Page 63 of Elling & Jackie

Of course, Chief would send Stassi away and keep her out of the investigation. It was the smart thing to do to send her to the hotel and away from Tacoma.

Except, none of them knew that Elling was staying here. None of them knew she was involved with him.

Her throat seized, and she jumped from the chair and went to the fridge and removed a bottle of water, using the task of breaking the seal on the cap and drinking to calm her panic.

She'd warned Jett there was a Federal Agent staying here.

Yesterday, she'd witnessed Elling following Agent Campbell away from the hotel. She flashed back to the first night Elling came and wanted to pay for a room. He'd insisted rather feverously that he needed to stay on the Fourth Floor and even gave Campbell's name before she knew he was an agent.

She'd truly thought he was protecting his own club. That he was here to be a lookout while Slag attended to business.

She choked on the water, coughing loudly. Grabbing onto the counter, she gasped for air.

"Are you okay?" asked Stassi.

She nodded, unable to speak. Elling had used her to get to Brikken.

Everything Chief had warned her about. All his reasons for wanting her to stay on Brikken property and not go out on her own. All his lessons, trying to protect her from heartbreak.

Everything made sense.

"Sis?" Stassi reached her side. "What's wrong?"

She was Brikken down to her core. Rollo's blood flowed through her veins. It was her family in jeopardy. There was only one option.

"I need to call Dad," she whispered, her heart breaking.