“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I said flatly.
“Layla, about this morning—”
I cut him off. “Don’t. Let’s forget it happened and never mention it again.”
“It’s not what you think,” he continued.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. Let it go, okay?”
He nodded once in acknowledgment and dropped a kiss on top of my head. “I’ll see you later. Leigh has my number. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” With that, he left.
I flopped onto my back on the bed and covered my eyes with my hands. I had a sister, my father was dead, and Hastings and Hensley were in custody. That meant only Evelyn’s son might be looking for me, but the chances of running into him were slim to none. Was it possible to get my life back? It sounded like it might be, but I was too afraid to let my mind go there.
13
When I arrived at the clubhouse, Judge, Batta, and most of the other brothers were already working on the damaged section of the building. “I’ll be there in a few,” I called out as I walked to my office.
I figured it was better to call Phoenix sooner than later. If Luke said something to him before I did, he would have my ass. “Phoenix Black,” he barked into the phone.
“Got a minute?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m in my office. What’s up?”
“Luke dropped in this morning to question the girl I found squatting in Badger’s bunker. Turns out she was kidnapped by her estranged father at her mother’s funeral and sold to Hastings and Hensley. She managed to escape without a trace and stayed with a friend for a while, but shit happened there that caused her to run, which is how she stumbled upon the cabin and the bunker.”
“Holy shit, man. So, she had no idea Hastings and Hensley had been arrested?”
“Nope. She thought they’d be looking for her, as well as her father.”
“What kind of man does that to his own daughter? Tell me that asshole was arrested with the rest of them,” he said.
“He wasn’t. He was killed before his involvement with Hastings and Hensley was discovered,” I hedged.
“Quit beating around the bush, Copper. What are you not telling me?”
I sighed, “The woman’s name is Layla East, and her father’s name is Jimmy ‘Gnaw’ Burnett.”
Silence.
“Phoenix?”
More silence.
I checked the phone to make sure I hadn’t dropped the call.
“Phoenix?”
“Fuck,” he breathed. “She’s Annabelle’s sister.”
“Yeah, she is. That’s why I’m calling,” I said. “I figured Annabelle would want to meet her as soon as possible. I know Layla wants to meet her.”
“Did she know about Annabelle?”
I chuckled, “Layla asked the same thing. And, no, she had no idea of Annabelle’s existence. She didn’t even know who her father was until her mother told her right before she died a few months ago.”
“If I share this news with Annabelle, she is going to insist on meeting her right away, and she’s in no shape to travel. Honestly, the excitement might not be good for the babies. I hate to say it, but I think it would be best to wait until after she delivers to share this news with her. Do you think Layla will agree to that?”
“I don’t see why not. I don’t know her very well, but she seems like a kind and understanding person who has been handed more than her fair share of bullshit in her lifetime,” I said. “You know, when I first saw her, there was something familiar about her that I couldn’t place. Knowing what I know now, it’s obvious. She reminded me of Annabelle.”