Page 90 of Sugar and Skulls

My eyes follow him before going back to Raffe but when I turn around I see Raffe is focused on something up by the warehouse. I follow his gaze. Dirk is standing by the front door giving Jeremy a death glare. His words from this morning come rushing back. “Oh, fuck,” I whisper under my breath.

Raffe stands up straight. “Go on, go to work. I’ll deal with Dirk. Don’t worry I won’t let him kill Jeremy.” He laughs as he walks away. “I’ll see you at the shop.”

When I get to the shop Dan is already there. I hop around excitedly.

“You’re in a good mood today.”

“That’s because life is grand,” I say dreamily, falling into my chair.

He shakes his head. His first customer of the day comes in and he takes him over to his chair. “Any walk-ins are yours today, Jess,” he says from across the room.

I give him the thumbs up. “I’m going to work on Raffe. He should be right behind me.”

He nods and gets to work on his client.

Raffe shows up a few minutes later just as I’m getting everything set up. He takes a seat in my new chair. “Nice,” he says, running his hands appreciatively over the leather. “Man, this is great not having to drive over to shitsville.”

I snap my gloves on, my focus on what I want to get accomplished today.

“Dirk says he’ll be here shortly.”

I glance up at him, snapping my gum. “What? Why?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Good luck going much of anywhere without him. I think you’ve created a fucking monster. He’s having words with Jeremy as we speak.”

“Raffe, I thought you were going to stop him?” I say annoyed.

“Oh yeah, about that. I had to worry about my own ass. Dirk told me all the ways he could break my balls if I so much as touch you.”

My gun silences. “But, we are friends. He can’t do that.”

He winks at me. “Don’t worry your pretty little head. He isn’t going to hurt me.”

The door dings. Dan gets up to help the lady at the counter. I mumble to Raffe about how I’m going to give Dirk a good talking to, when I notice he isn’t paying attention. He’s eyeing the pretty dark-haired lady at the counter.

She nervously pushes her hair behind her ear. “I’m looking for Daniel Hoffman.”

Who?

“That’s me,” Dan says.

I glance at the lady again. Her eyes dart around the room. When they pass over Raffe and me, I gasp. Mood ring eyes. The same mood ring eyes I stared into this morning.

She stops on Dan. “Well, this is a little awkward, but I think we may be cousins.”

I jolt out of my chair. Raffe grabs my hand to keep me anchored by his side.

“Rachel?” Dan whispers, taking a step back.

The lady clears her throat. “Hm, you remember me?” she asks hesitantly.

Dan nods dumbfounded.

She smiles and shifts her weight from foot to foot. “I was hoping you…” her lip begins to tremble, but she continues on, “might know where I might find my brother.”

The door opens to the shop as if Gabriel’s God orchestrated the whole reunion. Dirk walks in, his eyes immediately seeking mine. His eyebrow cocks up when he sees the look on my face. He rushes towards me. “What’s wrong,” he asks pulling me into his arms.

“Your…your sister,” I whisper.

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