Page 43 of Sawyer
Lele grinned. “Will do, but you’d better hurry. Ms. Pac-Man waits for no one.”
Running for the back, Georgia yelled over her shoulder, “I’ll hurry! Don’t let the ghosts get you.”
With a shake of her head, Lele turned back to the game. As if she couldn’t handle a bunch of glowing ghosts. She could handle ghosts. But just to be sure, she parked Ms. Pac-Man in that special safe spot only a few people knew about and turned to lean back on the console, waiting for Georgia.
She needed to check on her own game anyway. The game she’d launched the month before on Steam had been a gamble. But so far, it was doing much better than she had ever dreamed.Daddy’s Little Worldhad started small with only seven followers. Now she was up to two hundred and twenty-three.
Escaping into a world where you can design your own Daddy and then live in a DDlg virtual world was taking off. Maybe she’d even tell Georgia about it. It was the least she could do for her new friend, since Georgia had given her the idea for her next project. She would call itBucket List Bash, or something like that. It would be a virtual reality game where people could choose from a list of bucket list items and then experience them through VR.
A knock on the door of Deep Dive startled her from her thoughts. Through the door’s window, Lele saw a petite woman with long, chestnut hair and a beautiful smile. The woman was motioning for Lele to let her in.
Lele froze. What was she supposed to do? Her Daddy had saidnot to open the door for anyone. But the woman didn’t seem like the type to give up easily. And, honestly, she was tiny. Lele could take her in a fight. She was pretty sure.
Georgia saved her from making the decision by returning just in time. “Oh, that’s Gabi! We can let her in. She’s a Musketiara.”
She ran past Lele and opened the door. “Hey, Gabs! What are you doing here? I thought you and Raleigh were busy preparing for the General’s trial.”
“We are. That’s why I’m here. I have a list of things he wants the guys to send him. And I need to find Suzi. I’m hoping Deke can tell me where to look because I’ve tried all her normal hangouts.”
Georgia went stiff, “Oh, right. Well, you should probably go up now and ask him. Before you say anything else.” Georgia grabbed the girl, Gabi, by the arm and led her toward the stairs.
But it was too late.
The world around Lele disappeared. Everything narrowed to a pinpoint of light focused on what Gabi had just said.
The General.
Her mind raced. Maybe there was more than one person who went by that name. But she didn’t think so.
News of the General’s arrest had made all the news outlets and social media. She remembered reading every article multiple times, taking the first baby step toward feeling safe she had in years.
It had to be the same General. But why had Gabi come here? What information could a bunch of data analysts offer a lawyer? That made no sense.
Then again, no analyst she’d ever met carried a gun tucked in the back of his waistband. Or responded with lightning-quick reflexes like Saul had the day someone had shot up the front of her house.
Lele stumbled to a table and sat down, unsure if her legs would hold her up right where she stood. What was Gabi talking about?
"I'll go upstairs in a minute," Gabi said, pushing past Georgia. "First, I want to meet the new girl." Gabi crossed the room, headed Lele's way.
It was funny the things that caught your attention when your world might be falling apart. Gabi wore gorgeous orange and purple stilettos with butterflies printed on them. The highest stilettos she'd ever seen. She hoped the girl didn't trip and break an ankle.
Her mind in a fog, Lele responded by habit when Gabi extended her hand. The girl’s grasp was firm, but not too firm.
"Hi, my name is Gabi. Have you been in Darling long?"
She couldn’t think of what to say. She simply stared back at Gabi, who was still smiling.
Why was Gabi smiling? Why was anyone smiling? Georgia wasn't smiling. Georgia looked frozen, somewhere between terrified and sick at her stomach.
Snapping back to life, Georgia hurried to join them at the table. "Lele, I think we should go upstairs and talk to Saul." She stepped to Lele's side as if to help her stand.
But Lele had no intention of talking to Saul right now.
“Saul?” Confusion spread across Gabi's expression. “Who is Saul?”
Georgia frowned at Gabi and hissed, “Not now, Gabi.” Turning back to Lele, Georgia said, “Come on, sweetie. Let's get you upstairs to your Daddy.”
Gabi's fist settled on her hips, and her stiletto-clad toe began to tap. “Wait a minute. Did I miss something while I was at Rawhide Ranch? Has Sabre Security hired a new guy? Does Raleigh know? I’ll bet he does. Why am I always the last to know these things?”
