonia picked up her phone. “Let me check her flight.”
Blessing snorted. “Of course, you’re keeping track of her flight.”
Sonia glared at Blessing. “Right now, we can’t be too careful.” She kept punching buttons as the rest of us got pizza and munched.
Jonah got a call and squinted at his phone. “Hey, Ryan. How goes it? Still no leads on that number?” He shook his head and sighed.
“Speaking of…that number sequence has been driving me insane.” Charlie pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. I recognized it as one of the pieces she’d made each of us that she’d written in crayon on Friday. “A-1-2-1-0-9-4.” She read each number out loud.
I chomped down on some veggie pizza, capturing a huge chunk of artichoke and plopping it in my mouth. So good.
Charlie continued. “A-121-094,” she said.
“Her flight landed on time,” Sonia stated still typing away at her cell. “I’ve texted her to come to the condo Mama and Gen are in. I also texted Quinn to call me if she was there sleeping off her travel.”
I nodded and sipped my wine.
Charlie spoke out loud again, determined to figure out the code. “A-12-10-94?”
“That’s Addison’s birthday.” Mama Kerri smiled and pushed through our huddle and looked at the piece of paper. “Yep. She was born December 10th, 1994. A for Addison, right? I love puzzles,” she hummed, not realizing what she’d said as she went over to the oven and pulled out the second bubbling hot pizza.
“Ryan, hold up, man. What did you say?” Jonah held the phone away from his ear. “Mrs. Kerrighan. Did you just say that number was Addison’s birthday?”
Chills raced across my skin and the hairs on the back of my neck rose to attention. I started to tremble.
“And she’s not here.” Genesis gasped then put her arms back around me. “She’s late. Why is she late?”
“No…” I choked out and stared into Jonah’s eyes, telling him every fear I had with that single look.
Blessing tossed her plate down on the counter and pulled her phone out of her back pocket. She furiously pressed a series of buttons then put the phone to her ear. “Addy, you better call me the very second you get this message. We are freaked way the fuck out, sister! We’re at Mama Kerri’s condo in Sonia’s building. Call me.” She growled and then hung up. Her chest moved up and down, her dark gaze focused and fearful.
Tears filled my own eyes as the possibility of what that number could mean raced across my mind.
“Yes. I know every one of my daughters’ birthdays by heart. Every mother does. Why?” Mama turned around and noticed how the vibe in the room became thick with emotion and coated in fear. “What in the world is going on?”
Charlie swallowed. “None of us showed you this number before now.” Charlie closed her eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek. “It’s okay. No. It’s okay. We’re probably wrong. We received this note on Friday. It’s Sunday now and Addison was in New York. Safe and in New York. With a bodyguard.”
Sonia had her phone to her and was talking. “Yes, hello, this is Senator Wright. My assistant hired your service to protect my sister. She’s a well-known model. Addison Michaels Kerrighan? Yes, that’s the one. Yes, I know, she’s very beautiful. Can you look up her detail and tell me where they are right now or patch me through to him? We’re afraid she may have been intercepted by a criminal which is the exact reason we hired your agency. Yes, of course I can wait while you look it up.” Sonia’s bright blue eyes stared holes through mine.
Jonah spoke softly to Ryan, but his gaze was on Sonia. All eyes were.
“He hasn’t checked in? The airport? The Town Car is still at the airport. Well can you get through?” Sonia’s voice lost any sense of patience or calm, her fear bleeding through her tone.
“Give me the phone, Sonia,” Jonah demanded.
She let it fall into his hand her face pale and her eyes matching mine, filling with tears.
“Yes, this is Agent Fontaine with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I’m going to need to speak to your manager. We’re going to need an exact location of the car and driver. Now.”
Jonah took Sonia’s phone and exited the kitchen heading for the hallway toward the bedrooms.
Quinn raced into the kitchen from the front living room. “Addison hasn’t arrived back from her trip. I left Niko at home in case she shows. What’s the status? I got your text that she’s missing.”
Sonia licked her lips and spoke with a clear, concise tone. It was her Senator-in-charge voice. “Addison was supposed to arrive at noon. Her plane landed. None of us have heard from her. Mama Kerri figured out that the code the Backseat Strangler crumbled up and put in Helen’s mouth after he killed her was Addison’s birthday.”
Quinn gasped, his hand fluttering to rest over his heart. Mama Kerri braced her body at the edge of the counter. I let go of Genesis and went over to her and wrapped my arms around her beloved form from behind and rested my chin to her neck.
“Jonah and Ryan are going to find out what’s going on. Maybe we’re all wrong and she stayed in New York. Maybe she got caught in traffic. Maybe…”
Mama Kerri shook her head her body shaking uncontrollably as her fingers turned white with the effort to hold herself up. “He has my daughter. A madman has my Addy.”
