Sprite

S prite finished a work call with her boss at the accounting firm, and when he asked if she'd be coming back any time soon, she panicked. She kept herself together enough to tell him that she was still on bed rest because her blood pressure was high, and she'd let him know as soon as it was safe for both her and the baby to return to work. She could understand his frustration. She had been out of work now for a while now and there was no telling when they'd be able to go back to Huntsville. All she really was sure of was that until they could prove that Chains was innocent, they would stay put at the safe house.

Chains had helped her set up a little office in the corner of the bedroom, and she had to admit, she loved the quiet space. She didn't have coworkers stopping by her desk to chit-chat or ask her a million questions. Chains knew to give her the privacy that she needed to finish her workload every day, and for that, she was grateful.

He worried that he wouldn't be able to get his job back at the base. He was able to take a leave of absence before the shit hit the fan, but he wasn't able to call in to talk to his commanding officer. If he was arrested for Jake's murder, he'd be court marshaled immediately. Running might have made him look guilty, but it was the only way to keep searching for the real murderer.

Her cell phone rang, startling her from her work. She hadn't given her new number to anyone except her boss. worried about someone being able to trace the call and track her down, but her boss insisted that he have her phone number in case one of her clients needed to reach her. He agreed to take a message, and she called the client back on another burner phone, just to be safe. made up some lie about not wanting anyone to disturb her because it might raise her blood pressure, and he seemed to buy it.

"Hello," she said.

"Hey, honey," her mother whispered.

"Mom, why are you calling me? How did you get this number?" Her mother had written her off the night that she practically out of her trailer. Jake had convinced her mother that he hadn't laid a finger on her and even said that it must have been one of the guys at the bar that beat the hell out of her because she was bruised and bloody when she got home. It made sick that her mother actually believed Jake and not her. How could a mother believe her boyfriend over her own flesh and blood? That was what hurt the most—even more than the bruises and cuts that Jake had left on her face and body. Her mom insisted that she pack her things and leave—even helping her to load up her car. She didn't seem to care where was going to stay. She never asked. Her mom told her not to come back, and that worked for her because she'd never want to go back to a mother who didn't believe her. would never go back to live with Jake either—that was for sure.

"Your very nice boss, down at the accounting firm, gave me your new number. You couldn't even call me to let me know that you were leaving town and changing your number?" she asked.

"Um, I didn't call to give you updates about myself because you kicked me out of your life. You chose to believe Jake over me, and I got your message loud and clear when you tossed my belongings into my truck and told me never to come back," reminded.

"I'm sorry about all that," her mother said. "Jake lied to me, and I should have believed you. I learned my lesson though. After you left, Jake hit me, and I told him to leave."

"When was that, Mom?" asked.

"It was about a month and a half ago," she said. That was also about the time that Jake was murdered and left in the dumpster at Savage Hell for the cops to find. "And then, he was murdered. The police told me that your new boyfriend is their only suspect. Do you know where he is?" her mother asked.

"No," breathed. There was no way that she'd tell her mother that she was living in a safe house with Chains or that she was pregnant with his baby. She had a sinking feeling that her mother knew more about Jake's murder than she was letting on, and if that was the case, she needed to find out just how much her mother knew.

"Well, I was hoping that you did. I know that Jake wasn't the best human being on the planet, but he didn't deserve to end up the way that he did," Her mother insisted. was sure that her mother had lost her mind. He deserved to end up in a dumpster and so much worse.

"He tried to rape me," shouted, "and when I fought to stop him, he punched me in the face, repeatedly. How in the hell can you say that Jake didn't deserve what happened to him. I hope he's rotting in hell," she said.

"You're right," her mother whispered, "I'm sorry that happened to you." was getting whiplash from her mother's mood swings, and she couldn't let her mom off the phone without more information. She knew more than she was sharing.

"I'm sorry that I can't help you find Chains. I haven't heard from him for almost two months now. It's why I left town. I just needed a break," lied.

"Well, I've missed you and would love to see you. How about we meet for lunch at your favorite diner?" That would mean that would have to head back to Huntsville, but it would be worth it. If her mother had information about Jake's murder, it might help to clear Chains' name, and they'd finally be able to go home.

"All right," agreed. "How about tomorrow at noon?" she asked.

"Tomorrow at noon works for me," her mother agreed. "I'll see you then."

