Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9) (6 page)

“Did he talk?”
Audrey asks.

“You didn’t really
ask me that, did you?” Reina asks with a smile. “Of course he
talked.”

“Did you kill him?”
Jeanne asks her.

“No, honey. We try to
keep as many people alive as possible. He’ll be wishing he was dead
for a little while, and then once he’s out of the hospital, he’ll
go to jail.”

“What did he tell
you?” I ask her.

“He was hired through
a mercenary magazine. He doesn’t know who it was, but he has an
email address for them.”

“Which I’ll be
tracking down,” Ainsley says in between bites of her pasta.

“You can do that?
Find someone that way?”

“Yes, she can, Blake.
My girl has skills,” Zack tells me.

“Unless the person
has better skills,” Jeanne says.

“Well, that’s when
I call in my good friend, Scott Griffin. Between the two of us,
there’s no one better.”

“You know Scott
Griffin?” Jeanne asks, her eyes going wide.

“Yep. We went to
school together, and we’re all good friends with him.”

“Wow,” I say,
because even I know who he is. His family is one of the most powerful
in the world.

“You won’t need
Scott, Ains. You got this,” Zack tells her.

“You’re sweet, but
I never turn down help.”

“Needing help makes
you weak,” Jeanne says, and I whip my head around to look at her.

“Who told you that?”

“Mom.”

“Well, that’s just
one more thing your mother and I will never agree on. Everyone needs
help sometimes. We’re getting help right now from Audrey and her
friends.”

“Oh yeah. I guess we
are.”

“We’ll talk more
about this later.”

“Great. Another
lecture from Mr. Perfect.”

Where the Hell is this
attitude coming from? “I am so far from perfect that I can’t even
see the shore. You should know that by now.”

“I can vouch for
that,” Audrey says, trying to lighten things up.

“I wish you
couldn’t,” I tell her honestly.

“I know.”

“Are you two going to
kiss again, because I’m leaving if you are.”

“Kiss?” Reina asks,
and I see her send a warning glance to Audrey.

“Can we talk about
this after dinner, please?”

“Yes, but we
are
talking about it.”

“I know.”

Dinner finishes with no
more talking as I try to figure out what is going on with my
daughter, while Audrey dodges all the curious looks coming her way. I
know we’re all in a crazy situation right now, but I hope when it
all dies down, I can show Audrey that I’m serious about really
getting to know her this time around. I could fall in love with her
very easily. Again.

Blake

“Let’s go put your
new clothes away while we talk about what you said at dinner.”

“Wanda said she’d
put my stuff away for me tomorrow.”

“That right there is
another problem—we don’t make other people do things we can do
ourselves. You know that.”

“Wanda has people
clean your office, and cook for us.”

“That’s because I
usually work long hours. No one has been in my office in the last
couple of days, and no one cooked us dinner tonight.”

Why am I explaining
myself to her? It’s almost like having Misha here again, and God
knows that didn’t work out well. I won’t have Jeanne turning into
a mini her.

I lead her into her
giant walk-in closet and start pulling clothes from the bags. “Grab
some hangers.”

“Fine.”

“No, Jeanne, it’s
not. What has gotten into you? I know you’re probably scared after
almost being kidnapped again, but your behavior right now, and the
things you said at the dinner table, are completely unacceptable.”

“Why? Just because I
said there are people smarter than Ainsley?”

“You asked Audrey to
have her friends come here for dinner so you could talk to them.
Talking would’ve been nice. Treating them like they’re below you
is definitely not.”

“They work for us.”

“Zack Taylor makes at
least as much as I do in year—probably more with his endorsement
deals. Jake Mason’s mother is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and his father runs one of the largest corporations in the
world. And Brayden—well Brayden was a King, until he gave up his
crown for Darcy. I’m sure the women are all millionaires. Even if
they weren’t, no one is better than anyone else just because they
have money. I don’t care what bullshit your mother’s told you,
you know how I feel, and we shouldn’t even be having this
conversation.”

“You just cussed.”

“You said you’re
not a baby, and you’re right. I’m done coddling you. You’ll
start pulling your weight more around here, especially if you don’t
lose this new attitude.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy,”
she says, using the term she knows is sure to melt my heart, and only
uses when she wants something. Or to get out of something.

