Read Online Highways & Hostages by Jax Abbey - Free Book Online

and leave ’em” philosophy.
    “Tsk, tsk,” Gloria chastised. “You should never your put work before your home life. But I know you’ll work it out; you’re such a smart boy.”
    “Thanks, Gram.”
    “What about your job? You said your boss was considering you for a promotion to Vice President of Acquisitions?”
    Finn sighed. He needed to start jotting down his lies on sticky notes to keep his stories straight. “That fell through. Things have been a little…crazy…at work lately,” Finn explained. “But I think he’ll be reconsidering soon.”
    “Well, Jacob, I want you to know how incredibly proud of you I am,” Gloria gushed. “Promotion or no promotion, you are doing wonderful things. Your Pop Pop would be proud of you too.”
    Finn immediately reached for his dog tags, his eyes prickling with unshed tears. Only his grandmother had this effect on him. “Gram, stop.”
    “I mean, you’re doing so well for yourself, and you still remember your little old grandma from time to time.”
    “You’re all I have left; I would never forget you. Did you get the check I sent last week?”
    “Yes,” Gloria replied. “And I told you I don’t need anything else; you’re already paying my rent. Save your money so you can buy that girlfriend of yours a nice rock.”
    “Gram—”
    “I won’t be around forever, Jacob. I want to know that someone is taking care of you,” Gloria cut in.
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “I know, but sometimes you need to take a break and let someone else care for you.”
    “I’ll take that into consideration,” Finn promised. “I have to go now—I’ve got a big meeting tomorrow and I need to do some research. I love you.”
    “I love you too, son. Promise me you’ll call again soon!”
    “I will, Grammy. Bye.”
    Finn clicked off the call and put his phone back into his pocket. He leaned his elbows on the balcony railing and dropped his head into his hands. He preferred to ask forgiveness rather than permission, but this time he would cover all his bases.
    “God, I don’t know if You really exist or not. But if so, You’ve probably already given up on me. If You are listening…I just want to say I’m sorry for lying to my grandmother, and what I’m about to embark on. Please, just take care of my Gram. Um…amen.” Finn stood up and glanced around, waiting for a sign that God was listening, or that lightning was about to strike him where he stood on the balcony. When nothing happened after a few moments, he went back inside.

SUNDAY
    ..................

STELLA, 8:06 P.M.
    “Alright, Bert, my last table just left,” Stella announced happily. She untied her apron and hung it up on a peg across from her boss’s office.
    Bert leaned out his office door, too lazy to get up from his rolling chair. “Good work, Stella. I wish all of my employees were as dedicated as you.”
    “Well, now I’ve got a wedding to pay for, so I need all the hours I can get.”
    Bert grunted as he repositioned himself in the chair. “That man better take good care of you, or I’ll come after him myself.”
    Stella hugged Bert’s thick neck. In the two years she had been working at the Leaky Stein, Bert had taken on the role of father figure in her life. “I’ll tell him you said that.” She planted a fat kiss on his cheek and Bert’s color rose.
    “After all, can’t have someone carting off my best waitress,” he blustered, quickly falling back into his usual role of curmudgeonly dictator.
    “Of course, that’s all it is,” she said with a smile. “See you tomorrow, Bert.”
    Stella exited the bar through the door next to the office and made her way through the parking lot. Preoccupied with searching for her keys in her large purse, she didn’t see the man coming around the side of the building.
    “Hi,” he said with an awkward wave.
    Stella jumped and her keys fell from her fingers. It was Blondie, alone again, without Mr. Hot Stuff. She bent to retrieve the