“I can barely talk about it with the guys around the house, I think I’d pass out doing a talk show,” I responded. “Five guys and the media has me pictured with all of them.”
“Well, at least I can learn from your mistakes. I’m a nanny in this circle of single dads down in Texas, and they’re all smoking hot, and not mobster hot, sensitive, sweet men who love their children hot.”
“Oh, you’re definitely in trouble,” I said. As I was talking to Jordan, my phone beeped that someone was calling. I looked at my phone and my heart dropped. “Uh oh, Jada’s calling.”
“Ooh, better get it. I’m sure she’s heard the news by now,” Jordan said. “Wish me luck.”
“Don’t go outside,” I said, and then clicked over to the other line. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Jada sounded oddly positive. “Having a tough time are we?”
“I know you must think I’m an idiot,” I began, but Jada started chuckling. “What?”
“Sadie, are you forgetting my situation? I had four lovers on that ranch in Montana,” she said.
I sighed. “I guess that’s true. Things ended up working out for all of you, right?”
“They did,” Jada replied. “Ask mom and dad if you don’t believe me. It had to be going well for me to be willing to tell them about it, although they had it tough enough learning I had four significant others, so they might truly lose their shit now that they know you have five. I’d avoid them for a little bit.”
“I don’t know what to do with all of this media coverage,” I whined.
“Just be patient. Nothing in the news lasts longer than a week anyway,” Jada said. “Believe me, you’ll be yesterday’s news before you know it. Just batten down with your gorgeous guys and wait it out.”
“Really?” I said.
“Trust me on this,” Jada said. “I’ll talk to mom and dad for you, and when this all blows over, you can have a more honest conversation with them. Times have changed, it’s just a little difficult for them to get used to.”
I really did love my sister. “Thanks, Jada.”
“Of course, squirt. I gotta go, but just be safe, and I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
“Okay. Love you,” I said.
She giggled. “Love you too. Bye.”
After talking to Jordan and Jada, I felt much better. I wanted to talk to Dante and let him know that I was okay, so I left my room, for the first time in almost 24 hours, and made my way for his room. I was just about to turn the corner when I heard Apollo.
“Yeah, it’s not good, boss. Four major investors pulled their funding from a few different businesses and so many shareholders have bought out, that the company is going to take a huge hit,” he explained. “We’ve got a few more investors threatening. They don’t like bad publicity.”
Dante sighed, and I hated the sound of defeat in his voice. “I’m not worried.” I could tell that he was. “It’ll pass with time, and I have plenty of money to keep us going until then. Besides, what are undercover businesses for, if not this exact thing?”
I felt horrible.
All of the fallout was because of me. Simply because I was there, Dante was losing millions on his businesses, and it was the above board stuff that didn’t get him shot. Now he was going to have to do more seedy stuff? What if he didn’t survive a gunshot the next time? Maybe I should just go. They weren’t supervising me anymore. I could disappear without them being any the wiser.
I sat there listening to them talk for a while. I couldn’t get over it. What was I thinking? Why would I go out with all of them? Why would I kiss all of them in public places? I was a model. I knew better than anyone how quickly exposure could go south. I’d spent half my career avoiding it.
I bit back emotions as I thought about it. I could go back to a normal life. I could find another job. Even if it wasn’t as a model, with all my experience, I could find something in fashion. And I probably wouldn’t find a guy like Dante, or Kane, Brix, or the twins for that matter, but the world wasn’t entirely devoid of reasonable men. Someone had to come close…
Right?
“Speaking of the underground stuff, there’s already rumblings of some of the underlings trying to use this info to overthrow you,” Asher said.
“Well, we’ll just have to deal with that won’t we?” Dante said. “Do you know who?”
“I have a list going of everything I’ve heard. We could send some worms out to get solid info, or we could just hit the streets oursel–” I entered the room, cutting Asher off. “Sadie.”
“I’m sorry,” I said to Dante.
“Sorry?” Dante questioned.