Page 12 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Oh hell no, we’re not talking about me again, nor am I going to let you take us down some weird conversational bunny trail. You called for a reason, so tell me what it is. I have a reception I need to get to. So tell me what’s going on, girlfriend.”
“It’s my mom,” Amy said quietly.
Dammit.
Lark could hear the dejection in her friend’s voice. Patty Linden had a hell of a lot to answer for. It took years for Amy to develop any kind of self-esteem after living with her mother’s emotional and sometimes physical abuse, but for the most part, Amy was past that.
“Please tell me it was only a phone call,” Lark pleaded.
When Amy didn’t answer, Lark knew it was a visit.
“Why’d you go over there? What’s wrong?”
“I got suckered. She said she was babysitting my cousin’s kids and she needed help. I should have known there wasn’t a chance in hell that Carla would have left Jim and John with her. When I got to Mom’s place she was higher than a kite and wanting money, of course.”
“Of course she was. You didn’t give her any, did you?”
“It was awful, Lark. She had a knife and used it on me.” Lark could hear the anguish in her friend’s voice.
“I had to call the cops. She totally took me by surprise.”
“What do you mean she used it on you? How bad are you hurt? What hospital are you at? I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Lark started her car, trying to think how long it would take to get to Baltimore from Washington D.C.
Amy gave a wet laugh. “And that’s why you’re my best friend. That was three days ago. She nicked me on my outer thigh. They stitched me up.”
“How many stitches?” Lark demanded to know.
Amy took a while to answer. Finally, she said, “Twenty-seven.”
“Goddammit!” Lark yelled. “You should have called me before you even called the cops!” “Chill, Lark. It’s okay, Carla’s been babysitting me, I got kiddy cuddle time, and now I’m home. I was hoping I could see you tomorrow, cause I knew you were in town.”
“You’re seeing me tonight.” Lark glanced down at the cocktail dress she was wearing. Fuck it, Riya would understand if she didn’t make it to see her acceptance speech.
“No, I’m not. I know you want to spend time with Riya and her husband. I already took a pain pill and I’m going to be tired in about sixty seconds, and asleep ten minutes from now. So tomorrow, girly. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“So, in other words, you played me.”
“Yeppers. But Idowant to see you tomorrow. I could use a hug.”
“I’m bringing breakfast.”
“I’m counting on it,” Amy yawned.
Lark tapped her steering wheel after Amy hung up. She picked up her phone and called Candy again. She didn’t answer. What in the hell was going on? She and Candy had a pact; they both wanted to see those men at Sanofi taken down. Why wasn’t she answering?
“Candy, it’s me, Lark. Call me when you get this message. We need to talk about what you told me last week—it doesn’t check out. I know something’s wrong. You know you can trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m on your side in this thing. Call me.”
Lark hung up the phone. She really hoped the woman would get back to her soon.
* * *
Lark walkedinto the bar of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco before the festivities were due to start. She knew exactly where she wanted to sit since she’d been there before; far back corner, in the shadows, where she could watch people coming in.
She almost missed a step in her glittery high silver heels when she saw Kostya Barona in her spot. What were the chances that she’d just been thinking about him two hours ago, and there he was? She should go say hello, but she couldn’t. If it had been one of the other SEALs she’d worked with in Afghanistan, she would have, but not Kostya. She changed course and headed to the one high chair that was open at the bar.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked as he placed a napkin in front of her.