"See you then, Mom," breathed. She ended the call and tossed her cell phone onto her desk. Her mother was up to something, she just knew it, and there was no way that would meet her without backup. It was time to tell Chains about her conversation and then get him to take her back to Huntsville. He'd have to lay low while in town, but she was sure that Savage would be able to handle that for them.

"I don't like this," Chains growled. "I don't trust your mother to tell you the truth. Do you think that she's going to share any news she has about Jake's death?" She knew that Chains was right, but she didn't see any other way around it. "There is still time to turn around and go back to the safehouse," he breathed.

"I know that you're nervous about this, but if my mother knows who killed Jake, she might be able to help us clear your name," reminded.

"And why would she do that?" Chains asked. "Can you tell me why she's not a suspect in his murder? She did admit that he hit her once you left."

"Maybe she didn't tell the cops that information," she said. "My mother doesn't trust the police."

"I get that, but I think that someone needs to let the cops know that she's withholding information that might be important to the case," Chains grumbled.

"I'll be wearing a wire and recording our whole conversation. Bowie will hook me up before I go to the diner. He has assured me that I'll be perfectly safe. He and Savage will be just outside if anything happens and will get to me quickly," promised.

"I want to be there too," Chains insisted.

"That's not a good idea," she said. "You can't be out in public. You know that if the police see you, they will lock you up."

"I don't care," he grumbled. "I don't want you going into that diner without me close. This isn't up for discussion," he growled. knew that when fighting with Chains when he dug his heels in, there would be no changing his mind.

"Fine," she agreed, "but, you need to promise me that you'll stay out of sight."

"Deal," Chains agreed, "thank you for not giving me a fight."

barked out her laugh, "Well, I know how stubborn you are, and I'm too tired to fight with you right now. This kid is sucking all the energy out of me."

He reached over and rubbed her growing belly. "That's my boy," he said.

"Or girl," she insisted. They had decided to wait to find out the sex of the baby when he or she was born. She had a feeling that the baby was a boy, but there was no way that she was going to tell Chains that.

"I'm good with whatever," he insisted, but she knew that he secretly wanted a boy. "Just promise me that you won't do anything stupid today, honey. I don't want you putting yourself or the baby in danger."

"I'm sure that my mother won't try to hurt me," she assured. She wasn't sure of anything. Honestly, she never imagined that her mother would pick one of her scumbag boyfriends over her, but she had. "And I don't plan on doing anything stupid, Chains. I promise," she said, holding up her right hand as though swearing an oath.

They pulled into Savage Hell and found Savage and Bowie waiting for them in the back of the parking lot. The plan was that they would get her wired up and then, she'd drive Chain's truck to the diner to meet her mother. Her mom had no idea what kind of vehicle he drove and if asked, she'd lie and tell her that she got a new truck. Her mother had an agenda, and was sure that the last thing she'd notice would be her driving a different vehicle.

She got out and hugged both of the guys. Banshee came running out from the back of the bar and pulled her in for a quick hug. "You're glowing," she said before releasing her.

"Thanks," she said.

Banshee released her and looked her over, "Are you sure that you want to do this, ?" she asked. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do any of this. If Chains was right, and her mother was a suspect in Jake's murder, she might do anything she could to get to Chains, even hurt her own daughter.

"I think that I do," said. "I'm just a bit nervous."

"Rightly so," Banshee said. "I'd be nervous too." was sure that Banshee never got nervous about anything. She usually seemed so sure and in control, but standing next to her right now, she looked a bit worried about . That was one of the things loved most about the Royal Harlots—the women were all close, like family. She had never been with a group of women who loved as hard as the Harlots, and she was sure that she'd never find sisters who would do anything for each other—anything.

"I wish you'd let me go with you," Banshee breathed, "but, I understand you having to do this on your own. But if you need me for any reason, you call, ."

"I promise," she said, pulling Banshee in for another quick hug. "Now, I better get wired up so that I'm not late to meet my mother. She sounded a bit agitated on the phone and I don't want her leaving if I'm not there on time."

"Fair enough," Banshee agreed, releasing . "I'll be here waiting for you to get back. Danger and Phoenix are on their way in too." She wasn't sure why, but felt a bit easier about having to meet her mother knowing that the women from the Harlots would be at the bar waiting for her to return.

"I appreciate that, Banshee," whispered.

"Hey—that's what Harlots do," she said. "We stand by our own, no matter what." knew that to be true. She had only been with the Harlots for a short time now, but they were always helping each other out and today, she was happy to have their support.