Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(48)

Get up, Lockhart.

You’ll have more time for this—for her.

You definitely will.

I head to the door but look back one more time at her and shake my head.

She’s here, in my bed, and she didn’t run.

Maybe we’re getting somewhere.

And just maybe if I get used to saying those three words in my head enough, one day I’ll be able to say them out loud again when they really matter.





CHAPTER TWENTY


Vaughn


“What do you mean, I can’t see her today?”

I stare at the counselor manning the front desk. She pushes her glasses up her nose and glances back down at the computer screen in front of her. “It says right here that Lucy isn’t able to leave the premises this week.”

“I don’t—what in the—” I take a deep breath and look at her name tag. “Rachel. Thank you, but there’s been some kind of misunderstanding. I have a regularly scheduled time that I get with my niece. Every week. The same days. The same time. There has to be a misunderstanding.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Sanders, but when I pull up her name here, it states there is a hold on her file at this time.”

Panic bubbles up, hysteria close behind it, and my thoughts struggle to connect. Did they rule that Brian gets custody? Is she being taken from me?

“Joey. Is Joey working today? He can vouch for me.”

“Joey is working today, but there is no one able to override the mandate.”

“Can I talk to him, please?” I ask, knowing full well I could text him myself, but I don’t want to get him in trouble.

“I’m sorry, but—”

“Rachel. Please. I just—Lucy gets frantic when her schedule changes. I can tell Joey what he needs to do to calm her.”

She sighs, and I can tell she’s completely uncomfortable, but thankfully she picks up the phone. “Can Joey come to the front for a moment? I have a question for him.”

“Thank you,” I tell her as I take a step away from the desk and stand close to the door that I typically walk through without any hassle.

Each second that passes has my thoughts spinning out of control and my anxiety flying through the roof.

When Joey enters the lobby, he tenses the minute he sees me. “Let’s go outside for a second,” he says in a lowered voice and places his hand on the small of my back to direct me out the door.

“What in the hell is going on?” I ask the minute we’re out of earshot from anyone.

“Vaughn.” I hate the sound of my own name right now.

“I’m freaking out here, Joey. Why are they not letting me see her? This is my normal time. It’s not like anything has changed.”

“Everything is fine,” he soothes in a voice that all but tells me to calm the hell down. “I’m not sure what’s going on. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Is this normal? Have you seen this happen before?”

His pause before he responds makes me even more nervous. “It happens occasionally. When there is a contentious custody battle or a counselor feels the child could be in danger.”

“What did Brian do to her?” Rage courses through me at even the hint of a thought.

“Nothing. Nothing happened to her.” He holds up his hands to get me to stop jumping to conclusions. “Sometimes orders come down for the child to remain on site.”

“Why?” I laugh, the nerves getting the best of me. “It’s not like they think I’m going to kidnap her or anything.” And then the minute the words are out of my mouth, I realize that’s what they think. “Wait. Do they—”

Joey sees it on my face and immediately jumps to react. “No. That’s not it. It’s just—I’ll get answers for you. I’m not supposed to, but I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thank you. I just—I—”

“I know.”

I drop my head and draw in a big breath to try to steady my shaky nerves before looking back up at him. “Can I at least see her so she knows I didn’t forget her?”

His shoulders sag. “I’m sorry. I could get fired for allowing it.”

Christ. Tears burn in my eyes, and my stomach churns as much for me missing her as for her thinking I don’t want to see her. “She’s been through so much, Joey. Some days she still thinks her mom just up and left her instead of died. I can’t have her thinking that I did too.”

“I’ll smooth it over.”

“But she has her calendar and she counts the days. She knows this is Tuesday. She knows I take her.”

“Vaughn. The facility has been more lenient with you seeing her and taking her for overnight stays than they are with most others.”

I stare at him, feeling completely helpless and hating every damn second of it. “I don’t understand.” My voice breaks, and I press my fingers to my eyes to prevent the tears from spilling over.

I say I don’t understand.

But I’m fearing I actually do.



“Ms. Sanders? What are you doing here?” Priscilla looks tepid as she peeks her head out of the door that separates the offices from the general public and sees me.

I know damn well that the receptionist told her why I’m here, so I’m not buying her I’m innocent look.