Page 52 of Sawyer
But even more, she would have loved to have friends. To belong. To have people not see her walking toward them on the street and walk the other way. No whispering mean things about her in the grocery store, even though they've never actually met her in person. Not that the people in Elk Jaw whispered. They didn’t care if she heard what they said or not.
Yeah, if she could have lived in Darling, it would be fantastic. But she couldn’t because, if she stayed in Darling, she'd have to figure out what to do about Sawyer. It would be too complicated. Everyone there would want her to forgive him and have him be her Daddy. She might even forget how he’d lied to her. That just couldn’t happen.
CHAPTER 17
When the Daddies finally put an end to the zuping game, every Little was covered in spaghetti. The table and floor didn’t look much better. All in all, they looked like they’d gone to battle with Chef Boyardee and lost. The noodles and sauce were not only on their faces, but also in their hair, on their clothes, even with the bibs.
“I cannot wait until we get to the garage,” Breezy said.
Gage arched a brow. “I don’t know how you think you’re getting there, Sunshine. Not like that. Bathroom. Soap. Now.”
“That goes for all of you,” Sawyer added. “And we’ll be talking about proper restaurant behavior when we get home, Half-Pint.”
“That goes for everyone, too.” Reid used that stern, Daddy voice. The one that said he was serious, but Lele didn’t miss the twinkle in his eye.
Georgia hopped up as if she’d just heard her cue. “You heard the Daddies, Musketiaras. It’sa time to scrub off’a de sauce.” When all the Littles groaned, she added, “To the Principessa Powder Room!”
Once they entered the powder room, Lele had to stop andstare. She’d been to that many restaurant bathrooms, but she’d never even heard of one like this. This wasn’t a bathroom. It was Tuscan fantasy spa meets girlie glam, complete with marble, chandeliers, and pink velvet benches in the lounge area. She looked around, half expecting someone to walk through with glasses of champagne.
Once everyone was squeaky clean, they plopped onto the pink velvet benches. Lele wasn’t sure what they were waiting for since their Daddies were waiting. But she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The longer she could put off going back to Sawyer’s house, the better.
At least, that’s what she thought before Georgia leaned forward. “Okay, Lele. Spill. Sawyer messed up, but we need the details.”
“Yep,” Winnie chimed in with a nod. Lele made a mental note to ask what she used on her curls because they were gorgeous. “That’s the Musketiara code. No, secrets. Even for Honorary Musketiaras.”
Georgia nodded in agreement. “And also… I saw you go Casper-white earlier when Gabi mentioned the General’s name.” When Lele didn’t answer, Georgia elaborated. “The General. You know, former district attorney general. Lead Prosecutor in Jaxon Ruick’s case. Am I ringing any bells?”
It was Lele’s turn to nod before adding, “He’s a bad man. Like, cartoon villain bad. Like, wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him bad.”
Breezy let out a snort. “I can confirm that you are not wrong, not that everyone here doesn’t already know that. He’s evil incarnate. Trust me, I grew up with him. He’s my dad.”
Lele blinked. Blinked again. Color: gone. “He’s… I’m sorry, he’s what? Oh my God, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. You don’t look like him. Or act like him. At all.”
Breezy smirked. “Best compliment of my life. And no apologynecessary. You can say whatever you want. It won’t bother me. Just don’t hold him against me.”
Suzi cleared her throat. Ever the journalist, she leaned in, a notebook practically glowing in her eyes. “So, off the record… what really happened? We know you testified. We know he came after you. But the details…”
“No.” Lovie’s voice sliced through like a blade. She paced, shaking her head.
Winnie tried the gentle route. “But maybe?—”
“Nope,” Lovie cut her off, then dropped right in front of Lele like they were forming a circle of trust or something. “Look, you guys, she doesn’t know us. She doesn’t owe us any explanations.” Returning her gaze to Lele, she said, “But… if it helps, I’ll go first. I’ve got my own nightmare stories about the General. He forced me to ‘consult’ for The Graceful Way Society.”
Lele frowned. “The flower people? The ‘we sell daisies to help children’ people?”
Bliss spoke up, her voice flat. Moving to sit down by Lovie, increasing the size of the circle. “Yeah, no. That’s the cover they use, but they don’t sell flowers. They sell women. Usually given up to be sold by their parents. I know because I lived it. And if Connor hadn’t pulled me out, I’d either still be there, sold, or dead.”
Lele’s brain short-circuited. “Holy fudge nuggets! That’s… awful. But how’s the General fit in?”
Lovie answered without hesitation. “He’s their shield. Their fixer. My Daddy helped me escape, but the General came after me. He buried me alive. Or at least he ordered it done.” Her voice didn’t waver, but everyone else looked like they might puke. “Ravage and my Daddy dug me out. Barely in time. So yeah, I can relate to what you’ve been through. And Bliss and I aren’t the only ones who nearly died thanks to him.”
Lele’s stomach twisted. She couldn’t imagine the horror ofbeing buried alive. “I’m so sorry that happened. I wish… I wish I’d been there for you.”
Suzi moved from her chair to sit with Lovie and Bliss on the carpet and share her war story. Just as terrible. Anonymous emails, files, office torched, almost killed, blah-blah-blah.
One by one, everyone else joined the circle and added their own story. Until finally, all eyes landed on Lele. It was her turn.
Sinking to the floor to complete the circle, Lele swallowed. Hard. “Okay. Truth time. I lied at Jaxon’s trial.” The collective gasp nearly blew the Tuscan wallpaper off the walls. Lele held up her hands in a defensive posture. “I thought I was telling the truth, but I wasn’t.”
