Page 69 of Elling & Jackie

"We will. Thanks, and bye." She disconnected the call.

"Sheesh, are you made of money?" Stassi moved back over to the couch. "I bet there are a hundred people still at the clubhouse who were not involved in the sting."

"It doesn't matter. I'll take the money from my club account."

Stassi snorted. "If it's still there."

"What do you mean?"

"Just saying...the Feds are investigating. I don't know what they'll find or take."

She would give all the money away if it meant keeping everyone out of prison. Sniffing the smoky air inside the hotel room, she joined her sister on the couch. She only had an hour until she needed to work. It'd only take her five minutes to dress. She'd already showered and put her makeup on. Though her hair probably smelled like burnt popcorn by now.

"Remember to stay inside the room when I'm working. I'll come up here and spend my lunch break with you," she said.

"What time is that?"

"Seven thirty to eight o'clock."

A knock came from the door. She looked at Stassi and frowned. Could her dad possibly be here and that's why D-Con refused to tell her what he was doing, and she couldn't reach him by phone?

"If that's Chief, Mom's going to kill him," whispered Stassi, reading Jackie's mind.

She jumped from the couch, hurried across the room, and opened the door, gasping in shock at the sight of Elling filling her doorway. She swung the door at him to keep him away.

He pushed his way in, closing them in the room.

Every emotion she'd experienced with him balled into anger. She clamped her teeth together and said, "Get out. Now."

"I need to talk to you." He glanced over her shoulder. "Alone."

Her heart hammered in her chest. "I'll call hotel security."

"No, you won't."

"Sis?" said Stassi behind her.

Not taking her gaze off Elling and wanting to protect her sister, she said, "Stay there."

"Is that Stassi?" he said.

She pushed him. Two hands to the chest, she brought her knee up, filled with fury. He caught her leg between his two tree-like thighs before she could do any damage. A force knocked her into his chest before she realized Stassi had lunged at him and had his hair in her two fists.

"Uff da." Elling let go of her leg and stepped back, grabbing for Stassi who clung to his head.

The animal-like noises coming from Stassi broke through Jackie's shock as her sister struggled to take down Elling.

"Hell." Elling picked up Stassi by the upper arms and held her in the air as if she were a living doll.

He blinked rapidly, trying to keep his eyes open. Jackie grabbed Stassi around the waist and tugged, trying to remove her from Elling's grasp.

"I'll gouge your eyes out, motherfucker." Stassi kicked out, squirming to try and get her arms loose.

Jackie moved back so as not to get hit. "Please, put her down."

"Only if she stops." Elling held Stassi to the side and looked at Jackie. "Can we talk?"

"Put her down." Jackie's anger simmered to irritation. "Stassi, knock it off for a minute."

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