“Probably best if you start looking for work elsewhere.”
“I understand, thanks for everything.”
Thanks for everything? Thanks for what? Thanks for treating me like dirt when I worked my ass off for you? The words remained trapped inside, buried deep. Just like they always did.
Jacey turned away in a daze. What the hell was she going to do now? She didn’t have near enough money saved for when the baby came. She couldn’t sign up for any government assistance programs because of all the paperwork she’d have to fill out. That would be a target on her back that Stephan couldn’t miss.
She bit her lip to hold in her sobs.
“Jacey! Jacey, wait up!” She turned to find Frankie running toward her.
The other woman stopped when she got close. “Jeez, girl, you’re gonna give me a heart attack,” she said, running her hand back and forth over her face. “How can you walk so fast with those short legs?”
“Jimmy let me go,” Jacey said in a daze.
Frankie scowled. “I know. I hope you gave him an earful. That bastard.”
Jacey shrugged. “He needed the work for his niece.”
“His niece is a fat, lazy slob with the attention span of a two year old. Jimmy needs his head examined and you should have told him off for treating you like dirt. Manners are well and good, sweetheart, but sometimes you just got to let it rip. Otherwise your insides will get eaten away at with all the stress.”
Jacey nodded. She was right. It wasn’t anything Cady hadn’t been trying to teach her. To speak her mind. To stand up for herself.
“Here, this is for you.” Frankie handed her an envelope.
Jacey took it. “What’s this?” She opened it up, her jaw dropping. Quickly, she thrust it back at Frankie. “I can’t take this.”
“Sure you can. It’s my tips for the week and I want you to have them.”
“Frankie, no, you need this.”
Frankie cupped her cheeks. “Not as much as you do, honey. Now, you come back and let me know that you’re doing okay. Promise.”
Tears filled her eyes at the older woman’s kindness. “I promise.”
***
Derrick climbed into the backseat of his town car after greeting Robert. Exhaustion washed over him. He’d been away five days, but it felt like a month. He was growing old. He hadn’t slept well, either, which didn’t help. He’d told himself it was because of the unknown surroundings, however he was a seasoned traveller and had never once been homesick.
No, the real reason he’d had trouble sleeping was because he’d been plagued with dreams about Jacey. Her touch, her smell, the little noises she made when she came. He had barely managed to push her out of his mind in order to get some work done, but during the evenings she snuck into his head, tormenting him.
He should have gotten her phone number. He’d spent endless hours wondering if she was okay, if she was safe. The area she lived in wasn’t that bad, but she’d have been a lot safer in his house. Robert could have driven her to and from work and Derrick could have called her each night. Why the hell hadn’t he insisted she stay there?
Because she’d have run a mile in the other direction and he knew it.
He glanced at his watch. It was early, she’d still be working her shift at the diner.
“Robert, change of plans. I feel like having breakfast.” He gave his driver directions to the diner. Not like he was going to get any sleep until he’d seen her anyway.
Chapter Nine
“What do you mean she’s not here?” Derrick asked with a frown. “Is it her day off?”
The overweight waitress, who couldn’t been older than eighteen or nineteen, smacked some gum as she stared at him in boredom. She looked him up and down as though assessing him. Suddenly, she straightened.
“She got fired,” the girl said. Chew, smack. Chew, smack. She reached out a hand, touching his chest. “But if you’re looking for a good time, I can help ya.”
Derrick barely held in a shudder of disgust. Fired? From what he’d observed, Jacey was a well-liked, efficient waitress.
Wasn’t the end of the world, though. He didn’t particularly like her being on her feet all day.
But he was sure she was devastated. And scared. He needed to find her.
“Can you give me her address?” It was probably against the rules, but he figured this kid was too dumb to know that.
“Her address?” she said slowly, reconfirming his view on her intelligence.
“Yes, I’m a friend. I know she lives in one of the apartments a few doors down, I just can’t remember which one,” he lied.
The girl let out a snort then started laughing. “Dude, don’t know what sort of ‘friend’ you are, but that Jacey didn’t live in no apartment. She’s homeless, man. That’s why my uncle could let her go, cause she was a cash job.”
Derrick gaped at her, unable to control his jaw which had dropped open. Homeless? No way. He would know if she was homeless. There was no way that he had left the diner every day to go home to his nice, warm house while she went to a shelter or worse yet, slept outside. There was no way that he had dropped her off here the other morning while she had nowhere to go.
“Sit down before you fall down.” The older woman he’d seen a few times stood in front of him. She gave him a prod and he sat on the seat behind him. “Go get some work done, you idiot,” she barked at the girl.
The other waitress glared at her. “Shut up, old woman. My uncle owns this joint.”
“Your uncle would kick your ass to the curb long before he’d think about firing me, girl. Go find something to do.” The waitress smacked her gum as she turned away with a huff. “Stupid girl,” Frankie muttered. Then she looked at him, her gaze shrewd.
“You want some coffee? You’re looking pretty pale.”
“No thanks, ma’am,” he said politely, his mind still reeling.
