TEN

The beginning of woes.

Lolita kept an eye on Hayden while she called Jarrod on the phone. Hopefully he was settled in his hotel room and awake, not sleeping or in business meetings. He was usually in business meetings when she called, but she felt like today would be different. She needed him to come to the phone, to send his brother away.

"Hey babe," he answered on the third ring. "I'm kinda busy, but I can spare a minute or two. Everything. alright there?"

"Your brother is here," she announced.

It was better to let it all out in the beginning rather than exchanging pleasantries then dropping the bomb later. She imagined that Jarrod was gripping his phone tightly at her announcement.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

"I said your brother is here. He showed up this morning and refused to leave. I've tried all I could and my efforts are abortive. Listen, can you speak to him and tell him to leave?"

"Talk about our love life too," Hayden chimed from the background.

"Is he the one talki