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Chapter 38
Dani
Ilook out the window from the backseat, staring at the waving and screaming crowd as our car slowly rolls out of the LAX parking lot.
“Roxie! Roll down your window!”
“Tell us what happened, Roxie!”
“How did it feel getting shot?!”
“Damn vultures…” My father groans from the seat beside me. “Don’t worry, Roxie. We’ll get you inside before they snap a single photo. I won’t have you in a sling all over the damn internet.”
“It’s okay, Dad.”
“This is a nightmare,” he continues. “I’m getting you home and you’re going to stay there until you’re completely healed and your hair grows back. Lena’s waiting at the house with a stylist so we can do something about the color. Oh—” He reaches into his bag and pulls out a black DVD case. “The producer sent over a screener. She wants you to watch it tonight and get back to her before the studio rubber stamps the print.”
I take the case and toss it into my purse. “Okay.”
“Hopefully, Bruckberg will agree to a house call…” He reaches into his pocket for his phone. “Damn stepbrother of yours ruining everything, as usual.”
I watch the world roll by my window. “He saved my life, Dad. Yours, too.”
“Yeah, yeah…” he murmurs. He holds his phone to his ear. “Yeah, hi. This is Bennett Roberts. I’m returning a call… Why? I was in fucking Iowa, that’s why…”
I block out his voice as the city passes by. You’d think he’d give me more than a week off after getting shot, but I guess that’s asking a little too much.
“Yes, I’ll hold…” Dad scoffs to himself. “Remind me to find you a new bodyguard and to get a proper background check done this time. We’re gonna be working out of the house for a while because that prick burned my damn office down. Also, there’s…”
I ignore him as the pink neon sign comes into view around the corner.
Fawn’s Pawn.
I lean forward in my seat to get the driver’s attention. “Excuse me. Pull in here, please.”
“Umm, Rox?” Dad says. “What are you doing?”
The car rolls to a stop in the small parking lot. “I just have to make a quick stop,” I say, grabbing my purse and stepping outside.
“No, you don’t—” He stops and speaks into the phone. “Yes, Mr. Bruckberg. I’m here—”
I slam the door behind me and walk quickly toward the shop.
Caleb grins at me from across the counter. “Of all the pawn shops, in all the towns, in all the world… she walks into mine.”
“Hey, Caleb…” I greet. “How are you?”
She raises a brow at me but keeps her smile. “Better than you, I’d wager…” Her eyes dip down. “How’s the arm?”
I jiggle it slightly in the sling and a twinge of pain tickles my nerves. “Drugs help.”
“That’s my motto,” she jokes. “Looks like our boy is still quite the shot.”
“Have you talked to him at all?”
She pauses and drags her teeth along her pink lips. “Briefly,” she answers. “From what I gathered, he’s not looking to talk to anybody much right now.”
My eyes drop to the counter. “I hoped I wasn’t included in that.”
