“She said she will stay since you needed to leave and that Bond thinks we need to get off the streets.”
“Are you taking me to the hotel with the troupe?” Sabrina asked. “I could slip in before Yury sees me.”
“Do you really want to go back?” Murphy turned in the seat. “You don’t have to go back.”
“What else is there to do?” Sabrina looked to Murphy. “I only have a visa to visit for a short time.”
“First, decide if you want to go back, really want to go back,” I said, looking out the window. “Is it worth it?”
“Worth it?” Sabrina sighed. “I’ve spent my whole life preparing, away from my family and missing everything, just for this.”
“Is it worth it now that you have it?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I love dancing, but Yury makes it miserable.” She leaned her head back on the seat. “If only I could have it without him.”
“And if you can’t? Would you leave it all behind?”
She kept her head back with her eyes closed so long I thought she’d fallen asleep. My cell vibrated with texts from my buddies and my brother, Sawyer. I’d already spent too much time on this. How could I have not after witnessing Yury and all his fury? Murphy was speaking quietly with Sabrina, so I answered a few of the many text messages.
“Where are you?”
“Sorry, got tied up at the theatre. I should be able to meet soon,”I replied.
“If it isn’t in the next thirty minutes, I’m heading home.”
“I’ll be there, man. Order me some food.”
“I’m not your servant, Mr. Hawthorne.”
“Knock it off and get me some wings.”
We arrived at the penthouse before I could get back to Sawyer. The doorman escorted the girls out. I followed behind slowly, knowing I had to leave.
“Murphy, now that you guys are safely here, I need to get going,” I said from outside the elevator. “Sabrina, think about what you want to do while you are here safely.”
“Cota, you’re going out instead of helping us?” Murphy pouted. “What if we need you?”
“You never need anyone, Murph. I’ll call you tomorrow. Sabrina, get some rest.” I turned and went back to the limo.
“Sorry I didn’t text sooner. I was helping Murphy.”I texted Sawyer.
“When are you coming here?”
“I’m still trying to come in a week. Make sure your jet is available.”
“It’s already fueled up. Did you decide to work with Murphy instead of what you really want?”
“Aunt Victoria said if I showed I was serious she would help me convince Dad.”
“Not a bad idea. Just be a good boy and don’t party so much. That’ll show Dad.”
“Speaking of partying, I just got to the bar to meet up with the guys. I’ll text you later in the week.”
The wings were on the table and still hot when I got there. The guys were mad but got over it. They complained the rest of the evening about my skipping out on boys’ night out, although boys’ night out was every night with these guys and they didn’t understand that I was wanting to move forward now that I’d graduated from college. My cell vibrated in my pocket.
“Cota, come by Murphy’s penthouse in the morning. I have an idea that I believe will help you convince the family you’re ready,”Aunt Victoria texted.
ChapterSeventeen