Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Benny won’t be able to do anything.
I clutched my fingers into a tight fist.
I should’ve never let Troy into the apartment.
The door swung open. A chilly wind soared in. A black woman entered with two little kids holding her hand.
Chase stepped in after her, dressed in a leather jacket, jeans, and a dark green shirt. I froze, unable to move or make a sound.
Two men shorter and dressed in designer suits trailed behind him.
I stood from my seat. “Chase, what are you doing here?”
“Tell my lawyers what happened.” Chase clamped his hand on mine. His thumb drew circles on my wrist.
“How did you know I was here?” I asked as he sat next to the seat I’d been in and motioned for me to sit.
“Your guards told me. Now tell my lawyers who was arrested and why.” He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Be honest and don’t leave out any details. They’re here to help.”
“Okay.” I swallowed my fear and described the events from the moment I spotted my naked brother outside the apartment to the instant I began hassling the cops at the station. The shortest lawyer scribbled notes on a notepad. The other pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and went outside.
Chase gripped my hand the whole time.
“Anything else?” they asked.
“No.”
Chase’s lawyer closed his notebook. “It shouldn’t be a problem getting them to drop the assault and possession charges. Judge Ulson works this district. He’s a friend. Although, the judge may have her do some sort of drug addiction program so no one gets suspicious.”
“And her brother’s probation violation?” Chase asked.
The lawyer rubbed the tips of his fingers together with his thumb. “Lots of money.”
“Take care of it. I don’t care about the cost.” Chase rose and looked at me. “We need to talk.”
My mouth dropped open. “You can fix my brother’s violation?”
“Of course.”
I shook my head. “What do I have to do for that? What—”
“Nothing. It sounded like this Noc deserved to get punched in his face. Who cares about him? Your brother shouldn’t suffer from something most men would have done.” Chase gestured for me to stand up. “Please, let’s talk.”
“Where?”
“In my limo.” He gently squeezed my hand.
“Benny is on the way. I should call him.”
The door flung open.
Benny stormed in.
“Oh. There he is. I’ll be right back.” I tried to release Chase’s hand, but he tightened his grip.
“No. I’m tired of searching for you.” Chase guided me back to his side. “I want you next to me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “You said that in India, but then you fled the damn country as soon as I fell asleep.”
Benny approached us. Silver-white hair cropped close to his head made him look older than usual. He’d finally stopped dying his hair black after Vivian and I joked on him about the coloring. He formed his lips into a grim line and shifted his gaze to Chase’s hand around mine.
“I thought I told you to stay away from Jasmine,” Benny said. “Get your hands off her.”
What?
Chase stepped between Benny and me. “I thought I told you I don’t take orders from a two-bit gangster with a law degree.”
“Chase! Don’t say that about him.” I snatched my hand away and edged between them. “Benny, what do you mean you told Chase to stay away from me?”
No one said anything.
They both towered over me at the same height with equally bulky frames. They almost resembled each other. Except where Chase possessed smooth skin on his face, Benny had wrinkles.
Both men stared each other down. Hate and anger stifled the air and I didn’t know why.
Five men marched into the station and positioned themselves behind Benny. Two I recognized. The others didn’t look familiar, but they damn sure gave the impression that they beat people for fun.
“Benny?” I said.
He turned to me.
“Chase’s lawyers are getting Vivian and Troy released.”
“So you can call off your goons,” Chase muttered.
Benny scowled back at Chase. “How much is that going to cost Jasmine?”
This has to end.
“It won’t cost me anything,” I said. “Now let’s just wait for Vivian to get released.”
I signaled to the counter where Chase’s lawyer now stood, laughing with the cop who yelled at me earlier.
Benny returned to glaring at Chase.
“At the Garden Party, I asked you to stay away from Jasmine.” Benny moved around me so quickly I couldn’t get back between them. “How did you get to her?”
Chase gestured to his two bodyguards. “Let’s not make a scene.”
I patted Benny’s shoulder to get his attention. “I’m working as his assistant.”
“The hell you are!” Benny’s voice rose and caught the attention of others in the lobby.
People near us turned our way.
I held my hands out. “But you recommended me for the job.”
“Says who?” Benny asked.
Damn it.
“Lucy,” I mumbled and then rolled my eyes at Chase. “She lied for you?”