Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
He pauses, then says, “And that someone else is me, I take it.”
“Yes.”
“Are you okay? Wait—” His concern turns to wicked suspicion. “Is this for some kind of tryst? A little afternoon delight between you and a mysterious stranger?”
I hold back telling him I’m done with mysterious strangers.
“No,” I say emphatically.
“Does he have a wife? A girlfriend? Is that why neither of you can use your own credit card?”
“There is no one else here but me.”
He goes quiet for a beat.
Then I hear the concern in his voice again. “What’s going on, baby doll? Should I be worried about you? Oh my God, is someone forcing you to make this call? Say the kitty litter is in the pantry if you want me to call the police.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Henry is an avid armchair detective. He watches so much Crime Channel he could probably commit the perfect murder.
But then the memory of Lev shooting the man on his knees in front of him flashes through my mind, and a cold shiver rolls through me. In my old life, murder was a foreign concept. In this new one, it’s a fucking regular occurrence.
“I’m fine, I promise, but I’ll explain it all to you later.”
He doesn’t sound happy, but he doesn’t push me. “Okay, let me get my credit card.”
After Henry gives the lady behind the counter his card details, she slides a key across to me. My room is at the far end of the motel and only accessible via the parking lot.
As I make my way along the path, I see a lady waiting in the doorway next to mine. A man pulls up in a car in front of her room and walks over.
“Hey, baby, you Candy Kane?”
“Yeah, sugar. You my three o’clock?”
“That’s me, baby, Mr. Three O’clock.” He chuckles.
“Well, best you get your cute ass inside, baby.”
They disappear behind a closed door just as I pass by, and I hear laughter and then Candy Kane saying, “Oh, you’re a keen one, aren’t you, baby? Come here, big boy, and give that thing to mama.”
I unlock the door to my room and am immediately hit with the odor of stale carpet, musty window furnishings, and Lysol.
Closing the door behind me, I sit down on the bed and stare out at the neon vacancy sign outside my room.
This is my life now.
This is how it has to be.
I look at the business card in my hand.
Agent Garrett Michaels.
Pulling my phone out of my jeans pocket, I ignore my protesting heart and dial his number.
20
BROOKE
“Okay, I need to know what the hell is going on,” Henry says on the other end of the phone.
After hanging up from my conversation with Agent Michaels just a few seconds ago, it’s nice to hear Henry’s friendly voice. Even if it is demanding and dripping with concern.
“Let me start by saying you have nothing to worry about,” I lie.
Because let’s face it, right now, I have a bratva pakhan looking for me, and who knows what he will do if he finds me.
“When people say not to worry, it usually means the opposite,” Henry replies.
“Maybe, but Henry, this is really important, and I want you to listen to me carefully. I need you to pack a bag and go and stay in a hotel for a couple of nights.”
“What, why?” He sounds worried. “You’re scaring me, Brooke. You need to tell me what is happening right now.”
I gnaw on my lip. I’ve gone over how this conversation might go a hundred times in my head, and each time, it ends with Henry panicking and me hating myself for putting my friend in possible danger. It doesn’t take a genius to predict Lev will send someone to my apartment, and I don’t want them finding Henry when they get there.
I let out a rough breath and then tell Henry the well-crafted story I made up for my friends. How I met Lev on the plane on my way to my honeymoon for one and the amazing night we shared together in New York City. How he turned out to be my boss, and that, at first, we tried to keep things professional, but one thing led to another, and we ended up embarking on a red-hot love affair. But now that love affair has burned out, and I need space from the powerful CEO as I try to figure out what I do next.
“There’s a lot for me to unpack there, and you better believe we’re going to circle back to each point, especially how you never told me… your closest male friend … that you had a one-night stand in New York City. Does Elsa know?” He gasps when I don’t answer immediately. “You told her and not me? I’m hurt, but I love you, and you’re letting me stay in your apartment, so I will forgive you and move on. But just so you know, I’m terribly hurt and scarred.” He lets out a dramatic exhale. “Does Elsa know what’s been happening while you’ve been in New York City?”