Page 41 of Melt For Us, Daddy
She started to say yes, but forced herself to pause. Think. “No. We brought a couple of our substitute teachers with us as chaperones.”
“Okay. Then you are going to stay put and wait.”
It chafed, god it chafed to have to obey when everything in her, everything she’d been taught demanded she turn around and head back to the bus.
But Dee wouldn’t be asking this of her if it wasn’t important. So she focused on that, and on the knowledge that her students would be safe even if she had to leave. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good girl. Holden’s man is named Blaze. Holden is texting you a picture of him now, along with a code word. Do not get in that car until you hear the code word. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Blaze is going to take you home. You will pack a single bag of clothes and anything else you need. Once you’re packed, Blaze will bring you to me and I’ll explain everything.”
What the hell was going on? “Okay,” she managed to squeak out, even though everything in her wanted to demand answers. She had to trust Cordelia would tell her when she could, and for now she just needed to a good girl and do as she’d been told.
“I’m sorry, baby. I know this is big and scary but I need you to trust me. Can you do that for me, blossom?”
“Always, Ma’am.”
“My good girl. I have to go, baby, they need my phone for something and I need to check in with Holden about Jacob. Blaze should be there any minute.”
As if she’d conjured him with her words, a black SUV nearly identical to Holden’s pulled up at the curb in front of her. “I think he’s here.”
“Check your texts. Don’t you dare get in that car without the code word, Ivy Mae.”
Pulling her phone from her ear, she opened the message from Holden, comparing the picture he’d sent her to the man stepping out of the vehicle in front of her.
“Ivy Baker?”
“Who’s asking?”
“My name’s Blaze. I work for Raptor Security. Need you to come with me, ma’am.”
Cordelia’s warning rang in her ears. “What’s the code word?”
“Banana pudding.”
Her favorite dessert, and it matched the phrase Holden had texted her. Nodding, she pressed the phone to her ear again. “It’s him. Code word and everything.”
“Good. Get in the car with him and I’ll see you soon. I love you, babygirl.”
“I love you too.”
The call ended, and Ivy let herself be ushered into the vehicle. “Wait! I need to let someone know I’m leaving.”
“It’s being handled.”
“Okay. Um, can you at least tell me what’s going on?”
His eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. “I think Cordelia would rather tell you herself.”
Yeah, well, she’s too busy saving Jacob.
As soon as the nasty thought flitted through her mind, her stomach twisted with guilt. If Cordelia was sending someone to get Jacob, that meant something had happened with the cult.
Oh, god. What if something happened to one of his sisters? He’d never forgive himself if his leaving got one of his sisters hurt.
Please, please let everyone be okay.