“Tabby, honey, if you get this message, please call one of us. The man who tried to hurt me might have Addy, Tab. I’m scared. Mama’s freaking out. We’re all frightened out of our minds. If you could find a way to call or text us, let us know you’re okay…” I shivered and pressed the phone tight to my ear. “I just need to know you’re safe. I love you, Tab. We all do, sister.”
Jonah’s arm wrapped around my waist from behind. I was hiding out on the patio looking out over the city of Chicago. I hadn’t even heard him come up behind me. The city was beautiful from way up there. Buildings jutted up toward the sky like Lego bricks stacked in every color, shape, and size. Lights twinkled from rectangular-shaped windows in varying shades of white, yellow, and gold. Car lights and bright yellow taxi cabs trailed like caterpillars along the busy streets.
Life moved on while ours stood still.
The waiting was the hardest and something inside me knew it was only going to get worse with whatever Jonah had come out here to tell me.
“Baby…” He held me close.
“You have news.” I whispered to the wind and the breeze stole off with it.
“I have bad news, honey. We need to gather everyone.” He squeezed me tighter to his form.
“Is she dead?” I asked, as unbelievable pain ripped through my heart, reminding me of the day I lost my parents in that horrible fire. Like the physical pain of sliding down the roof of my first childhood home in my nightgown. The flames had engulfed every inch of the hallway outside of our room. Sonia lifted me up and shoved me out the window into the cool night air. I was so scared, barely six years old. Screaming for my parents, my thighs and legs abrading along every shingle as we slid down the side of the first story roofline. Flames crackled and groaned in our ears as ember and ash sizzled into the soft skin of my arms as we narrowly escaped the fire that took my parents’ lives.
“Simone.” He breathed against my neck bringing me back while I trembled in his arms.
“Is. My. Sister. Dead?” I choked out, staring at the skyline and watching the blackness get darker, my vision focused on a single square inch of light in the distance as I waited to hear if my sister was still breathing.
“We don’t know. She wasn’t in the car. Come on. What I have to say, honey, I don’t want to say it twice. At this point…” His voice cracked, the only hint that the information he had to share was breaking him in half. He took a breath. “At this point, it doesn’t look good,” he finished.
I closed my eyes and let the pain fill me up. It was the only thing that would keep me standing. If I succumbed to the grief, it would take me away. Right now, for Addison, for my sisters, for Mama Ker
ri, I had to be as strong as possible. I held on to my pain and dug my fingernails into my hands, piercing indentations in my palms until the pain turned into anger and not sadness.
“Let’s go.” I turned around and started to enter the condo. Jonah took my hand, interlaced our fingers, and pressed my sore palm against his warm one.
I gasped as our connection zapped through our palms reminding me of his presence. Of his loyalty. His commitment to me. To us.
“You’re not alone in this.” His dark gaze was lasered on mine, so much compassion filling them. Too much. I had to hold on to the anger, the pain.
“I know. I have my family.” The statement came out flat, emotionless. This was not the time for emotions. This was the time for action.
“And you have me, Simone. Me. I’m here. Right here. Standing in front of you. Alive. Fighting alongside you.” His expression was ravaged with unease and desperation. He too was probably holding on by a thread. The thin rope that we’d built between us since this all started pulling tight, reminding me of my anchor.
Jonah.
I squeezed his hand and held back the tears. Instead, I nodded curtly and opened the patio door.
We entered the living room hand in hand.
Mama Kerri’s head lifted off of Blessing’s shoulder. Liliana sat on the other side, both of her hands holding one of our Mama’s.
“Did you find her at the airport? Does he have her?” she asked, rapid fire.
“The FBI found the Town Car and no sign of Addison.” Jonah’s words were gentle yet direct.
“What does that mean?” Genesis spoke softly.
Jonah cleared his throat and rubbed at the back of his neck with his free hand but kept hold of one of mine.
“Unfortunately, we found her bodyguard in the trunk of the Town Car. He had been strangled with the same tool the Backseat Strangler used on almost all of his other victims. The car was then moved and abandoned in long term parking. The FBI were able to work with airport security to review the security cameras. The cameras show a white man with a dark mustache and beard and a hat pull up to baggage claim at the same time that Addison came out of the airport. He got out, showed her a sign with her name on it. He took her luggage and put it in the trunk of his car. The license plate was covered with a piece of paper with a fake number on it. Addison got in the backseat and the man drove off. We don’t have more than that at this time, but I can promise you the FBI has every man in the vicinity and the boys in blue on the lookout.”
Wild Child (A Soul Sister Novel Book 1) Page 20
