partners.”
Jack seemed amused by that, but didn’t remark on it. “We’ll come with you. I’m sure Elle already dropped a lot of information on you, and I’m sorry but we’re going to have to add to that load. We need to know how much you’ve already been told so we can fill you in on the rest.”
“Works for me. Come on, it’s not far.”
They took the twenty minute walk in silence. Once the noise of Bourbon Street faded away behind them, the silence became stifling, but Addison didn’t know what to say. Should she ask questions? And then to ask what? It unnerved her, being near them. Micah was just plain intimidating, and she couldn’t ignore the way he’d stared at her before, as if she were some gross thing he wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. While Jack seemed less intimidating than his partner, he set her even more on edge. He seemed too astute, his stare far too penetrating. As she led them, she could feel his eyes on the back of her head, as though he could see right through her. It made her feel even more exposed than dancing half-naked on a stage in a crowded club ever could.
They reached her building and she led the guys up the wrought-iron stairs to the second floor. Shame heated her cheeks as she swung the door open to reveal her cramped, one-bedroom apartment. The building sat in a seedy area of town, far from being the nicest on the block. She used every spare penny she earned for her education, and didn’t have the time or money to make the place appear homey. Her walls looked stark with peeling, grayish paint, the little furniture she owned old and worn. No, her place wasn’t Buckingham Palace, but it was hers; she kept it clean, and unlike some of the other girls who lived in her building, she didn’t earn the money to pay for it on her back.
The dull yellow bulb hanging over her tiny kitchen table flickered on as she hit the switch and ushered them inside.
“I don’t keep a lot of food in the house, but I’ve got water, tea, and a couple of Cokes if you want something to drink,” she offered as she dropped her purse onto the coffee table.
“We’re fine, thanks,” Jack insisted as he stood aside to let Micah in. The large man had to turn sideways to get his oversized shoulders through the doorway. His gaze wandered the room with curiosity as he took in his surroundings.
“Not what I expected,” he murmured.
Addison narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jack glared at Micah, as well. “Seriously, man, if you’re going to be an ass, you can go. I got this.”
“No, it’s okay,” she said. “I’m used to it. To answer your inevitable questions, Micah, I live this way because almost all of my tips go toward paying my college tuition. Sorry if you were expecting red walls, a stripper pole, and a stocked bar, but I don’t bring my work home with me.”
Micah didn’t answer her. He plopped down onto the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.
Jack sighed. “Don’t mind him. He’s cranky tonight for reasons we don’t need to get into.”
Addison turned her back to the gigantic Cajun sitting on her couch and went to the refrigerator. Retrieving a bottle of water, she motioned for Jack to join her at the table—the same table where she and Elle had sat the night before while the angel turned her world upside down.
“Elle came to me last night, pretty much the same way you two dropped in on me,” she began as she twisted the top off her water. After taking a swig, she continued. “The things she told me answered so many questions I had … about myself, about my father. I wanted to believe she was some crazy nut job, but it all made sense once I heard her out. Too coincidental not to be true.”
Jack nodded. “I know what you mean. When my parents first told me about all this, I believed them without a doubt. For the most part because so many of the things going on around me seemed to make so much more sense. I’m glad you
Jack seemed amused by that, but didn’t remark on it. “We’ll come with you. I’m sure Elle already dropped a lot of information on you, and I’m sorry but we’re going to have to add to that load. We need to know how much you’ve already been told so we can fill you in on the rest.”
“Works for me. Come on, it’s not far.”
They took the twenty minute walk in silence. Once the noise of Bourbon Street faded away behind them, the silence became stifling, but Addison didn’t know what to say. Should she ask questions? And then to ask what? It unnerved her, being near them. Micah was just plain intimidating, and she couldn’t ignore the way he’d stared at her before, as if she were some gross thing he wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. While Jack seemed less intimidating than his partner, he set her even more on edge. He seemed too astute, his stare far too penetrating. As she led them, she could feel his eyes on the back of her head, as though he could see right through her. It made her feel even more exposed than dancing half-naked on a stage in a crowded club ever could.
They reached her building and she led the guys up the wrought-iron stairs to the second floor. Shame heated her cheeks as she swung the door open to reveal her cramped, one-bedroom apartment. The building sat in a seedy area of town, far from being the nicest on the block. She used every spare penny she earned for her education, and didn’t have the time or money to make the place appear homey. Her walls looked stark with peeling, grayish paint, the little furniture she owned old and worn. No, her place wasn’t Buckingham Palace, but it was hers; she kept it clean, and unlike some of the other girls who lived in her building, she didn’t earn the money to pay for it on her back.
The dull yellow bulb hanging over her tiny kitchen table flickered on as she hit the switch and ushered them inside.
“I don’t keep a lot of food in the house, but I’ve got water, tea, and a couple of Cokes if you want something to drink,” she offered as she dropped her purse onto the coffee table.
“We’re fine, thanks,” Jack insisted as he stood aside to let Micah in. The large man had to turn sideways to get his oversized shoulders through the doorway. His gaze wandered the room with curiosity as he took in his surroundings.
“Not what I expected,” he murmured.
Addison narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jack glared at Micah, as well. “Seriously, man, if you’re going to be an ass, you can go. I got this.”
“No, it’s okay,” she said. “I’m used to it. To answer your inevitable questions, Micah, I live this way because almost all of my tips go toward paying my college tuition. Sorry if you were expecting red walls, a stripper pole, and a stocked bar, but I don’t bring my work home with me.”
Micah didn’t answer her. He plopped down onto the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.
Jack sighed. “Don’t mind him. He’s cranky tonight for reasons we don’t need to get into.”
Addison turned her back to the gigantic Cajun sitting on her couch and went to the refrigerator. Retrieving a bottle of water, she motioned for Jack to join her at the table—the same table where she and Elle had sat the night before while the angel turned her world upside down.
“Elle came to me last night, pretty much the same way you two dropped in on me,” she began as she twisted the top off her water. After taking a swig, she continued. “The things she told me answered so many questions I had … about myself, about my father. I wanted to believe she was some crazy nut job, but it all made sense once I heard her out. Too coincidental not to be true.”
Jack nodded. “I know what you mean. When my parents first told me about all this, I believed them without a doubt. For the most part because so many of the things going on around me seemed to make so much more sense. I’m glad you
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