“You’re still
getting extra chores.”

“I know,” she says
with a sigh. “Do you think Audrey’s in trouble because I told
them you kissed?”

“Maybe.”

“You like her more
than Mom, don’t you?”

“Jeanne, I like
almost everyone on the planet more than I like your mom. I’m
grateful to her, because I wouldn’t have you otherwise, but I
haven’t liked—or loved—her for a very long time.”

“She told me she
still loves you.”

That’s even bigger
bullshit than what Jeanne said earlier. I have to be diplomatic for
my kid, though. “I can’t help how she feels. Hopefully she’ll
find someone else, and move on.”

“There’s no chance
you’d get back together with her?”

“None.”

I mean that with my
whole heart, especially since she was too “busy” to come and
check on Jeanne, even after I told her she’d almost been kidnapped
again. I don’t know if she just doesn’t care about our daughter,
if she thinks her waning career is too important, or what. But I
could never be with someone who didn’t put their own child first.
It didn’t work out the first time, and I’m not even going to try
again.

“That’s not your
color,” Audrey tells me with a wink, as she walks into the closet.

I look down and see
that I’m holding a peach dress in front of me. “Really, I think
it brings out the color in my eyes.”

“You’re so
embarrassing, Dad.”

“What? It’s only
Audrey.” Her face falls, and I want to bang my head against the
closest wall.

“Anyway. I was hoping
you’d be up for a Girls’ Night, Jeanne. The Griffin wives host
one every month, and sometimes us Society girls get together with
them, too. Reina, Isa, Ainsley, Darcy, and Faith are in if you are.”

“They don’t hate me
after the things I said at dinner?”

“What? No. We’ve
all been teenagers. We understand the angst. Especially after the day
you’ve had. I’d say some more ice cream and chick flicks are in
order. Along with nail painting and frozen bras of course.”

“Do I get to freeze
your bra, Audrey?”

“That would be a
‘hell no’ Blake.”

“Can’t blame a guy
for trying.”

“So, what do you
say?” she asks Jeanne, pointedly ignoring me.

I think I just struck
out, and it’s only been two days. I was hoping for a home run, and
I’m not ready to throw down the bat yet. “Jeanne, why don’t you
go help Audrey’s friends grab snacks while I talk to her for a
minute?”

“Oh-kay. Don’t be
making out when we get back, please. I’ll be loud, but still.”

“There’s no chance
of that, Jeanne, so you can be as quiet as a mouse.”

“Make noise, Jeanne.”

“I’m going now,
because this is really awkward. Bye!”

“What did you want to
talk about, Blake?” Audrey asks once Jeanne is gone.

“I didn’t mean it
like you think I did.”

“Mean what?”

“You know damn well
what I’m talking about, and I only meant that you wouldn’t care
if we acted goofy around you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, we’re good?
Or okay, you’re just saying that to try and shut me up?”

“We’re good.”

I walk over and pull
her into my arms. “How about you and Reina?”

“We’re good, too.
She just worries about me. I’m like an older sister to her.”

“I thought older
sisters were supposed to worry about younger sisters,” I say,
kissing her cheek.

“It goes both ways.”

I place my fingers on
her jaw to turn her face the way I want it, and see her wince.
“What’s wrong?”

“I took a hard hit
earlier.”

Oh my God. I knew they
got Jeanne away from those guys, but I didn’t even think about how
they did it. “Where?”

“My jaw. It’s fine.
It’s going to look pretty ugly tomorrow, though.”

“You were fighting to
save my daughter. Nothing about that is ugly,” I tell her as I
feather kisses all over her jaw.

She moves and then
we’re full on kissing. She’s got my t-shirt clutched in her
hands, and I’m playing with the next button on her jumpsuit. I just
get it popped when we’re interrupted. Jeanne doesn’t yell, but
she’s not quiet, either. It doesn’t really matter since either of
them would have the same effect—I have to go back to my room alone.

“Tomorrow night?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s better than
no.”

“It is.”

“Dad. Your time with
Audrey is up. Go hang out with the men. They’re in your man cave.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I
tell her with a salute, before kissing the top of her head.

