Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
I read through the reports, and Maya has a stalker that is getting closer and closer as each day goes by. It started with emails, then letters to her PO box, then packages delivered to her home. He broke in and stole her underwear. And this last instance was him trying to break in while she was home. She alerted the police, but they did not catch the guy.
I go through Maya’s personal social media, and there’s not much to it. She doesn’t post anything. Her author social media has some images of her at a signing, but for the most part, she is incognito. I look at her profile page that has all her books listed and download the latest one, thinking I’ll read it if I get time. It’s always good to be able to get in the head of the target, and this could help.
“Is that your lady friend?”
I turn to the little elderly woman next to me. “Excuse me?”
She gestures to the picture on my phone. “Is that your lady friend? Are you on your way to see her?”
I realize that I’ve been staring at the image of Maya for the majority of the flight. I turn off my phone and lean back in my seat. “Uh, yeah, I’m on my way to see her.”
“Well, you two make a beautiful couple,” she says.
Instead of correcting her, I just grunt, “Thank you.”
I’m not sure what it is about Maya Calhoun, but she’s already got me in a lockhold. I pull up my phone and open the book app. As I start to read Maya’s latest bestseller, I get two chapters in, and I’m completely engrossed in the story. It’s a suspense romance, and I’m literally on the edge of my seat as the plane starts to descend.
“Put your seatbelt on, please.”
I do as the stewardess asks and then tuck my head down and keep reading. There’s action, sex, love, and betrayal, and I’m disappointed when I have to stop reading to disembark from the plane. The only bright thing is the fact that I’m about to see Maya in real life, and no matter what happens, no man is going to touch her. No one but me.
2
MAYA
As soon as I hear the special ringtone for my brother, I practically dive across the couch to pick up my phone that’s laying on the coffee table. “Hello. Maverick, is that you?”
“Hey, sis.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. My brother is God knows where, and when he does get to call me, I have to stop everything I’m doing and answer it. “Mav, how are you? You okay?”
There’s loud static on the phone, and I have to piece together what he’s saying. Trying to hide my frustration, I try to answer him as best as I can. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good. I’m okay. I don’t want you worrying about me. Please just be safe.”
More static, but I try to make out what he’s saying. “I am safe. Legend is on his way.”
“What did you say about Legend?”
I’ve heard Maverick mention his best friend plenty of times before, but I’ve never met him.
I press the phone tighter to my ear, but it does nothing to stop the static. “Bodyguards… outside…. I tracked down Legend and he’s on his way… he’ll take care of you.”
I get up from the couch and peek out the windows. What the hell? “Maverick, there are two men on my front porch.”
“They’re Walker’s men. They will stay until Legend gets there.”
“But…”
He’s quick to interrupt me. “Please, just do what I ask. You’re my baby sister and it kills me that I can’t be there to protect you. Let Legend do his thing. You can trust him, he’s the best guy I know.”
“But…”
I don’t get it out before Maverick pleads with me. “Please, Maya, just do as I ask.”
“Maverick, I don’t need a bodyguard. This is getting out of hand.”
“He broke in and stole your underwear,” Maverick practically shouts into the phone.
I wince. Geez, when you say it like that, yeah, it’s creepy. I should never have told my brother about everything, but he caught me at a weak moment. He called just after the stalker had tried to break into my house and the cops got here. I should have known that Maverick wouldn’t have been able to let things just go.
I bite my tongue. I’m very independent, I’ve had to be, but hearing my brother, who is across the ocean, somewhere doing only God knows what, well, I can’t really argue with him. “Fine. I’ll let Legend do his thing.”
“Maya, you can’t just say you agree to shut me up. I’m serious. Whoever this stalker is, he’s dangerous, and he’s getting more dangerous every day.”
I let the blinds flip close and settle back on the couch. He doesn’t have to tell me that the crazy stalker is getting more dangerous. I’m here, living it. I already feel like I’m going crazy, and I don’t have time to deal with this. I have a book that was due to my agent last week. She was able to grant me an extension, but I’m running out of time. I have to do some quick research if I’m going to make this book the bestseller I know it can be.