Page 9 of Dagger

Sunshine’s arms fell to her side, and she lowered her head. “Yes, Momma.”

I covered my laugh with my hand.

The girls locked hands and walked out to the corridor, the sound of Kady’s chatter and Sunny’s complaining wafting into the room.

“I don’t know where she gets it from,” Layla murmured, eyes still on the door.

“She’s a fucking trip,” Cara crowed. “That kid won’t take any shit when she’s older, and I, for one, love it.”

Layla’s big, grey eyes narrowed on her friend. “Come to think of it, I knowexactlywho she gets it from.”

“At least the kid’s not a doormat,” Kennedy interjected, eyebrow cocking, “Cara’s teaching her that, thank God.”

Layla rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Ned.”

Kennedy smirked.

“Now, now, you two,” Constance said softly. “You’re giving off bad vibes. We’re here to cheer Elise up.” She turned back to me. “How are you really feeling?”

I took stock of my body. I was tender in places, but I’d been asleep on and off for days, and the worst of my bruises had healed. My ribs ached, and my shoulder hurt, but the pain was muted by medication, and bearable compared to the abuse I’d endured over the years.

“I’m okay,” I told her gently. “I can’t complain. As much as I ache, you being here makes everything seem better.”

She smiled as she moved toward me and held her arms out for Belle. “That shoulder was dislocated; if it’s aching, you need to rest it. There’ll be plenty of time for nanna cuddles.”

My heart soared at being called a nanna before I reluctantly passed the baby back to my daughter. “She’s incredible.”

My daughter gathered her baby close to her and nuzzled her tiny head. “Yeah, she is,” her eyes lifted to mine, “she takes after her grandmother.”

I took a sudden breath, but no words came. All the things I’d dreamed of saying to her over the years flew out of my head.”

“I’m sorry I let you down,” I whispered.

“No!” she said firmly. “You never let me down. John told me everything. You did everything to protect me, so I never want to hear those words from you again.”

Cara rose from her chair at the window and made her approach. “Elise, I’ve been where you are, remember? Robbie did the same to me as Robert Senior did to you. They both struck when we were at our most lost and vulnerable. You need to blame the person who deserves it, and above all else, you need to forgive yourself, especially when, all along, you were just trying to do what you thought was right.”

“It won’t be easy,” my girl murmured. “We’ve lost a lot of years, and there’s going to be resentment and a lot of frustrationto deal with. But I want to get to know you. I’d like us to build a relationship, if you’re agreeable.”

My heart leaped. “Really? I’ve dreamed of this moment. I can’t believe we’re finally here, together.”

“Of course.” She jerked her head toward Layla and Kennedy who were listening to our conversation with interest. “You’re part of the ol’ lady gang now. We need all the numbers we can get.”

I grimaced. “I tried that before. It didn’t work out well for me.”

“Things around here have changed,” Kennedy responded dryly.

Cara laughed. “Yep.”

They all looked at each other smugly, knowing smiles playing about their lips.

“Do they still have club girls?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Cara admitted. “They have their place here, but they also know their place. No club girls are allowed near the bar until after eleven at night. They clean, do laundry, and if Iris can’t be bothered or she’s away, they stop the men keeling over from hunger.”

I cocked my head. “What do you girls do?”

“I’m a lawyer,” Kennedy drawled.

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