Neighbors

Chapter 6

She rolled her eyes and forced back a yawn. Her phone started ringing so she quickly looked around to make sure she wasn't being watched and without looking at the screen she answered "Hey Ky, I can't talk for long, I'm so sorry. Amy called out sick once again yet is posting all over social media that she's at a party so I'm being forced to cover her shift and come in tomorrow also. I know it's my one full day off but don't worry, you can still go hang out with your friends. I'll call the day care in the morning to see if they can take her at short notice. Don't worry about it Kyler, I'll figure it out. I'm so sorry you're having to watch her again."

"Miss Masters—"

She gasped and gulped, "Mr. Blackbourne?"

"You have been up before five in the morning," his voice sent a shiver down her spine yet calmed her at the same time.

"Yes," admitted, "since three thirty."

"That is way too long to be working," he said angrily.

"Well, it's what I have to do to provide for my family," she sighed.

"Isn't there someone else to cover that shift?"

"No one is answering their phones," she said forcing back a yawn, "probably sleeping."

"What time will you be getting off now?" he asked.

"Five," she said typing away at the computer. "Then back up here noon to eight."

"Miss Masters—"

"Sorry customers. Hi, welcome to—" she hung up the phone and quickly dropped it into her pocket.

Finally it was time for her to leave, "I mean it Liza, you better be here at noon," her manager said following her as she walked out to the front of the hotel. "It will not look good for you if—"

"I wonder if the owner of this establishment knows that you are overworking their employees without paying them overtime and trying to force them to come in on their days off without the proper amount of sleep, thus affecting their health physically and mentally?" a deep voice said, making Liza look up in shock and relief at seeing Owen, Sean, North, and Raven standing there with angry looks on their faces. "Shall I make a call?"

"And you are?" her manager asked scoffing.

"Attorney General Owen Blackbourne," he said relishing at her pale at the news then gulp before starting to stammer. "Miss Masters will not be in later today, you will find someone to fill the spot, like I don't know maybe the person that chose social events instead of working. You will also be paying Miss Masters all her missed overtime. And if you are lucky, I will be too busy to be making a phone call later today. Come along, Darling, you need to get home."

"Okay," she said hurrying over to them. Raven wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him without thinking about it. He led her outside and North opened the backseat passenger door for her to get into Owen's car. "Wait, my car?"

"Give me the keys, I'll drive it home for you," North said softly. She handed him her purse and he chuckled, "Sorry Baby but I refuse to go through your purse." She giggled exhaustedly and pulled out her keys. He took them and headed over to her car.

"Rest, Kitten," Raven whispered loudly as he pulled her head onto his shoulder. By the time Owen pulled out onto the street she was fast asleep. Raven smirked and tightened his hold on her. He felt her shivering so he removed his hoodie without waking her and covered her up. She sighed happily and snuggled into him even more, making him smile.

Liza felt herself being moved but she was too exhausted to make herself wake up. She felt herself being pulled away from the warmth and whimpered while trying to cling to it. She heard multiple chuckling then felt fingers run through her hair until she managed to drift back sleep.

When she woke, she got out of bed and stretched, "Kiairi?" She called out as she rubbed her eyes and headed down the hallway. "Kyler?"

"Mommy!" Kiairi called out giggling. "Me pay."

"You're play—" She froze when she lowered her hands and realized that she wasn't in her house.

"Hey, Beautiful," Marc smiled as he climbed the stairs up to her. "Careful, don't want you falling down the stairs and getting hurt."

"Stairs?" She asked and he chuckled softly.

"Not completely awake yet?" He asked and she rubbed her eyes while shaking her head and yawning. "Come on, Beautiful, lets get you some food in that tummy and get you awake."

"Your coffee?" She asked hopefully and he chuckled.

"Of course," he picked her up making her gasp in surprise.

"What? How?" She asked as she yawned again. "Sorry."

"Don't be," he smiled as he carried her down the stairs, "I'm actually shocked you're awake, we figured you would sleep longer."

"Where's my children?" She asked as he sat her down in a chair.

"Kyler is visiting some friends and Little One is in the living room giving her dolls a fashion show with Gabe. Owen sent him a text last night letting him know what happened last night and that you fell asleep in the car so as to not wake Little One, you would stay in our guest room. He told him to come over for breakfast and while they ate, we told him we would watch Little One so he could go hang with his friends. He gave us your key so if we needed anything for her, we could go get it. Now eat."

She beamed when he handed her coffee and he chuckled, loving her get so happy over his coffee.