Billie Bossa Nova

54.

Her last desperate call was in the form of a grumpy redhead who had no interests in saving her from trouble that she put herself in. Although, unfortunately for him, nor did he have a choice. He may have shot her various questions as to what she was doing in Rivera's household with only a day before she would leave for Paris and two after having been abducted by Kayden. Billie wouldn't give him any solid replies, telling him that it wasn't important at the moment.

She was sitting on the couch of the maid's common room, her feet kicked up on the coffee table. Shark was walking around on said coffee table, sniffing and licking Billie's toes through her heel sandals. Billie should have pulled away and found a way a better way to entertain him, however, she was so stressed about the whole thing that she could only stare at the ceiling searching aimlessly for a way to both be there for Kai and avoid her death.

It was pointless.

Finneas would arrive in far more than ten minutes and soon, Kai would come looking for her. She understood why he was so concerned with her roaming around on her own after what happened at the tournament and Adan having held her at gunpoint in front of him, but it didn't make things any less difficult.

Billie jumped off her seat when the door swung open. Her heart lurched in her chest, going to a breaking relief when Jasmine appeared at the door.

Seeing her startled state, the young lady chuckled, "I'm sorry, did I frighten you?"

"A little," Billie sighed. That could have been any one of Rivera's henchmen, looking for her.

"I'm actually glad I found you."

Billie frowned. "You were looking for me?"

Jasmine shook her head no. She shut the door and walked in, explaining, "I was looking for a maid, but I was also wondering where you are. After what Julie said...I just wanted to know how you were doing."

"It's not that big a deal. I think I understand where she's coming from."

"She cares an awful lot about him. What happened with Cordelia...Julianna didn't like it at all. And Kai still doesn't think it was bad, which is what sets her off the most."

"He doesn't like talking about it, does he?"

Jasmine shook her head. "He won't even mention it. I'm shocked you know."

"I caught them," Billie admitted. "Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have known."

Jasmine gave her this frown, one that equated to both confusion and shock. "What do you mean caught them? Cordelia promised to never go near Kai after we all found out."

Billie rose her eyebrows. "Oh." Shit. "Well, speaking of Kai, could you text him and let him know I'm with you? He's a little-"

"Annoying? Overprotective? I know it's one of those. And not a little, a lot." Jasmine chuckled when Billie grinned at this. She has dimples, Billie noted. Ones that made her entire face glow when she smiled. Then, she pulled her phone out and typed into it. "There. Done. I also told him to quit getting on your nerves before I run away with you. That should shut him up for a good hour or so?"

Billie smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"All good. I get it, we're a big family. Even I need space from us sometimes. But I will ask you to cut him a little slack. I don't think he can help himself. He loves harder than he makes it look."

Billie only nodded her head in response, her attention drifting back to Shark on the coffee table. Jasmine, seeming not to like the silence too much, broke it as soon as it came.

"It's nearly eight PM. Julianna and Kai are going to start their song tribute. We should go out and watch."

Billie tensed. Looked at the time. Wondered desperately where the hell Finneas was. Then, with heavy dread, she nodded her head. "Okay."