
Previous Chapters
Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SEVEN
Sunday morning — 6:25 A.M.
“You don’t mind?” Aden asked.
They were riding the Hotel Teatro elevator down to the lobby.
“No, I’ll get the car,” Sandy said. “You have to be there by eight, right?”
“Sorry about that,” he said.
“I’m not,” Sandy said. “Last night was…”
Unable to find the right word, Sandy sighed.
“Yeah,” he said. “Totally worth today’s bullshit.”
The elevator stopped at the Lobby. Taking her hand, they walked to the front desk.
“I’ll be right there,” Aden said.
Nodding, Sandy walked through the lobby. She gave their valet ticket to the doorman. Because Aden was on house arrest, he needed to check in and check out of every location. He would check out of the hotel and check in with the Department of Corrections. He would then be given an hour of travel time. He had to get Sandy home and get back to the Department of Corrections by eight. If he was late, even one minute, they could arrest him and he’d go back to
prison. Neither Aden nor Sandy wanted to take that risk. Sandy gave him a little wave and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
The morning was cool but not cold. The air was moist with spring expectation. The street was deserted and quiet. A cab slowed by in front of her to see if she needed a ride. Sandy blushed. Did she look like a prostitute after a long night? She pulled her overcoat close and turned away from the street.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of teenage boys moving in her direction. Tracking their motion, Sandy turned to her face them. The boys were laughing and weaving down the street. They looked as if they’d been out all night. One boy pointed, said something then laughed.
Sandy blushed. This had happened before. Strangers knew exactly who she was from all the press about her father and Aden. She was about to go back into the hotel when she heard a boy call her name. Turning toward the sound, she saw the boys push at each other. While the one boy slowed, the group of jeering boys walked by.
“Sandy!” the boy said.
Taking a martial arts stance, Sandy turned toward the sound.
[...]
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