Triple Beat-nook(14)

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. He knows.”

“Shit. I’ll call Blake, but I’m not sure if he’s really done enough to warrant getting a restraining order against him.” Apparently her foster sister, Chloe, had hooked up with a hot cop from the New Orleans police force. Jett had mentioned bringing him along when Dani faced her father, but Dani had been resistant to have such a humiliating meeting in front of a stranger. She no longer felt that way. Hearing her dad’s voice had opened a floodgate, drowning her in a whole sea of terror.

“Okay.”

“You at the apartment?” Jett asked. “I’m coming over.”

“No. Now isn’t a good time.”

“Dani, I don’t like you staying there alone. I’m going to—”

She cut him off. “I’m not alone.”

“I thought you said—”

“Aiden and Bryson followed me. They’re here right now.”

Jett blew out a relieved breath. “Good. I’m glad you told them.”

“I didn’t tell them all of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told them I was here to reunite with my foster family. They don’t know about my dad and I’d really like to keep it that way.”

“What? Why? I thought these guys were your friends, that you trusted them?”

Dani wasn’t sure she could explain. For twelve years, she’d been plain old Dani Lewis. The people in her everyday world saw a waitress, a singer, a songwriter. No one in Nashville had ever looked at her with pity in their eyes; never saw her as a victim or that poor girl.

“I do trust them, but I want to take care of this on my own if I can. The fewer people I put in harm’s way, the better. I already hate that you’re involved and possibly in danger.” She didn’t doubt for a moment now that her father was a definite threat. His voice was the same, cold and hard.

“You’re not doing this on your own, Dani.”

“I know I’m not. I have you. And Blake.”

“I get that it’s not easy for you to let people in, but from what you’ve told me, Aiden and Bryson are stand-up guys. They’d understand. They wouldn’t walk away from you.”

Dani knew that. But it didn’t make it any easier to say the words. They were too painful, too humiliating.

“Let’s just stick with the original plan for now. Until we find my dad and see what I’m up against, it’s impossible to know how to proceed.”

Jett didn’t reply immediately. Dani worried he intended to continue fighting her, but finally he said, “You still coming to Sunday dinner tomorrow? The whole family will be there.”

Under better circumstances, the idea of reuniting with that beloved family would have had her turning cartwheels. Now, however, she was too concerned for their safety. “Maybe we should postpone the reunion.”

“No. Absolutely not. I’ll come get you myself if you force my hand.”

“Okay. I’ll be there. Aiden and Bryson are planning to tag along. Are you sure we shouldn’t clue Mama Lewis in so she knows there will be three extra mouths to feed?”

Jett snorted. “You’re joking, right? That woman will have enough food there to feed twelve unexpected guests. She’ll be over the moon when she sees you, Dani.”

For the first time since hearing her father’s voice on the phone, Dani felt warm again. Mama Lewis had always found a way to make her feel safe. Loved. Special.

Regardless of all the shit with her dad, Dani refused to let him take away one moment of her happiness about seeing her family again.

She’d simply focus on that for now. She had managed to push all the bad stuff into the background for twelve years.

One more day wouldn’t hurt.

She hoped.





Chapter Three


“I told you I’d get you back, bitch. You’re mine. Mine.”

Cold, hard hands touched her.

The room was pitch black, but she could tell by the hot, sour-smelling breath he was there. With her.

Dani struggled to fight off his grip but her hands felt heavy, clumsy.

“No,” she whispered.

“We’re gonna finish what we started, you little slut.”

“No!” Dani kicked out, trying to free herself, but she was trapped, held tight. “No! Stop!”