Page 84 of Jackal

Jackal came in, followed by Eagle and Falcon. They went to the edge of the room and grabbed some of the long tables that were setup for gifts, linens and all. Jackal gave a nod of his head, and I knew it was time.

“Hey, I can’t find my bag. I think it left it outside. Come with me,” I said, folding the fan and putting it in my pocket before reaching my hands out for Daisy and Lacy.

Mama Hen was wrangling Katie, Penny, and Jeannie. I wasn’t sure of her plan but hopefully my assigned ladies didn’t second guess me.

Luckily, they didn’t seem to wonder why I needed assistance. It was the girl-code. We traveled in packs, like wolves. Or in this case, a flock of birds. One needs to go to the bathroom? We all go to the bathroom. One needs to check the car for something? We all go to the car.

Hawk ran ahead. “Let me get that door. Ladies, hold one second for these tables, okay?”

I halted our progress, waiting for them to carry the tables outside, then pulled Daisy and Lacy out once Hawk waved me through.

“You look dashing, Mr. President,” I said, trying to keep the vibe light.

“You ladies look elegant. Especially the bride,” Hawk said with a wink.

“Hey,” Eagle barked. “You may be the president, but it’s my special fucking day and she’s mine.”

We all giggled as we headed toward the car. I had a moment of panic when I saw three limos.Which one do I climb in?

The guys were carrying the tables like they needed to move them, but didn’t know where. They were shielding us.

My eyes darted from windshield to windshield, but I couldn’t see inside any of them. I looked up and Jackal tipped his chin at one of them, so I nodded and pulled my friends that way.

Opening the door, I looked around, then said, “Weird. It was right here.”

“Is this the right one?” Daisy asked.

I climbed inside then called out, “Hey, come here. They left champagne in here.”

Suddenly, Lacy, then Daisy, followed by Penny, Katie, Jeannie, and Mama Hen all climbed inside.

Mama Hen pulled the door closed. “Champagne, you say?”

Trying to force a mischievous smile, I pulled the bottle out of the ice. “These are some nice limos,” I said. Everyone grabbed the plastic flutes, and I filled them halfway, then dropped the empty bottle in the ice bucket.

Mama Hen held up her drink. “To Lacy. For being such an amazing young lady, a fighter, and for knowing when to be flexible.”

Jeannie and Penny looked at each other with furrowed brows, but everyone else clinked their faux glasses then took a sip.

I was still sipping when the engine started.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“They know we’re in here, right?” Katie asked.

Mama Hen and I locked eyes, and I assumed she would take over. But the window separating the front from the extended back lowered and a man spoke.

“Ladies, we just have to take a little ride.” Petrov’s light but unmistakable accent rolled through the car. “There’s another bottle in the console. Have a drink and enjoy.”

Jeannie, Penny, and Katie looked like deer in headlights, but Lacy and Daisy were oddly calm. I reached a hand over andsqueezed Lacy’s knee. “You okay?”

She nodded, knocking back the rest of her drink. “Yeah, but grab that other bottle, please.”

My brow cocked, but I opened the console and found the chilled bottle. Once I opened it, I poured everyone except Mama Hen a little more.

As we slowly exited the long driveway back to the main road, I stared curiously at my friends.

Daisy seemed nervous, but not because we left. Her eyes went everywhere but on me.

---