Page 43 of The Leader

Then the screaming started. Over and over again.

CHAPTER 21

JAZZY

A week after the shooting, things were back to normal. That is, as much as Jazzy could call her sister checking herself out of the clinic and leaving the country normal.

Carmen was on the run. From herself, from the pain of losing her baby, and God only knew what other demons haunted her. Jazzy had visited her in the clinic every day, but Carmen refused to say a word. She just turned her back and kept staring at the wall, a void in her gaze that scared Jazzy. This morning, she had received a message from Carmen that she needed some time. So that was all Jazzy could do; give her time and space.

Tommie, luckily, was easier to deal with. Gio had stated that he would stay with them until he had recuperated from his gunshot wound. Boxed in by Gio and Hector, Tommie’s protest had died on his lips. She was glad that, for a change, his pride had taken a back seat to his common sense.

He lay sprawled on her couch, ending a phone call. He grunted when he reached for his mug on the coffee table. “The most interesting thing just happened. I just got rehired.”

“That’s great. You shouldn’t have been fired in the first place. I’m sure there’s some law against firing an employee who can show proof of being admitted to a clinic.” When she saw his pensive look, she said, “Itisgreat, isn’t it?”

“Sure. It’s also interesting and weird that I got rehired within a day; with a raise, no less.”

“Not weird. I’m sure the place fell apart after you left.”

He snorted. “You know, having Giovanni Detta call my asshole boss is like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight.”

“Are you saying it’s overkill?”

“Of the epic kind.”

“I disagree. And I didn’t ask Gio to call your boss. But I might have ranted a bit to him about you getting fired,” she admitted.

“Well, he obviously decided to do something about it. Probably just to shut you up.”

She pinched his leg, making him wince. “You deserved that.”

“I think we should do it.”

“Do what?”

“Accept the San Francisco’s real estate king’s offer for office space.”

She let out a groan. “He got to you, didn’t he?”

A blush spread over Tommie’s cheeks. “He did,” he grumbled. “Your husband has this…”

“Overpowering personality?” she provided, when he seemed lost for words.

“Yeah, that was the phrase I was looking for. Also”—he was silent for a beat—“he also took care of my Grams.”

“Is she okay?” She knew his grandmother had Alzheimer’s and lived in a nursing home. It was the reason why Tommie had worked two jobs during college, even though that didn’t stop him finishing top of his class.

He shrugged, as if the topic of his grandmother was no big deal, while she knew it was what kept him going. “I got a call from the nursing home. Something about government cutbacks and her health insurance no longer covering everything. They were going to put her on the street, Jaz, and, shit, the place I could barely afford wasn’t a great place to begin with. Your husband offered to transfer her to a top-notch facility if I agreed to the office space, which he hopes will sway you too, and I couldn’t say no.”

“Nor should you have. I would have done the same thing.”

“You would?” He sounded hesitant. “I kind of feel like a jerk for accepting.”

“Of course I would have.” She put her laptop on the coffee table and cuddled up next to him. “I wished you would have told me sooner, so I could have offered to help. You’re just too damn proud.”

“Speaking of too proud…I really think we should accept the office space. It would look good with future customers. I really need this to work, Jaz.”

So did she, though perhaps, for slightly other reasons. She was determined to live in a world where children—the tiny voices that were ignored or lost all too often—were safe. With the software they were developing, she hoped to contribute a little to that cause.

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