“Please, don’t call me ma’am, it makes me feel old. Frankie’s my name.”
“Was she lying?” he demanded.
Frankie sighed and shook her head, her tight curls barely even bouncing with the movement. “I wish I could say the little cow was spreading lies, but unfortunately it’s true.”
“She’s homeless,” he whispered. “Why didn’t she tell me? I could have helped her.”
“Jacey is a proud woman. She didn’t want any hand-outs. She was working to make a better life for herself. Well, she was until that little cow talked her uncle into hiring her.” She gestured over toward where Jimmy’s niece was currently flirting with an overweight man in a suit that was bursting at the seams.
“I have to find her.” Determination filled him. No way was she spending another night on the streets.
Frankie nodded, a look of relief entering her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you to return. I knew she wasn’t just a fling to you, even if Jacey probably thinks she was.”
Had she really thought that? Why hadn’t he made things clearer to her?
“Any idea where I’ll find her?”
Frankie nodded. “I’ll write down the address of the shelter I think she uses most. It’s not far from here. But she won’t be there until tonight and if she’s not there then, well, it’s probably like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Derrick let out a deep breath, not sure how he was going to manage to wait until tonight, and if she wasn’t there…
His stomach gurgled, making him feel ill. He would find her. He had too. He wasn’t sure his sanity could survive the night thinking about her out there, alone and unprotected.
***
“Look, you have to tell me if you’ve seen her. Is she here?” Derrick said with frustration.
The woman behind the counter eyed him suspiciously. “Actually, sir, I don’t have to tell you anything. I think it might be best if you left.”
Derrick ran his hand through his hair. He had never felt so desperate or so out of control of a situation in his life.
“I just want to
Derrick could hear his voice rising with agitation, but couldn’t calm himself down. Someone here knew her and he wasn’t giving up until he found her.
“Sir, I am not at liberty to share anything about the people who use this shelter. If she’s such a good friend, I’m sure she will be in contact. Now, please leave.”
“Listen, lady, I have a lot of money, do I need to come back with my check book?”
Her gaze went frosty. “Leave, now. Before I call the police.”
Knowing he was now doing more harm than good, Derrick turned and walked out of the shelter.
Frustration and fear grew. What was he going to do now?
After leaving the diner, he’d driven over to the shelter to find it closed until evening. He’d then headed home to shower and change. He hadn’t been able to sleep or eat. Instead he’d done some research on homeless shelters in the city, something that to his shame, he’d never really paid much attention to.
But it was a very real problem. And his Jacey, his sweet, delicate Jacey was one of the faceless one of the homeless. He just couldn’t believe it. Finally, unable to sit still, he’d gotten into his car and driven around the streets of Austin until the shelter opened.
Part of him had still hoped that it was all a misunderstanding. That she worked there during the evenings and that’s why Frankie had seen her walk into the place.
But he knew he was grasping at straws.
Moving toward his car, he opened the door, wondering what to do next.
“Hey you, rich guy!”
Derrick ignored the voice yelling out.
“Are you looking for Jacey or not?”
Derrick froze then turned, shutting his car door. A greasy-looking guy wearing a hoodie and track pants stood on the sideway, looking at him with calculating eyes. His long hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He could do with a shave and a shower or two.
“What did you say?” Derrick asked.
“My name’s Ronald. I heard you tell that bitch inside that you was lookin’ for Jacey. She stays here a lot.”
“Is she there now?” Derrick asked urgently.
The other man shook his head. “Haven’t seen her. But I could let you know when she is here. For a price, of course.”
Of course. Not that Derrick cared.
He nodded. “Hundred dollars if you call me as soon as you see her.”
The guy snorted and shook his head. “Hundred bucks upfront. Five hundred when I call you.”
“All right.” Derrick grabbed his wallet and drew out a hundred dollar bill. “Give me your cell and I’ll put my number in.” This could all be a trick, but right now he didn’t care. He was desperate enough to try anything.
The man snorted. “Do I look like I carry around a cell phone?”
Derrick narrowed his gaze. “Just how were you going to call me?”
“I’ll use the phone in there.” The man nodded his greasy head toward the shelter.
“Not good enough. I’ll get you a phone. Meet me back here in an hour.”
After buying a cheap throwaway cell phone, he returned to meet up with Ronald. Then Derrick spent most of the night driving around the streets, looking for Jacey. By 2 a.m. his vision was blurring. He knew he had to go home and get some sleep before he became a hazard on the road.
Bloody hell, where was she?
***
Jacey shivered beneath the thin blanket she had covering her. It wasn’t that cold, yet she couldn’t stop shaking. Please, don’t let me be getting sick. Please.
She’d never had the most robust health, but she really couldn’t afford to get sick now. She swallowed, her throat aching. Jacey rolled over on the small cot. She’d chosen a different shelter tonight, needing to get away from Ronald and his unwanted attention. But although she had protection from the elements, it just didn’t seem to be enough to shake off this chill she’d developed.
