Chapter Twenty Three

ADIAN'S POV

Chubbs ran out of the elevator, only to pause as she turns gazing around, wide eyed.

"Which one?" she's asks, then on an after thought, "are these apartments larger than yours?"

Ignoring her question, I walked up to her door and press the doorbell.

Chubb's, walked in front of me, pushing me to the side.

Standing on the side when the door opened, only to hear Chubbs greet the person. "Mrs.

Peirce?" Chubbs sounds shocked to see Mrs. Peirce.

Chubb's knows who she is and I'm suppose to know her also. I went to stand behind my sister only to see Mrs. Peirce's shocked to see us both.

Mrs. Peirce, opens the door wider to allow us in. "Where's Hailey?" Chubbs asks excited.

Pointing behind her, down the spacious corridor, "she's in there" Mrs. Peirce address Chubb's.

Turning around, Chubbs grab my hand to pull me along behind her. Rounding the corner of the room Mrs. Peirce directed us too, I saw a sad, worried Hailey, tapping her fingers on the coffee mug she held in her hands.

Sensing someone else in the room, Hailey lifted her eyes towards the open doorway, relieve to see us? But her eyes were on me.

Quickly putting her coffee mug down, she ran up to me wrapping her arms around my neck. "Thank you" she whispers softly into my chest. "Please take me away from here" she continues softly, almost pleadingly.

I slowly wrap my arms around her, again feeling an urge to comfort her. She seemed relieved to see me and now she wants me to take her away from here?

I came to take her away but on my terms but she turn the table around on me. Now that she wants to leave, I'm not sure I want her living with me anymore. I do not want to be drawn to her more than I already am.

My life doesn't need this complication and every time she sees me she's going to throw herself into my arms? I refuse to be her anchor,

I hope Chubbs keeps her mouth shut about our being here to invite her over with us. I can feel myself falling in her web! I must at all costs avoid her.

Gently loosening her tight grasp on me, "my sister wanted to see where you lived, so I brought her by because apparently you both have plans for Sundays big game" I explained my reason for visiting.

"What?" I heard Chubb's say looking at me with a tight frown.

Hailey let's me go, "I'm sorry about this" she apologizes with sadness in her now dull eyes.

Turning to Chubb's, "it's lovely to see you again," he says pulling Chubbs in for a hug.

I looked over to see Mrs. Peirce gazing at them with a soft smile and a far off expression on her face. Lifting her eyes, Mrs. Peirce caught me staring at her. She looks at the girls together, then stared at me again, with that same soft smile, nodded, before walking out the room.

I turned to the girls to figure out what she was staring at. Again I see their close resemblance, asking myself the question once again. What am I missing here?

Making a small decision, "Chubbs I have an appointment, would you like to stay here for a bit and I be back in a while to pick you up?" I asked my sister.

Needless to say, she was overjoyed. "Yes, yes" she squeal come over to wrap her arms arms around my waist.

"Is that okay with you?* I asked Hailey.

Nodding, she smiled, her beautiful smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

I'm hungry so I'll leave them to bond and have my lunch in the vehicle and ho to the police station for whatever information I can get on scarface, but I need my lunch.

As I was walking out, Mrs. Peirce walked towards me, " I have prepared lunch, won't you be staying " she says politely.

Still unsure what to make of this woman who clearly said we've never met, but she obviously knew my sister.

"I have an appointment, my sister will remain so I'll be back for her in a little while" I explained, just as politely.

"Okay, let me see you out" she offers, indicating with her hand, that I should lead the way.

Nodding, I started walking way, only to see Hailey from the corner of my eye, staring at me, with a small smile and a haunting look.

I continued walking towards the door, with Mrs. Peirce following closely behind me.

Mrs. Peirce opened the door, as I walked out without either one of saying a word, as she closed the door behind me.

Briskly walking towards my car when my phone rang.

"Jerry" I acknowledged the caller.

"Hey where are you? There's a situation at Sullaknights that I would appreciate your input in" Jerry asks, in a business tone.

Not wanting to put the visit to the police off, "I'm heading to the police station to find out about the scarred guy." I explained to Jerry.

After a slight pause, "meet me in my office, I'll fill you in about him" Jerry says.

So Jerry does know something! Did he also know Hailey before?. Getting into my vehicle, deciding to eat when I get to Sullaknights.

I arrived at his office, curious and angry because there are many hidden secrets that I'm beginning to realize.

Thirty minutes later I arrived at Sullaknights building choosing to park underground.

While exiting my vehicle, with my lunch in hand, I saw Clyde holding the elevator door for me.

"Thanks man" I say as I entered to stand beside him. "Late lunch?" I ask, not as a boss but as a friend.

"Not really, I went out late. The bosses had two back to back meetings, so" he says shrugging his shoulders with a broad grin.

Not in the mood for chit chat. I'm hungry and upset about being in the dark about my family for starters and now my wife.

"Man you should see the new girl in legal. She's even got an office, I just haven't visited her yet. Pascal has been keeping me busy all day, but I'm definitely going to be dropping her off this afternoon" he boasts.

Why's he telling me this? He so confident about his plans for later. "Yeah, I'm happy for you" I say still not interested.

"You should be, I'm what all the ladies here at Sullaknights wants. Tonight's it's Ms. Sullivan and me"