He'd been calling for months, the gallery and my apartment. He had to call collect and I never accepted the charges. A few months ago, Ralphie received a call, put his hand over the mouthpiece and asked if he should accept but I'd shook my head "no".

At the time Ralphie didn't ask questions now, obviously, he knew.

"Sadie?" my father repeated.

Shirleen and Ava had come up with me. I felt their eyes on me as well as Daisy's. I couldn't do anything, my mind was still shut down.

"Sadie! Jesus! Are you there? I don't have all fucking day."

"Daddy," I whispered.

I hated calling him "Daddy". I always hated it but it was the only thing he allowed.

At my word, the room electrified.

Shirleen's arm shot toward Daisy and I saw her fingers snap repeatedly but Daisy was already digging through her purse. I watched as she pulled out her cell.

"There's talk," my father said in my ear.

"Talk?" I repeated.

"Talk. We'll get to that in a minute. Where have you been and why have you refused my calls?"

I blinked.

Was he nuts? Did I play my role that well that for twenty-nine years he actually thought I was the dutiful daughter? I'd always thought my father was smart (he even told me he was smart, he told me this loads) but it seemed apparent he was pretty fucking dumb.

Daisy jumped off the counter, phone to her ear and as she stepped away Ralphie and Roxie got close.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Visiting days, Sadie. Christ, I have things to go over with you. I've been here for months, there's business to attend to, where the fuck have you been?"

"Working," I replied, wheels had begun to turn in my head as I heard Daisy talking quietly on her cell.

"Working," his voice was terse, angry and disbelieving. "Your father is in prison and you don't..."

My back started to go straight and, as my eyes focused on Ralphie's concerned face, my father's voice kept on in my ear but I didn't hear a word he said.

Something strange was happening in my chest. Something hard and hot was forming there and I realized it was anger.

In a flash, my mind reactivated, I lifted my chin and a New Ice Princess, one I'd never met before, one that had a whole different way of dealing with things, slid with a decisive snap into place.

"Excuse me," I cut into my father talking, my voice dripping icicles.

"What?" he asked.

"I said excuse me. You were talking but I didn't have any interest in what you were saying so I wanted you to stop speaking so I could ask you why you're phoning. I have an opening in a few days and work to do."

My father was silent.

"Hello?" I called.

"Sadie, now's not the time to be funny," he warned.

"I'm not being funny. I'm being perfectly serious. Now tell me, is there something you need or is this a social call?"

"Have you lost your mind?" my father exploded.

"No," I replied shortly.

A brief pause then with soft menace, "It's true. You're fucking him."

I blinked in confusion. "Pardon me?" I asked.

"Chavez. You're fucking Hector Chavez."

I wasn't "fucking" Hector but it was close enough for my body to start shaking.

How could he know?

Obviously word got round, even in prison.

New Ice Princess replied for me, "I can't imagine why that would be any of your business."

"You're joking."

"May I ask, father, why you're phoning when you hear I'm fucking Hector and you didn't phone when I'm sure you probably heard that Ricky Balducci beat me senseless, broke multiple bones and raped me?"

My father displayed a one track mind and his response made my heart squeeze painfully.

"Hector? You call him Hector?"

"Well, I can hardly call out, 'Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez,' when he makes me climax, now can I?" I snapped, New Ice Princess gone, Attitude Sadie in her place and I heard Roxie let out a surprised giggle.

"Sadie, you little "

I broke in before he could finish. "We're done," I snapped. "And I mean that. We're done. Don't call back, don't write and don't come looking for me on that sorry day when they let you out."

With that, I took the phone from my ear (even while he was still talking), I pressed the off button and slammed the phone down on the counter.

My gaze swung around my audience. Uncertain faces watched me, Daisy was back amongst the crowd and all their eyes were on me.

I wanted one of my Ice Princesses, new or old, to come to me.

Instead, Shirleen's hand touched the small of my back. At her touch, I lifted my hands, put them over my face and burst into tears.

Shirleen turned me into her arms and pulled me into her body. "Get it out, child, get it out."

I pressed my face into her shoulder and cried, hard, fierce, body-wracking sobs.

I wanted a "Dad", someone like Tom. Hell, someone like Tex would be fine by me. Both of them cared more that I was raped than my own fucking father did.

And I wanted my Mom back.

"I want my Mom back," I said into Shirleen's shoulder and realized that, somewhere between her pulling me in her arms and that moment, we were joined by the others in a group hug.

"Sh, child," Shirleen said and someone's hand stroked my hair.

"I really hate him," I whispered.

"Sh," Shirleen responded.

The air changed and the change was so strong, my head come up.

The door had opened and Hector was there. He looked about ten times more angry than he did that morning when I'd been stupid and let Ren hold me a shade too long not that I could have even thought that was possible but there it was, written all over him.

Alaskan Hottie was with him.

Hector stalked toward me and the girls and Ralphie disbursed. I stared and wiped my eyes as he crossed the room in long, angry strides.

"What did I do now?" I cried when he was close.

I put my hand up, he walked right into it and his arms went around me.

"I heard the call," he said, looking down at me, face still full of rage.

I blinked (yes, again!). "You did?"

"We bugged your phone."

Of course. They bugged my phone.

"Your father's slime," he continued, his voice vibrating with anger.

I couldn't refute him, he spoke fact.

"You okay?" he asked.

"No," I answered.

His arms got tighter and my hand slid up his chest to his shoulder. My other hand joined it on the opposite side and I tilted my head back further. He watched me a second, that second turned to two then to three.

Then his face lost some of its rage (though, not all) and he promised, "You will be."

My stomach pitched.

His arms got tighter and I watched, fascinated, as the rage disappeared from Mr. Mood Swing's face, warmth replaced it and his head dipped closer.

"Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez?" he teased, grinning.

I closed my eyes.

Please, somebody, kill me.

He gave me a gentle shake.

I opened my eyes.

His mouth went to my ear and he murmured, "I'll look forward to hearing that."

Before I could retort, his head came around, he touched my lips with his, let me go then he was gone.

I stared at the door.

Shirleen appeared at my side. "I tell you, six weeks ago, you asked me to take my pick, I woulda picked Luke. Now I'm thinkin' I'd like me a little piece of that boy."

"Shirleen!" Ava exclaimed on a giggle.

Shirleen looked at Ava. "Your boy's still hot," she assured her.

I looked at Ralphie.

He was smiling at me. I smiled back.

Then I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing.

"So, have you gotten a mi amor yet?" Indy asked, her hip up against her father's kitchen counter, a cup of coffee halfway to her mouth, a dishtowel slung over her shoulder, a grin playing at her lips.

"No," I replied and put the last dried glass away. "But I've had a mi corazn."

"Oo, a mi corazn," Indy smiled.

"What's this?" Ally asked, putting her palms on the counter on either side of her and pulling herself up to sit by Indy.

"Spanish endearments, Sadie's graduated from mamita to mi corazn," Indy told Ally.

"What's that mean?" Roxie asked, coming to the group after putting some leftovers away and closing the fridge with her foot.

"She's gone from 'babe' to 'my heart'," Indy answered.

I saw Ally's dancing eyes moved to me. "Chickie, you are in trouble."

"Tell me about it," I muttered.

They all laughed.