She coughed into the pillow, hoping not to wake anyone around her. The cough was rough and crackly and she sniffed as she felt her nose run. This wasn’t good. Jacey had spent the last two days searching for a job. Perhaps she’d overdone things, but she was desperate. She didn’t have nearly enough money saved.
Her stomach cramped, stress making her feel ill. This wasn’t good for the baby or her, but she had no choice but to get up in the morning and start searching again. With a sigh, Jacey tried to relax, knowing she needed sleep.
A vision of Derrick entered her mind. She wondered if he was back from his trip yet. Had he been thinking about her? She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. The feel of his arms around her, how safe he made her feel, how easily he turned her on.
Jacey shook, only this time it had nothing to do with feeling ill, no the heat rushing through her blood was due to the memory of Derrick’s mouth on her pussy, licking her clit.
It was going to be a long, long night.
***
Derrick glanced down at his phone as it buzzed. As soon as he saw the number on the screen, he jumped to his feet, not caring that he was in the middle of a meeting.
“I have to take this, excuse me,” he managed to say as he walked swiftly out of the double doors.
“Ronald, you’ve seen her?”
“Yeah, just caught sight of her on Lavaca between 5th and 6th.”
“Follow her,” Derrick said urgently. “I’m on my way.”
“That’ll cost you extra,” Ronald replied.
“I don’t care. Just don’t lose her.” Derrick said as he hung up and ran out of the building sliding his cell phone in his pants pocket.
He pulled up to the curb and saw Ronald leaning against a crosswalk sign.
“Where is she?” Derrick asked as he climbed out of the car.
“About a block ahead of us,” Ronald said.
Derrick started to take off, when the other man grabbed his arm.
“Hey, where’s my money?”
With a mutter of impatience, Derrick grabbed his wallet from his pocket and thrust some bills toward the other man, not looking back as he raced down the block, his heart pounding.
He came to a standstill as he saw her. She was walking slowly along the sidewalk.
Thank God.
Relief almost brought him to his knees.
Then he noticed how she was walking unsteadily. She fell to one knee. His stomach dropped as he raced toward her. Had she tripped? Was she hurt?
“Jacey! Jacey?” He knelt beside her on the hard pavement, ignoring the people around him as he clasped her cheeks between his hands to raise her face. Shit, she was burning up.
“Oh hell, you’re sick.” Standing, he scooped her up into his arms. Turning, he carried her toward his car.
“Derrick?” she murmured. “What’s going on?”
“Shh, baby. Just relax, I’m going to take care of you.” He let her legs drift down as he reached into his pocket for his keys and unlocked his car. Opening the passenger door, he picked her back up and placed her inside.
“Derrick, this isn’t a good idea,” she said tiredly, opening her eyes to stare up at him as he buckled her in.
He brushed her hair off her face, worried about how pale she was.
“What’s not a good idea is you wandering the streets when you’re obviously burning up with fever.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a cold.” A cough wracked her body and he winced at the wheezing sound as she gasped for breath. Leaning her forward, he rubbed her back.
“Come on, baby. Breathe, just breathe for me. Good girl. Now you just sit back and rest while I get you to the hospital.”
He shut her door and ran around to the driver’s side.
“Hospital?” she murmured. “No hospital…can’t afford it.”
“Don’t you worry about it. I’ll take care of it. Just like I’m going to take care of you.”
Reaching over with one hand, he squeezed her thigh gently.
Despite the fact that he was worried about her health, a surge of relief and satisfaction filled him. He intended that nothing would happen to her again.
***
Derrick watched as the doctor examined Jacey. The nurse had already taken her vitals, and changed her into a hideous hospital gown. He’d lied and told them he was her fiancé. Although they’d given her ring less finger a glance, they hadn’t questioned him.
People normally didn’t.
“Well?” he asked impatiently as the doctor pulled his stethoscope back and the nurse helped Jacey lie back on the bed.
“Sounds like bronchitis, but we’ll need to get an x-ray to rule out pneumonia.”
“No…no x-ray,” Jacey said quietly, opening her eyes.
“Jacey, it’s okay.” Derrick grabbed her hand, wanting to reassure her.
“No x-ray, it’s not safe for the baby.”
The doctor looked up from where he was writing on a clipboard.
“You’re pregnant?” He looked to Derrick for confirmation. Derrick scrambled to keep the shock from his face. Being pregnant was something he should know… as her fiancé.
“Yes,” he said. “She’s pregnant.”
“In that case, x-rays are out. How far along are you?”
“Umm, nearly 12 weeks,” she replied.
The doctor wrote it down. “I think we better keep you in for observation, just overnight.”
“Whatever you think necessary, doctor,” Derrick answered.
Chapter Ten
Jacey half-listened as the nurse went through her prescriptions, as well as some instructions for her care. Derrick appeared to be hanging onto every word.
Everything leading up to her being here was still a bit of a blur. How had Derrick found her? Was it just a coincidence? Jacey looked around her. How had she ended up in a private room? She barely had enough money to cover the prescriptions, let alone the hospital bill.
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