Page 41 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 15

Jackie pushed the housekeepingcart into the storage room and hurried down the back hallway to the lobby. Tucking the stray strand of hair that'd come loose behind her ear, she sat down and breathed a sigh of relief that nobody came in while she was away from the desk.

She pulled up her inbox and shot a quick email to Mr. Garrison, letting him know that they needed to hire two housekeepers to replace the two she'd terminated. Knowing her boss would refer the job of hiring someone to her, she double checked the last ad she ran through the employment agency, looking for any changes she'd need to make once she received the okay.

While she was skilled at running every position at the hotel, she couldn't be pulled away from running the hotel to deliver towels to the rooms.

Her cell phone on the desk vibrated. She glanced at the screen, knowing she should've left it up in the room.

Her parents' number came up. Looking at the closed front door and knowing she'd have time to answer, she connected the call.

"Hey, Chief. You called?"

"Everything okay there?" asked her dad.

"Yeah. Why?" She scanned the room.

Personal calls weren't allowed during working hours for all employees—which was a big problem and caused a high turnover rate with housekeeping—but for her, family came first before her job.

"You need to listen carefully." Chief paused.

She held her breath. He had her attention. Chief always made it clear to her when he was serious, and when there was room for her to stand up for herself.

"I need you to stay at the hotel and stay inside," he said.

She inhaled swiftly. It was Chief's way of telling her they were experiencing a lockdown back home without saying the words over the phone. He trusted no one to overhear, eavesdrop, or spy, and she understood why he'd feel that way.

"Okay." At least ten questions went through her mind that she wanted to ask and couldn't.

"Your mom will call you later."

She ducked her head out of view of the front doors. "The others?"

"They're okay."

Her heart beat faster. Her brothers were alive and free.

For as long as she could remember when the club went on lockdown, she feared one of her family members getting arrested. It wasn't a fear based on an overactive imagination. Every male member of her family had spent time in prison. Even her sister-in-law served time while pregnant and had her nephew, Trik, behind bars.

"Is your guest still there?" he asked.

Elling? Her heart pounded. She'd told no one about the Slag member.

"Is he still around?" repeated Chief.

"Oh." It dawned on her that he was talking about the Federal Agent that she'd told Jett about. "Yes."

"If he leaves, let me or your oldest brother know."

"I will." She waited for him to give her more information, but he remained quiet.

"Love you, Chief," she whispered, worried for everyone.

"Love you, too. Remember that, and watch yourself." Chief disconnected the call.

She set her cell phone down and sagged in the chair. The hardest part of living away from her family was when something was going on.

Even if she were home, she would still not know what was happening. Club business was kept between the members. While the wives, daughters, girlfriends were accepted within the Brikken family fold, they weren't allowed to know much more than what they needed to stay safe.

---