Run To You Read Online Free PDF

want to talk to her about? What could they possibly have to say to each other? Their father had loved Sadie. Sadie was the golden-haired golden girl. Stella was the dark-haired dirty secret.
    “Sadie would like to know if you are open to speaking with her. She’d like to contact you.”
    “I don’t—” She lifted a hand and dropped it back into her lap. Old feelings of rejection and the ache of wanting tumbled in her stomach and tangled around her heart. Emotions she thought she’d buried long ago. “On the phone?”
    “Yes.”
    Her sister wanted to call her. She didn’t know how she felt about that. Part of her wanted to tell her sister to go to hell and stay out of her life. The other part wanted . . . What? To at long last hear her sister’s voice? “I don’t know.” She forced herself to look up at the man across the table from her. She didn’t know him. Didn’t even know his name, and yet he’d turned her world sideways and she felt like she was sliding off. “Does she want me to give you my phone number?”
    “I have your number.” He set his fork on the empty plate and drained his coffee. “I know your work schedule, driver’s license and car tag numbers. How many parking, speeding, and various moving violation tickets you’ve had in the past ten years. I know how many times you’ve appeared in court, and your last four known addresses.” He set the mug on the table and reached for his hat. “I know all that without really digging too deep . . .”
    “How?”
    He adjusted the hat on his head a few times. “Stealthy ninja secrets I learned in security school.” He stood and pulled out his wallet. “Call the middle number when you make up your mind. Leave a message and I’ll let Sadie know your decision.” He slid a business card toward her, then threw money on the table.
    She didn’t know what to do. “What if . . .” She shook her head. She would not voice her deepest fear. Not even to herself. Especially not to this hard-eyed stranger.
    “Talk to your sister. Don’t talk to her. I don’t care one way or the other. I told Vince I’d find you and I did. Once I hear from you, I’m out of it.” Then he walked away, and she raised her gaze to his broad shoulders. Within a few long strides, he moved out the front doors and disappeared into the darkness.
    Stella lifted a hand from her lap and picked up the card. Black, of course, with bold silver print. “Junger Security and Logistics Inc.” appeared in the middle of the card with three numbers below: office, cell, and fax. She pressed the pad of her thumb into the card’s sharp corner. She concentrated on the pressure and pinpoint sting. It was too much. Tonight had been too much. Ricky’s slimy antics and Joe punching Ricky in the head. She didn’t have a job now, and she didn’t know when she would get another. Oh, she could probably sling drinks in a dive bar, but the tips weren’t as good as in South Beach. If she didn’t hurry and get a job, she’d lose her tiny apartment. True, it wasn’t much, but it was currently home. There was money in her trust fund account from Clive Hollowell, but that money had never been hers and had always caused more problems than it had solved.
    She took a deep breath and placed a hand on her bare throat. Too much. Tonight was way too much to handle. Ricky. Her job.
    Sadie. Did she dare open that door?
    “Can I get you anything else,” the waitress asked as she took the empty plate and mug from across the table.
    “No. Thank you.” Stella grabbed her Amy bouffant and stuffed it in her backpack. She rose and looked at the card in her hand. If she left it on the table, the choice would end right now. She wouldn’t have to think about it. She wished she could talk to her mother. Not that Marisol gave good advice, but sometimes it helped Stella to talk about things out loud. Sometimes she needed to vocalize her options and possible outcomes to get it all straight in her own head.
    The