Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 202770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1014(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 676(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 202770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1014(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 676(@300wpm)
He doesn’t agree or disagree. He doesn’t even comment. He simply takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Be careful,” he repeats. “Call me if you need me. I’m going to a couple of meetings, but nothing I won’t end for you.”
Protectiveness radiates from him, the kind you don’t just hear, but feel. It’s another something that I’ve never felt that from anyone in my life, even Chance, if I’m honest. “I’ll be fine. I have Savage, too. I’ll call him if I need help and text you so I won’t interrupt your meetings. I’ll see you soon?”
“The minute you’re free, baby.” He leans into my ear again. “And I already can’t wait.” He pulls back and slides my briefcase onto my shoulder. “Go inside so I know you’re safe.”
I turn, walking toward the door, but dread fills me at what is before me, and I find that I want to turn around and walk back toward Jax, but that’s not an option. I need to know what this is all about. I need answers. And so, I keep moving forward and enter the building, waving goodbye to Jax, and heading toward the elevator. Once I’m in the car, my mind shifts back to Jax’s accusations about Chance. Did Chance know about York and he didn’t check on me? And if so, how would he know? That doesn’t feel right. York is somehow up to no good, no good that I now really, truly, fear links to Jax and his brother. But if Jax is right, if my brother knew that York was at my apartment, does that mean that he’s involved, too?
The elevator door opens and Chance is standing there waiting on me.
Chapter thirty-eight
Emma
Istep out of the elevator to join Chance in the hallway. “You’re starting to seem like my stalker brother, which would be a great title for a Lifetime movie.”
“Marion’s already here,” he says. “She’s waiting in the conference room.”
“Why is she here at all?”
He actually looks irritated by the question. “She’s our largest corporate customer. Why else?”
“The morning after York breaks into my apartment?” I challenge.
“York is not a part of Marion’s business. He runs his own company. And you’re letting Jax North get into your head and that’s dangerous. He clearly thinks we fucked over his brother. He’s trying to fuck you to fuck us.”
I suck in a breath, stunned. “You think he’s fucking me for revenge? Because he can’t possibly want me for anything but that or money?” Anger unfurls in me and I try to turn away, wanting out of this hallway.
Chance catches my arm. I face off with him. “I need to put up my stuff before the meeting and we have security cameras. Do you really want us fighting to be on that footage?”
He grimaces and lets me go. I charge into my office, flip on the light, and walk to my desk. I used to love this office, with the cute gray couches with red accent pillows, and big windows overlooking the ocean. Now it feels like a prison.
“Come on, Bird Dog,” Chance says, joining me and shutting the door. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
I shove my purse in my drawer. “Why were you even in his face down there, Chance?” I drop my briefcase on the desk.
He crosses to stand in front of my desk and me. “Because my gut told me he was trouble.” He leans on the desk. “This is about him, Emma. There is more going on here than you know.”
“You mean it’s about his brother who killed himself after dad went at him? Yes. I know. Jax told me all about it and obviously, you know, and yet you told me to ask him about the castle.”
“No one, dad included, made Hunter kill himself. That’s nonsense. I had no clue Jax thought such nonsense or I wouldn’t have told you to feel him out on the sale of the castle.”
“Why couldn’t you just show up for coffee, Chance? Why didn’t you talk to him then? I gave you your meeting. You could have talked to him about anything over coffee. He expected it.”
“Because I thought he’d walk away, but clearly that’s not what he’s doing.”
“You thought he’d fuck me, have that in his pocket, and move on? And you were okay with that? But now it’s gone too far. I’ve fucked him too many times?” I don’t give him time to reply. If he says the wrong thing, I might say more than I want to say right now. “What did dad want with the castle?”
“I told you and Jax that I don’t know,” he says. “But now that Jax is all up in your ass, I’m going to find out.”
I point at him. “Do not talk like that. Not to me.”