have to look at Optimus to know that he had the most stunning smile on his face. It’s like his mood could change the whole feel of a room, that’s just how powerful his energy was.
“Maybe soon, Harlyn. Daddy’s just talking to Chelsea.”
After a few minutes of silence, I felt a tug on my shirt and turned to find the most beautiful little girl standing at my side. Auburn colored hair framed her heart-shaped face that shone brightly up at me like I was her favorite cartoon character. “Are you, Chelsea?”
I couldn’t help but smile as Harlyn’s baby blues glittered. I shot a questioning glance at Optimus. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he nodded, giving me permission to speak with his daughter.
I dropped myself to the floor on my knees and sat back, placing my hands on my lap. “I am. What’s your name?”
A grinned flashed across her face, her smile stunning even with a tooth missing. “My name is Harlyn! That’s my dad, did you know that?” She pointed over her shoulder, but her eyes stayed fixed on me.
I gasped and covered my mouth. “No, I didn’t! That’s kind of cool.”
She nodded enthusiastically and moved a little closer to me and whispered, “He’s the president.”
“What does that mean?” I whispered back.
“It means he gets to boss people around and they have to do what he says.” She rolled her eyes and I held in a laugh. “But not me. Because I’m his daughter. Mommy says I have him wrapped around my little finger, but he’s quite big.”
“He is, isn’t he,” I agreed.
“Will you come and play with us on the playground?”
I smiled at the young girl. “I wish I could, but I’m just saying goodbye. I’m going away to visit a friend for a few days. Maybe we can play when I get back?” I avoided looking up at Op, knowing I would get my escape now.
Harlyn held up her hand. It was in a fist all except for her pinkie finger. “Do you pinkie promise?” I tilted my head at the little girl curiously. “Daddy says you can’t break a pinkie promise. When he visits me he always pinkie promises me that he will come back and he always does.” Harlyn turned her head and grinned up at her dad. She looked at him like he was her hero—I couldn’t blame her, at one point I’d felt the same way.
“I pinkie promise,” I murmured, hooking my little finger around hers.
We smiled at each other for a minute before she jumped up and launched herself into her father’s arms. He caught her with complete ease. “To the playground!”
I pushed myself off the floor as they walked to the door.
“Three days. That’s all you get.” Our eyes met and I could see the warning that was laced in his stare. “You pinkie promised.”
With that, he was gone. His deep voice and the echo of a five-year-old’s giggles moving down the hallway until I could no longer hear them.
So I ran.
“Still making the club whores cry I see.” Sugar leaned against the pole of the swings as I pushed Harlyn gently. I glanced over my shoulder to see Chelsea packing her bag into her car. I turned away before I got the urge to run over and ask her to stay.
It was better this way. If we were being watched then hopefully they would think she was unimportant—letting her leave without someone to watch her.
What she and everyone else didn’t know was that there was someone watching her. Kit had already sent one of his boys, Lift, to tail her all the way to Troy. The kid was good and I knew she’d be safe.
“They know what they’re getting into when they come here.”
“That’s not a ‘kicked puppy’ look. That look is more like a puppy that you took home, played with, named, fed and then threw off a bridge a week later.” I glared at her, but she just stared me down. Sugar was sweet and soft and caring, but the girl was strong.
“It’s complicated,” I muttered as I pushed softly against Harlyn’s back.
I could see her frowning at me through the corner of my eye. She was