Free ESCANTA: A James Thomas Novel (The James Thomas Series Book 1) by Brooke Sivendra Page A

moved apartments, and with the impending trial she was still living in a maze of boxes. It didn’t feel like home, and she felt uncomfortable in the space. She hoped it was a temporary measure, and given that she hadn’t received any more notes, she felt more confident, more protected.
     
    Kayla was waiting for her when she arrived and had managed to secure a table in the busy cocktail bar. She sat poised like a true lady with her legs crossed and her cheek resting in the palm of her hand. Mak’s life hadn’t been easy at times, but Kayla’s had been worse. She went through a rough patch, got kicked out of school, got hooked on cocaine, but managed to turn her life around again. Luckily she’d never been arrested during those days, otherwise her legal dreams would never have been realized. They’d lost touch briefly but had reconnected when Kayla had gone into rehab. And they’d spoken nearly every day since.
    “I took the liberty of ordering,” Kayla said, eyeballing Mak’s security.
    “I will be stationed by the bar,” her bodyguard said, and walked off. Mak breathed a sigh of relief.
    “How’s that all going?” Kayla asked with a humored smile.
    “Don’t get me started. He’s driving me nuts. And he’s got as much personality as a piece of cardboard.”
    Kayla burst into laughter, her entire chest shaking as she giggled.
    “Anyway,” Mak continued, “this is my life for the time being so no point giving it much more thought. Let’s talk about something else—anything else, please.”
    “Well, I’ve got news…I’m going home next week. For a few days, maybe less, maybe more, we’ll have to see how that goes.”
    Mak thought the apprehension in Kayla’s voice probably reflected the thoughts in her mind.
    “Wow. That is good news, right?” Mak asked.
    Going home to see your parents should be no big deal, it should be something you look forward to, but Kayla had barely spoken to her parents in years, let alone seen them. The last time she had been at home she was sitting on the front doorstep with a duffel bag of belongings—after they’d kicked her out. They had reason; she’d stolen from them, she’d verbally abused them, and she’d caused a scene in front of her younger siblings. Kayla had since rebuilt her life, but Mak guessed Kayla’s parents were still hurting.
    “It should be, I suppose. I don’t know, Mak, I’m terrified to go back there. The memories…they’re not good.” Kayla wet her lips and averted her glistening eyes.
    Mak reached across the table and squeezed her arm. “Things are different now. You’re different, and you’re healthy and successful. Forgiveness is a long road, right? And it’s taken a long time for your parents to get to this point, so they wouldn’t want you to come home unless they were sure about it.”
    “I know, and logically it makes sense. But there’s still some part of me that is terrified of stepping up to the front door of that home, of not being allowed in again.”
    “That’s not going to happen,” Mak said. “When are you going?” She wished she could go with her, but Mak’s trial aside, this was something Kayla had to do on her own.
    “Next weekend.” Kayla dabbed at the corner of her eye. “Please tell me my mascara hasn’t smudged. I paid a good price for this waterproof shit.”
    “You look as beautiful as the moment I walked in.” Mak beamed a grin so big she felt it stretch her face.
    Kayla scoffed. “Smooth, Mak, smooth. Oh, three o’clock looking fine.”
    Mak’s eyes bulged in surprise: Deacon Thomas.
    “Unbelievable,” Mak muttered. He sat on one of the couches, with a group of four men and, right on cue, as she sat staring at him with her jaw open wide, he looked up.
    “Talk to me, Mak,” Kayla urged.
    “He’s the other owner of the security firm, the one handling Jayce Tohmatsu’s security.”
    “The brother of the guy on your flight, correct?” Kayla said.
    “Correct,” Mak mumbled under her