She glowered at him. “Does my father even know I’mhere?”
Larry shook his head and held up a hand. “Not just yet, but I will give him a messagethat—”
“This is bullshit,” Jacques boomed beside her. The room shook with the explosion of his words, and Larry actually took a step back. “Either you get Dylan Reeves out here to talk to his daughter, or I’ll knock down every door in this building and drag his assout.”
If Rainey hadn’t witnessed his outburst, she would have never believed it. Jacques stood tall, his shoulders suddenly broader than she’d ever seen them. He looked larger than life. Larger, even, than he did on stage. And while she’d seen him be stubborn and maybe even defiant — as he had been in the hotel lobby when she’d insisted on paying — she’d never seen himangry.
But Jacques lookedmenacing.
This was surprising on its own, but what really took Rainey off-guard was how much she liked it. She’d always had people in her life who loved her, people who cared forher.
But this was the first time she’d ever seen anyonefightforher.
Her speechless awe was interrupted when Larry, scowling, notably stepped farther away from Jacques. “I’m guessing you’re the young man I spoke to the other day. Rainey’sfriend.”
Jacques’s jaw ticked. “Buddy, I am way more than her friend, so lose the attitude.” The look in his eyes sent tingles rushing from her solar plexus to her toes. Not because it carried a threat, but because of its intensity. The look carried avow.
She tucked the moment in her heart to take it out and examine it later, and she turned toLarry.
“What’s going on,Larry?”
He frowned, pressed his lips together, and blinked like he had something in his eye. Then he blew out a frustrated breath, and his shoulders dipped a little. “When Lacey sent the text that you were here, I knew what was up. You’re here because of Gloria, aren’tyou?”
Conviction ascended through her spine. “I’m here for a lot of reasons, Larry. Why are you trying to keep me from seeing myfather?”
Larry’s body responded as though she’d struck him. “I’m not — I’m not trying to keep you from seeing him,” hedefended.
Rainey crossed her arms over her chest. “Then what the hell’s going on? I feel like we just stepped intoOz.”
“Okay, fine,” Larry admitted, shaking his head, shamefaced. “I’m just trying tostall.”
“Whyare you trying to stall?” Jacques asked, stepping slightly forward as though offering Larry a reminder of his presence — and hisproximity.
Larry assessed him and shook his head. “Because I didn’t expect this,” he said, gesturing to them with upturned palms. “I haven’t told Dylan yet that I spilled the beans. I didn’t think you’d show up here with all your questions. At least not thissoon.”
Rainey narrowed her eyes at him. “Whatdidyouthink?”
His face seemed to sag. His whole posture seemed to sag. “I figured you’d call back, and I’d intercept you before you talked toDylan.”
Rainey slapped her thighs. “Why didn’t you just own up that you’d told us about Ray? I mean, you couldn’t hide thatforever.”
His patronizing look made her jaw clench. “I know that, Rainbow. But I’d been trying to talk him into telling you, and when that didn’t work, I was trying to get him to give me his blessing to share the secret.” Larry crossed his arms over his chest. “It would have worked, too, if you wouldn’t have raced overhere.”
Rainey felt her eyebrows leap. “Raced? It’s been five days since I spoke to you, Larry. Holi’s life is at stake. I think that warrants a sense of urgency.” Her voice was climbing as her bewilderment mounted. “And we didn’t come straight here. We found Gloria Lopez-Craine and her son. We met them both. She refused to help us. Andthenwe came here. For answers. And I’m sure as hell not leaving until I getthem.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she might have seen the Jacquesgrin.
During her scolding, Larry’s face had gone from pinched to stunned togrim.
“You found Gloria?” he asked frowning. “And she won’t get the kidtested?”
Rainey shook her head. “She wouldn’t even talk to us.” Rainey folded her arms across her chest, suddenly chilled at the memory. “She threw us out as soon as she learned who Iwas.
Larry winced. “Oh, fine,” he said, his shoulders bowing in defeat. Then he seemed to shake himself off, took the three steps that separated him and Rainey, and dipped down to kiss her cheek. “It’s good to see you,Rainbow.”
For all of his faults and misplaced loyalties, Larry had always been like an uncle to her, and Rainey softened a little. “It’s good to see you, too,” she conceded, though an edge of irritation was still clear in hervoice.
He sighed again. “I guess I’ll go take my medicine.” He turned and then muttered over his shoulder. “No need to knock down any doors, Hercules. You trying to get us onAccessHollywood?”