I looked at Vi as she stood up, coming toward me, and I had to smile because it was sort of true. Jersey had created a superhero for her comics based on Violet, and there was so much of that fictional character in the real woman. Once she’d found out what was going on, she hadn’t backed down once. She’d gone into the lion’s den to fetch Jada. She’d thrown bleach in Ken’Ichi’s face to help them escape, and tonight, she’d eluded him with a branch and a Hansel and Gretel routine.
“Here she is. Give my brother and that niece of mine a hug for me,” I said as I handed the phone to Violet.
She took it and went into the hallway.
I sat down at Jada’s bedside, exhaustion filling me again. I didn’t know the last time I hadn’t felt exhausted. Jada squeezed my hand.
“Thank you for not letting him hurt her,” she said.
I nodded, a lump collecting in my throat.
“So, what science were you two geeking out over?” I asked, changing the subject in order to keep my emotions in check.
“Violet was doing all the geeking. I’m bringing sophistication and charm to the scenario,” she said.
“Are you thinking about going into business together for real?” I asked.
“Yep. About time this flaky socialite found a real cause, don’t you think?”
“You were never flaky, Jada.”
She looked away. “I’m done letting my father’s choices define me.”
Both of us had done things in our pasts we weren’t proud of, but I was glad we were both on the other side of that now. I was glad we could move forward with something we were passionate about. I looked out at Violet spinning in circles as she talked with Jersey.
Full of life. Violet had always been full of animated energy.
“Go,” Jada said softly.
“What?” I asked.
“Take her home, make love to her, and then sleep for ten days. You both need it.”
“We do.” I nodded. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’m proud of you.”
She needed to hear it as much as I did. Her eyes filled with tears the same as mine, and she hit me in the arm for it.
“Ouch,” I said because she’d landed her soft punch right on the stitches.
She laughed. “Sorry.”
I smiled at her and headed to the door.
I swung Violet into my arms, honeymoon-style, grabbing for my phone at the same time. She giggled and yelled my name. “Sorry, Jers, we gotta go,” I said and hung up the phone.
I walked with Violet squirming in my embrace toward the door.
“What are you doing?” she laughed.
“Taking you to bed.”
Her squirms stopped.
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “I’m under strict instructions to not leave it for days,” I told her. “I think you should make sure I listen to those orders.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my jaw.