He hesitated again then glanced at Candace and left.
Adrienne kept the smile plastered on her face until the door closed behind him before she turned on Candace, hands on her hips.
“You didn’t tell me you knew my daddy!” she exclaimed. “I’m so sick of people lying to me today.”
“I believe in respecting the privacy of others,” Candace said. “Your business with me is between us. My business with your daddy is between him and me. When the time comes for that to change, I wanted him to be the one to talk to you.”
“But you lied to him.”
“So did you.”
Adrienne pursed her lips. Uncertain what to say, she swept aside the curtain and went back to the table. She snatched the paper from Rene.
“Wait, Adrienne,” Candace said, following. “I really do want to help you. I think you need my help.”
“Not anymore. I figured this out,” Adrienne said, waving the paper. She jammed it into her bag, furious at herself for trusting people who didn’t deserve it. Didn’t the cards warn her of that?
But who else could help her?
“You’re upset. I understand. When you’re calm, come back,” Candace said. “Take these with you.” She held out the rock she’d been praying over and a small baggy of herbs. “Drink the tea every morning and keep the rock with you. It’ll prevent the curse from getting worse and gradually remove it.”
Adrienne hesitated then took the items. She placed them in her bag then dropped the cross-body carrier over her head. She grabbed Rene’s shirt, turned and left without speaking.
“You ain’t walking alone,” Rene said firmly, trailing.
“Leave me alone, Rene!” she snapped. She shoved the front door open and paused on the sidewalk, orienting herself.
“So you had a bad day. Don’t be stupid,” he said. He took her arm.
Adrienne shook him off.
Rene snatched her and yanked her in front of him hard enough to jar her out of her swirling emotions.
“You don’t get it, girl,” he warned. “You wanna stay alive, you stop playin’ the fool.” His grip was harder than his gaze, his muscular frame tense enough to scare her. “You got it?”
She nodded.
“You don’t walk nowhere alone and you don’t walk out on me again,” he added.
A dark, haunted emotion she wasn’t able to define crossed his features.
“Ow,” she murmured.
He released her.
“What’s wrong, Rene?” she asked.
“Nothing. Let’s go.” He moved away.
“Rene, I’ve had the worst day ever. Everyone has lied to me or worse! Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” she pushed, refusing to move. “Did you know Candace and my daddy were dating when you took me to her?”
Rene turned, tense once more, and glared at her.
“I can’t trust anyone,” she said, throat tightening. “I’m scared, Rene.”
“Shut up and walk, Adrienne.” His tone was softer. He walked away.
Even her reluctant guardian was hiding something. She sensed it.
The whole world is against me. Defeated, she followed him.
At least she had a new clue about her sister’s journal. She had a piece of the song in her bag. Her eyes settled on Rene, and she trotted forward to draw abreast of him.
“Rene.”
“What.”
“If you can’t get my sister’s journal from Jax, can you copy it?” she asked. “Even if you just take pics of the pages with your phone or whatever.”
He was quiet for a moment, his brooding mood giving her no insight into which way he’d be swayed.
“You just don’t know when to give up,” he said finally.
“Would you give up on Jax?” she challenged.
His jaw clenched. He stopped in place for a moment, and a tortured look crossed his face.
She gazed up at him. Accustomed to him being moody, she was startled to see an emotion that was far more than indecision. Something was wrong, and it wasn’t about Jax and her journal.
“Did you guys get in another fight?” she asked.
He shook his head and started walking once more.
“Rene!” she all but shouted. “Will you help me?”
“I’ll try,” he grumbled. “But you best stop bugging me.”
“Thank you.”
They started down an alley, but stopped. Rene caught her arm and lifted his chin towards the scene in the middle of the alley. A small gathering of gang members were crowded around something or someone.
“You don’t need to see this,” he said and pushed her back to the street.
“See what?” She leaned to see around him.
“They doing what they do.”
She caught a familiar flash of maroon that matched the skirt of her cheer squad she wore. Adrienne hardened, hoping it was Kimmie in the alley, but immediately felt guilty. Even Kimmie didn’t deserved to be messed up by a gang. Adrienne didn’t know what they’d do to her, but she suspected Rene was serious about them killing people. Her daddy seemed to think that was all gangs were good for anyway.
“I think I know her,” she said, tugging free of Rene. She stepped into the alley, trying to make out who the gang members had cornered and were pushing around.
“Not your business.”
“It is!” she insisted. She gasped, catching a flash of a familiar face. “It’s Tara.” She started forward.
“Stop,” Rene grabbed her arm. “The crew will tear you up after they’re done with her.”
“Then stop them.” Adrienne turned to face him. “She’s on the cheer squad.”
“Didn’t they screw you up?”
Adrienne hesitated, thoughts going from Tara’s warning to Jayden. The humiliation and despair she felt hours before fluttered through her.
“It’s still not right to leave her,” she murmured. “Please?”
“You serious?” Rene frowned. “They’re Jax’s boys. You want me to get my ass kicked for some girl who effed you up?”
“I can do it.”
“Stay out of sight.” He pushed her towards the street with another mumble she took to be curse words directed at her. Rene trotted down the alley.
Adrienne did as he said and went to the building on one side, peering around the corner to see into the alley.
Rene said something as he approached. A few of the thugs laughed. Then he grabbed one and smashed him in the face with a fist.
Adrienne gasped and covered her mouth. Rene was strong and tall, but the guy he punched was huge. Another of the gang members shoved him. He shoved back then punched him, too.
Sensing their fun was over, the others broke up. One shoved Tara at Rene, who caught her with one arm. He motioned angrily to the guy on the ground, who talked back, but didn’t fight. He got to his feet and sulked away.
One arm around Tara, Rene walked calmly down the alley towards Adrienne. Dread fluttered in her stomach at the sight of Jayden’s sister. She wondered if Tara came so far just to laugh at her again or to drop another curse on her.
Tara’s hair was mussed, a few of her nails broken. She’d been crying, and her makeup was smeared and one cheek red from someone’s punch. She’d been shoved into a puddle, and her cheer uniform dripped with water.
“Are you okay?” Adrienne asked uncertainly, stepping from the building as they neared.
“I told you to stay out of sight,” Rene snapped.
“They can’t see me.”
“One day, girl, you gonna get your ass kicked, and I’m gonna laugh.”
Tara looked ready to cry.
Rene spun her to face him roughly and took her chin, peering into her face.
She cringed away.
“You fine,” he said, pushing her away.
“It’s okay, Tara.” Adrienne took the girl’s arm. “Rene is … a friend. When he feels like it.”
“What you doing here?” Rene asked Tara gruffly.