Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“She mentioned that already,” Ajani replied. “But I think she’d find that I have more than enough to keep her attention.”
Stunned by my neighbor’s quick response, I stared at him. He was making this a situation, and we did not need a situation. Not today and not because of me.
“You don’t. Now, go,” Storm replied, sounding bored by the conversation.
Ajani looked back at me and took a step back toward Storm.
“Thanks again, but Storm will handle it now.”
He wasn’t happy about it, but my moving closer to Storm had been enough to finally make him give up and go. When he turned around to walk away, I wanted to sigh in relief.
“You’re welcome,” Storm said too close to my ear.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned to glare at him. “For what?”
He nodded his head toward Ajani’s retreating form. “Getting rid of him.”
“Maybe I wanted his help!” I hissed angrily.
Storm looked down at me as if I were being ridiculous. “He’s never gonna have enough money to get your interest,” he replied, then glanced back at my flat before turning to look at it closer.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I tore my eyes off his backside and focused on the burger place we liked so much across the street.
“Someone sliced it.”
Storm’s words caught my attention, and I swung my gaze back to him. He was walking around the car to the other side.
“What?” I asked incredulously.
“You got a sliced one on this side too.”
“As in someone took a knife to it?” I asked, needing clarification.
He nodded his head once. “Yeah. You fucking someone’s man?”
“NO!” I spat angrily, stalking over to the car to get a closer inspection.
Who would have done this? I hadn’t made any enemies here. But I had enemies. My gaze scanned the parking lot. Had I been found? No. This place was too big. I had left no paper trails.
“Briar,” Storm said, and I looked back at him.
Panic starting to build in my chest. I didn’t want to leave here. I would have all the paperwork Dovie needed soon. She’d have a new identity. She could go to school. Eventually get a job. Have a life.
“Who do you think would have had a reason to do this?” he asked.
A humorless laugh bubbled from my chest. “You want a list?”
He scowled, looking back at the tire in front of him before making his way back around the car toward me. “What about the neighbor?”
Taken aback, I shook my head. “Ajani? I barely know him. Met him once in the gym.”
His steady, intent gaze made a slow scan of the parking lot. “Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do something stupid to get you to go out with him.”
“Storm, two of my tires are sliced. That is a threat. He wouldn’t have done that to get my attention.”
Storm shrugged. “Men can be idiots when they want something bad enough.”
I didn’t have time for this. “Why are you here?” I asked him.
“Checking on things,” he replied as if that were obvious.
I held up my hands. “Well, here I am. Happy?”
His brows drew together, but he said nothing.
“Listen, I need to get to work. I have two flat tires and only one spare. I’ve got to call Pepper.”
“I’ll drive you,” he told me.
I glanced back at the apartment. I needed to talk to Dovie. Explain things and make sure she didn’t open the door or leave tonight. The pizza. Crap. I couldn’t order her pizza.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I tried to figure out what I was going to tell Storm. Sure, I needed a ride, but before work came Dovie.
I’d not told Pepper who Dovie was or even given her a name. I just said it was someone who needed saving and I couldn’t say more. She’d trusted me and agreed to help me with the new identity. I owed her a lot. Which meant I couldn’t not show up tonight.
“I have to run up to my apartment real quick. I won’t be long,” I told him.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No,” I blurted.
He raised an eyebrow at me. I swallowed, thinking through this. I had to come up with a reason why he couldn’t.
“I’ll just be a second, and I’d rather you not know my apartment number.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“Two twenty-nine,” he replied without pause.
Shit. Did they know everything? No, they didn’t. They had no idea about Dovie. Just my location at all times, it seemed.
“Stalker,” I muttered.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
With a roll of my eyes, I decided I’d have to just text Dovie. There were eggs in the fridge. She could make an egg sandwich or a grilled cheese and heat up the can of tomato soup to go with it. It wasn’t the best dinner, but it would have to do.
“I’m running out of time,” I said. “Let’s just go.”
He studied me for a moment, as if he was going to insist we go to my apartment, but finally, he turned and headed toward a matte-black Jeep. It was new and expensive. The kind of Jeep I would never be able to afford.