The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) by Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot Page A
Authors: Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot
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bastard.”
Emma squeezed the hand around her shoulder as she listened to their plan being solidified once more.
“Then, if he comes into the store, we can call the police for violating the restraining order,” Anna added.
“We also deny that Emma Sampson works here and let him know that Dani is the owner of Ryan’s Books,” Stevie concluded. “Though, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“It’s all we have for now. You be sure to check with your brother on outstanding warrants, and we all need to keep our eyes and ears open.” Dani squeezed Emma’s shoulder in support. “Uncle Sean isn’t here to protect her now, so it’s up to us.”
Chapter Six
A week and a half passed without incident or word from Patrick Sampson, and although attempts to file a restraining order were halted when Emma couldn’t produce a current address for him, Stevie’s brother had come through, finding that a bench warrant had been issued for not checking in with his parole officer. Knowing that he would be arrested when found allowed everyone to rest a bit easier.
Unfortunately, even though there was no physical sign of Patrick Sampson, he was still affecting Emma. Emma had begun to be plagued by nightmares. She needed her sleep and without it was becoming jumpy and moody. The lack of sleep and the constant worry that he’d come back was starting to affect not only those around her, but also her work.
Opening her eyes, Dani yawned. Kissing the top of the Emma’s head as she clung to her in her sleep, Dani allowed her thoughts to wander. Last night had been rough. Emma had nightmares most of the night, and if the clock was right, she’d hardly had five hours of sleep. Dani could relate because she had been plagued by nightmares as long as she could remember. She understood what it was like to wake up, your heart pounding and drenched with sweat. She also knew that sometimes a change in venue could help. As a kid, she always felt safer here with Uncle Sean then at home with her grandparents. Maybe that was what Emma needed as well.
Things had been so busy, and Dani hadn’t had time to return to Chicago. Well, she’d been using the excuse of staying busy to keep pushing it off. Up until now, she hadn’t really known what she wanted to do, but looking down at the redhead tightly wrapped around her suddenly made the decision easy. It was time to go back to Chicago to pack up her condo and make a more permanent home here, with Emma. Yawning again, Dani decided that this would be the perfect weekend to do so. She could use the excuse to pack up, as well as to give Emma the respite she desperately needed. Deciding her early morning phone calls could wait another hour or so, she snuggled back into her pillow and tried to sleep once more.
* * *
Dani returned from her jog and was already showered and dressed before Emma started to stir. Sitting on the bed, she kissed Emma gently on the forehead. “Hey, sleeping beauty, time to get up. It’s 10:00 a.m. already.”
Slowly sitting, Emma rubbed the sleep from her eyes and ran her hands through her hair. “Why didn’t you get me up? We’ll be late for the store.”
Dani smiled as she handed Emma a cup of hot tea. “Don’t worry about it. Will and Anna are covering for us until one.”
“Dani, we don’t need to be gone from the store that long,” Emma protested. “Why on Earth did you do that?”
“Because I’m heading to Chicago tomorrow to pack up my condo and thought maybe you’d like to come along.” Her blue eyes twinkled as Emma playfully slapped her on the arm.
“You know I’d love to come,” Emma answered, gently easing out of the bed. “But I don’t think I need that long to pack my stuff. It’s only a four hour drive.”
“I know,” Dani agreed as Emma sat at the kitchen table. “But I thought you might like to relax just a bit this morning. You had a rough night and deserve a little break before working
Emma squeezed the hand around her shoulder as she listened to their plan being solidified once more.
“Then, if he comes into the store, we can call the police for violating the restraining order,” Anna added.
“We also deny that Emma Sampson works here and let him know that Dani is the owner of Ryan’s Books,” Stevie concluded. “Though, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“It’s all we have for now. You be sure to check with your brother on outstanding warrants, and we all need to keep our eyes and ears open.” Dani squeezed Emma’s shoulder in support. “Uncle Sean isn’t here to protect her now, so it’s up to us.”
Chapter Six
A week and a half passed without incident or word from Patrick Sampson, and although attempts to file a restraining order were halted when Emma couldn’t produce a current address for him, Stevie’s brother had come through, finding that a bench warrant had been issued for not checking in with his parole officer. Knowing that he would be arrested when found allowed everyone to rest a bit easier.
Unfortunately, even though there was no physical sign of Patrick Sampson, he was still affecting Emma. Emma had begun to be plagued by nightmares. She needed her sleep and without it was becoming jumpy and moody. The lack of sleep and the constant worry that he’d come back was starting to affect not only those around her, but also her work.
Opening her eyes, Dani yawned. Kissing the top of the Emma’s head as she clung to her in her sleep, Dani allowed her thoughts to wander. Last night had been rough. Emma had nightmares most of the night, and if the clock was right, she’d hardly had five hours of sleep. Dani could relate because she had been plagued by nightmares as long as she could remember. She understood what it was like to wake up, your heart pounding and drenched with sweat. She also knew that sometimes a change in venue could help. As a kid, she always felt safer here with Uncle Sean then at home with her grandparents. Maybe that was what Emma needed as well.
Things had been so busy, and Dani hadn’t had time to return to Chicago. Well, she’d been using the excuse of staying busy to keep pushing it off. Up until now, she hadn’t really known what she wanted to do, but looking down at the redhead tightly wrapped around her suddenly made the decision easy. It was time to go back to Chicago to pack up her condo and make a more permanent home here, with Emma. Yawning again, Dani decided that this would be the perfect weekend to do so. She could use the excuse to pack up, as well as to give Emma the respite she desperately needed. Deciding her early morning phone calls could wait another hour or so, she snuggled back into her pillow and tried to sleep once more.
* * *
Dani returned from her jog and was already showered and dressed before Emma started to stir. Sitting on the bed, she kissed Emma gently on the forehead. “Hey, sleeping beauty, time to get up. It’s 10:00 a.m. already.”
Slowly sitting, Emma rubbed the sleep from her eyes and ran her hands through her hair. “Why didn’t you get me up? We’ll be late for the store.”
Dani smiled as she handed Emma a cup of hot tea. “Don’t worry about it. Will and Anna are covering for us until one.”
“Dani, we don’t need to be gone from the store that long,” Emma protested. “Why on Earth did you do that?”
“Because I’m heading to Chicago tomorrow to pack up my condo and thought maybe you’d like to come along.” Her blue eyes twinkled as Emma playfully slapped her on the arm.
“You know I’d love to come,” Emma answered, gently easing out of the bed. “But I don’t think I need that long to pack my stuff. It’s only a four hour drive.”
“I know,” Dani agreed as Emma sat at the kitchen table. “But I thought you might like to relax just a bit this morning. You had a rough night and deserve a little break before working
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