Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 122074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
I had no idea what he was talking about. “What?”
Ashton tilted his head to the side. “I was told Detective Worthing tried to question you at Easter Lanes?”
My body suddenly grew tired. “The ambulance got there first and took me to the hospital.”
“They weren’t at the hospital when I arrived.”
Right. To the hospital, because that made sense how I got here now.
“I guess? I remember talking to Nea and Sloane before I fell asleep. I woke up here, and—” I swallowed my register’s key! I gasped, grabbing for my stomach and looking down. Oh, god. That was in there. “I have a foreign object inside of me.”
“It’ll pass out of you within a day to two days.”
I jerked my head back up. “What does that mean? I’ll—”
His lips thinned again. “You’re going to shit it out. That’s what that means.”
Oooh. That was comforting, but also uncomfortable at the same time. I eyed him warily again. “You got the 411 on me?”
“Your father appointed me in his stead. It’s why they released you to me.”
I shot him a look as those fuzzies in my stomach started to warm up. He and I both knew I got released to his care because of his last name. “What am I doing here? I’d like to go home. I’d like my phone. I’d like to call my staff and make sure everyone and everything is okay.”
He reached behind him and opened a drawer. He lifted my phone out of it and leaned over, putting it on the island and shoving it to me. It glided over to me smoothly. “Your staff is fine, and I have a man at Easter Lanes, running it until you and I have concluded what we need to conclude.”
I started to unlock my phone but I stopped. “You have a man? Easter Lanes is not a part of your family’s business. You have no right to send a man over there, or to pick me up, or to have anything to do with me.”
“Except that’s where you’re wrong. Besides talking about Detective Worthing, that’s the other business you and I have to discuss.”
“What is?”
“Easter Lanes. The bowling alley your father ‘sold’ you.”
“What about it?”
“It wasn’t his to sell.”
CHAPTER SIX
ASHTON
The blood drained from her face and her body jerked before she grabbed the counter to steady herself. “Wha—”
Buzz! Buzz!
I frowned, hearing my door buzzer. My men hadn’t called, and the concierge would never buzz anyone in if they weren’t important to me. Casting her another frown, I went over and pressed the intercom button. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry for the interruption, but a Ms. Montell and Mr. West are here to see—”
I cursed, then hit the speaker button. “Let them up.” As soon as I was done, I went to Molly and ignored how she jumped at my closeness. “You will keep this between us. Got it?”
She frowned, bristling, and I could see the thoughts forming before she opened her mouth. She was going to fight me on this.
“If you want even a shot at getting Easter Lanes to be yours and yours alone, you will follow my lead when Jess and Trace get here.” Her eyes lit up at my offer, and she nodded before cursing and smoothing a hand down her hair.
“I look a mess.”
She looked stunning. “You’re fine.”
Trace knew the code for my door, so I was unsurprised when I heard it open. I braced myself.
They were quiet, but I felt their intensity—or I should say hers, as Jess Montell, the love of Trace’s life, came in.
Her eyes were blazing. I’d expected nothing less and half smirked. “Officer Montell.”
“Jess!” Molly’s delight was evident, but Jess gave her a cursory look. Up and down, before she rounded to me.
I stepped up to meet her, and as she was about to put hands on me, I flashed her a grin. “All her body parts are attached.”
She stopped, holding back. “You took her out of the hospital when she was unconscious? Are you kidding me? Then you smart off to me?”
Molly was frowning.
Trace was studying me over her head.
Jess Montell was in mourning because of her friend’s death, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that there were other reasons for her frostiness, especially toward me. But I meant what I’d said to Trace. I was dedicated to finding Kelly and Justin’s murderer.
As if reading my mind, which he probably did because it was something we did often over the years, Trace gave me another grin before shrugging, but he gave a little nod in Molly’s direction.
Jess had rounded to her, and she was approaching with caution. “How are you feeling, Mols?”
Molly’s eyes jerked to mine over Jess’s head, and they narrowed before she responded. “I’m okay.” She went around Jess, coming to my side, and linked her arm with mine, stepping closer. Fuck. I felt that touch down to my dick. “Thank god Ashton was there to help me out.”