I grab Audrey for one
last kiss, and then head out to the pool house, also known as my man
cave. Beer and foosball will be fun; although, I know it won’t
compare to a night with Audrey. I’ve waited twenty years for that,
and while I won’t wait twenty more, I
can
be patient. For maybe another 24 hours or so.

* * *

Audrey

“I’ve got your
pajamas, Aud,” Stella tells me, handing me a bag.

I’d filled her in on
my plan while we were shopping, so she could get us all something to
wear tonight. Everyone has on a cute t-shirt and shorts combo, and
I’m expecting the same. That’s not what’s in the bag, though.

“Stella, where are my
pajamas?” I ask, looking at the piece of silk in the bag.

“Oh, they were out,
so I got you something different.”

“There were no
regular pajama sets anywhere in that mall?”

“Pleading the fifth.”

“I’ll just stay in
my jumpsuit, I guess.”

“You can’t, Audrey.
This is my first slumber party,” Jeanne tells me.

“What Stella got me
isn’t something I would wear to a slumber party.”

“Unless it was an 80s
movie, or a porno,” Darcy says with a laugh.

“Those two are not
interchangeable little girl,” I tell her, shaking my head as she
sticks her tongue out at me.

“It’s just us
girls, and it can’t be that bad,” Reina says. “Just put it on.”

“Okay, Boss, but I
warned you.”

I go into the bathroom
and slip on the pink pin striped sleep shirt. It’s shorter in front
than back, and I’ll have to be careful to not flash my friends too
much. Yes, they’ve seen me in my panties before, and naked too, but
I try to keep my lingerie to myself. I straighten the thing one more
time, and then walk out.

“You look pretty,
Audrey,” Jeanne says. “I want a nightgown like that, too.”

“Thanks, Jeanne. I’m
sure Stella can get you one.”

“I can. Now let’s
get started. What are we doing first?”

We decide to do our
hair and nails first, and then watch the movies while we eat the junk
food. Darcy puts on some music, and we get started. I’m painting
Jeanne’s nails while I ask her about the guy at the mall.

“Was that Roger at
the mall?”

“Yeah.”

“And?”

“He’s a jerk. Thank
you for showing me that.”

“That wasn’t what I
wanted. He was just being a…jerk, and he needed to be put in his
place.”

“My mom would’ve
probably flirted with him,” she says, biting her lip.

“Well, I’m
definitely not Misha.”

“No, you’re not. I
like you a lot, Audrey. I know we’ve only known each other for a
few days, but I do.”

“I like you, too,
Mija.”

“I didn’t expect
you. Any of you.”

That’s a weird
statement, so I press her a little. “Expect us?”

“I mean, I never
thought I would meet cool, smart, and beautiful girls.”

“You’re cool,
smart, and beautiful.”

“My dad’s the only
one who has ever said that before.”

“He has his good
moments.”

“Are you going to be
his girlfriend for real?”

“I don’t know. How
would you feel about that?”

“I don’t know,”
she says, and we both laugh.

“Seriously, though,
if it bothers you, you need to tell me. Your feelings are important
to me.”

She bursts into tears,
and I put down the nail polish to gather her into my arms. “Why
doesn’t my mom feel this way? Why doesn’t she care?”

“I’m sure she
cares, just in her own way.” Actually, I’m sure her mother is a
self-centered bitch, but she doesn’t need to hear that right now.

“Hey, what’s going
on over here? It usually takes Audrey at least a week to make someone
cry. Usually it’s because we can’t read her handwriting—or
understand all the chemistry notes mixed in with the words—and not
while she’s painting our nails. Did she mess up that badly?”
Stella asks with a laugh.

“No. They’re
perfect. Audrey’s perfect.”

“I wouldn’t go that
far,” I say, as I swat my hand at Stella.

“I would,” Reina
tells me, as she comes up and gives me a hug from behind. “I
wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without your help, Aud, and we
both know it.”

I turn slightly from
Jeanne to hug Reina back. We’ve been together since the beginning
of the Society, and she’s more important to me than almost anyone
else on Earth. My family—I won’t say my “real” family,
because Reina and the other women are real to me, too—are the only
ones I would possibly put before her. Possibly, but not likely. I do
need to go see them while I’m here.