Chapter 56


    It’s answered quickly, but by Jake instead of Emma, and my stomach drops.


    “Sophie? Don’t hang up.” He sounds worried, that familiar deep voice knocks me sideways, not sure


    what to say, as it’s not who I expected.


    “I thought I would get Ems, Jake … I.....” …. I hesitate, losing all courage and hoping Jake isn’t about to


    gomanding godfather on me. He isid back and fun until he is pissed, and then Jake is a scary


    ass mofo.


    “She’s napping, Mimmo. Sophs, honey, just tell us where you are. Your parents are frantic, and we


    have all been out looking for you.” Jake is being gentle, unusual for the bossy cyclone he normally is,


    but then Emma has been rubbing off on him for years.


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    “I came to the city, I’m with friends and I’m safe. I just need a little headspace to sort this out on my


    own. I didn’t mean to scare anyone, Jake. I’m sorry.” I let it out fast, voice trembling and hands shaking.


    My stomach doing the rhumba. I know by now everyone will know exactly why I ran; my parents will


    have told them about the ns to lock me up and have me packed off to solitary confinement. Jake


    sighs heavily.


    “Are you going to tell me which friends and where exactly?” He asks pointedly. That edgy tone I know


    so well and have always loved him for.


    “Don’t ask me that, I know only too well what you’re like. I need a little time. Tell my folks I’m okay,


    really. I’m not partying or being stupid. I need a little space and time, and then I’lle back. I have


    real ns this time, stuff to make my life better, and none of it involves getting drunk or high.” I


    emphasize thetter with sarcasm, chewing my lip now, the little voices of my favorite little people in


    the background behind Jake make me smile, and then frown. I miss them all already and the ever-


    present doubts rear up again.


    “I’ll be in the city tomorrow, Sophs. At leaste meet me so I can see for myself that you really are


    okay. I can send a car for you toe to my office, or we can meet for lunch.”


    “Jake, please don’t. I know only too well you would have your driver kidnap me and trundle me home. I


    know you, remember.” I giggle through a sudden onught of tears. Laughing at the man I know is


    more than capable. He once rescued me from an existence that was barely a life, and he would do it


    more forcefully if he thinks it’s what I need. Jake will always have a special ce in my heart, alongside


    Emma, as they’re the ones who gave me the Huntsbergers and the means to escape horrendous


    abuse, both physically and mentally. I owe both of them more than this past year. It doesn’t mean I trust


    him not to roll me up in a bag and drag me home though.


    “Emma will never forgive me if I don’t see you for myself. At least think about it. I’ll be at Carrero House


    all day for meetings, just show up on the sixty-fifth at any time and I’ll drop everything.” Jake is back to


    gentle mode, trying to coax me and not push for once. Even though I know I won’t, I know he’ll keep


    asking if I say no.


    “Maybe. We’ll see.” I smile sadly to myself. “Look, Jake, I need to go. I’m tired and I’m tucking myself


    into bed for an early night, I promise. I’m staying put, and tomorrow I have ces to go to collect some


    information. I’m thinking of looking into schools or something like that. I’m tired of free falling. Tell


    Emma I’m doing okay, and I’ll call her soon.”


    Jake sighs again, only this time more from defeat.


    “Okay, kiddo. Promise me you will at least call me again so we can talk more about all of this. Keep


    your phone on this time; there are lots of people going crazy to get in touch with you, even if it’s only


    the odd text to Emma, to let them all know you’re breathing. You owe them that at least.”


    “I will. I’ll talk to you in a day or two, I promise. Please, just ask them to give me some time first. I’ll


    keep it on, but I’m not ready to take a hundred hostile calls.” I slide down in bed, wriggling under the


    covers as the wave of tiredness hits harder, all this emotional angsttely and the broken sleep and


    hangovers are killing me.


    “I’ll do my best. Tomorrow, Sophs … Carrero House. I’ll be there all day.” He repeats firmly and I sigh.


    “I know, I know. I’ll think about it. Get off the phone. I really am tired and in bed already.” I smile with


    affection as I picture the frown and huffy re he’s probably giving me, that stubborn, green, fixated


    boyish scowl.


    “Okay. Sleep then. But I mean it. Goodnight, kiddo. We all love you.”


    I disconnect before he does. Chucking it aside and sliding down to getfy in the huge king-size bed,


    yawning and stretching outzily, feeling lighter now I know they will get the message that I’m okay.


    Feeling better because I talked to him and not Emma after all. He still has the same ability as Arrick to


    make things feel less messy and somehow okay. I guess because I know the force he can be, that he


    will appease my parents a little and will always be a phone call away. One Carrero brother I can still


    count on anyway.


    Tiredness looks to ruin my reading ns, and I settle down on my side, heavinessing over me


    immediately.