Page 53 of Saving Sophia

“Ooh.” Callie clapped her hands together.

Rook held out his hand for her. “Chickadee?”

She took it, sliding out from the booth before glancing toward the bathroom. “Maybe I should check on Soap? She seemed upset.”

I shook my head. “I’ll wait for her.”

She nodded, still subdued from Griff’s shutdown.

I watched them leave, then walked to the back of the restaurant to take care of my girl.

I knocked on the bathroom door and slowly pushed it open. I made sure no one else was inside and stepped in. Little sniffles were coming from the far stall.

I tried to focus on her and not worry yet about what had sent her running in here. Whatever it was, we would face it.

“Sophia?” The sniffles stopped. “You okay?” The sniffles started again. I walked to the stall door. Her feet and a sliver of her form were barely visible through the spaces between the partitions. “Baby, let me in.”

Her voice drifted out, soft and small. “I can’t.”

“Yes you can. Let me in, sweet girl.”

A hitch in her breath. Shuffling. The metallic sound of the lock sliding loose.

I pushed open the door.

“I threw up,” she sobbed. She was kneeling on the floor next to the toilet, her eyes red, her face blotchy. She looked so lost and forlorn. I made a mental note that we should discuss drink limits once she was truly mine and we’d had a talk about rules.

“Shh. Daddy’s here.” It slipped out before I could catch myself. She was too distraught to notice, and I wouldn’t take it back even if she did.

She whimpered as I helped her up, holding her steady. She looked up at me in horror. “I can’t go back out there.”

“Let me do the worrying.” I slipped off my jacket and wrapped her up in it.

“I still can’t?—”

“Don’t think. Don’t worry. Just obey.” I put a little firmness in my tone to gain her compliance. She stopped talking and stared miserably at the floor. I scooped her up and cradled her in my arms, tucking her head against my shoulder.

“I ruined your surprise,” she muttered into my shirt.

“Not possible,” I said into her ear, pushing my way out of the stall.

She snorted. “You can’t say this is how you wanted it to go.”

“You’re in my arms, right?”

She nodded, her dark silky hair sliding against me.

I placed a kiss on top of her head. “Then I consider it a success. Now, close your eyes.” When I was sure she was sheltered, I walked briskly toward the door.

16

SOPHIA

Things couldn’t be much worse. I was about to be carried out of a fancy restaurant after vomiting all over their fancy bathroom. I felt humiliated, dirty, and ashamed. On top of that, a killer wanted me and my best friend dead. And I lied about it all, tossing aside all possibility of help. I lied to the cops. To Ethan. That part hurt the most. And there was nothing I could do about any of it. I dug myself so deep there wasn’t any way out.

So I did as I was told, closed my eyes and tried not to think. I breathed in the clean cedar wood scent of his shoulder pressed against my nose and let him take control.

“My girl isn’t feeling well. Can you bring me the bill, and can we use this side door?” His voice rumbled against me. I barely heard the worker’s muffled response. “Thank you.” Ethan said.

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