Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“I know the spot.” Shit. They were supposed to go to The Reef tomorrow night. There was a party after the play session that he would be expected to attend. He would have to sneak away.
Fuck. He would have to sneak away from his bodyguards. That was easier said than done. Though they tended to think he was safe in the club. Likely he could convince Dec and Shane to merely do drop-off duty since Kayla would be with him all night.
“Don’t be late.”
There were other problems with his blackmailer’s plans. “And if there are hikers? You know night hiking is kind of a thing around here.”
“Then I suspect you’ll find a way,” she replied. “And watch out for the local wildlife. I’ve heard they get hungry at night. Don’t bring that new girlfriend of yours or she might get eaten right up.”
A chill went down his spine. “Leave her out of this.”
“I can’t. You brought her in. I find it curious that there’s little information about her out there. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I can find a bunch of well-crafted documents meant to throw off the casual investigator. I’m not casual, Mr. Hunt. I’m concerned that you’ve suddenly hired one of the premiere security firms in the world to do your security.”
Thank god it wasn’t about Kayla in particular. Although it really worried him that this woman knew so much about his business. Had he been fooling himself all this time thinking she was merely concerned with their business dealings and nothing else about his life? Was she always out there watching him? The thought irritated him, made him less cautious than he normally was. “Yeah, well there are more threats out there than some nasty bitch who knows about my past.”
Her voice deepened, whatever tech she used to disguise it making her sound the slightest bit demonic, and wasn’t that fitting? She was his personal demon made flesh. “Don’t think that opening up old wounds is all I can do to you. I can give you some spectacular new ones. If I find out McKay-Taggart is trying to find me, you’ll have some new scars that will make the old ones look minor.”
She hadn’t talked like this in years. Not since the one time he’d rebelled. “What’s changed?”
He probably shouldn’t question her. He should get off the line and get back inside and try to figure out how he was going to slip away from the club tomorrow night, but he found the curiosity overwhelming. And a bit terrifying if her answer came close to the one in his head.
Only one thing had changed.
“I told you. I don’t like you hiring investigators.”
“They’re not investigating anything except some of the crazies who’ve attached themselves to me. They know nothing about you at all and I intend to keep it that way. I haven’t done this for years to let this shit come out now.” It would ruin him in a way the actual crimes against him hadn’t. Letting everyone know how weak he’d been, how he’d been used and treated like trash.
“I’m not one of your crazies?”
This was the longest conversation he’d had with her in years. She typically got on, told him a location, and hung up. Something was wrong. Something had truly worried his always calm and cool blackmailer. “Not at all. Those people have mental illnesses. You’re evil.”
A throaty laugh came over the line. “Well, I should expect such drama from an actor. Evil? I’m a businesswoman and you’re an excellent source of income. Do you ever wonder how I came about my information?”
He stilled, not even the late afternoon sun warming him. A pit had opened in his stomach. He’d never been asked the question before, though he’d always, always known the answer. “I assume you know it all firsthand. Over the years I have wondered who you are, which house you worked in.”
A cold laugh came over the line. “You think I’m one of your pimps, Joshua? One of those sweet mommas who beat the shit out of you when you were bad and then tried to cover up the bruises so you would look good for the night? Or perhaps you think I was one of the women who purchased you, though I assume it was mostly men. No. It would surprise you to know that I’m younger than you.”
His heart constricted. Of all the scenarios he’d gone through, he hadn’t come up with this one. “Then you were…”
“No,” she said with a sigh. “I wasn’t one of the kids. Though I do know what it means to be in a prison not of my own making. You would be surprised how much we have in common. I found a way out, but it didn’t pay well. Not in cash. A smart person figures out how to turn assets into cash. You’re an asset, Joshua.”