Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I scribble a few meaningless words on the pad of paper next to the phone and look in one more time at my sleeping giant, then creep on tip toes out the door, to the elevator and ride it down to the bottom floor swallowing against the lump lodged in my throat. The night manager recognizes me immediately, smiling as she turns to greet me.
“Good morning, madam. What can we do for you?”
“Do you have a telephone I could use? Mine is broken.”
“Of course.” She nods, lifting the desk to let me walk through, then points to the office. “Obviously I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, but penthouse guests do get special treatment. Through there, close the door if you want privacy. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
“Thanks.” I try to return her smile, but I’m not feeling it. It feels like I’m going to my execution.
As soon as I’m in the office, I close the door and dial my dad’s number. He picks up almost immediately.
“Dad, it’s me.”
“Anna! Thank God. He knows where you are. I tried to stall him, but he’s on his way. If he finds you with Cyrus, he’ll kill him. Maybe not right away, but it will happen. If you care about Cyrus, your mother, or me, or even yourself, you’ll come home at once. I’ll send a car to your location. Go to the parking garage right now, smash your phone, make it look like it was stolen, that’s the story we’ll go with. You’ll accept his proposal as soon as he gets back.”
“Dad, I—”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. You’ll do this or you’ll accept that you’re the reason for everything that comes next. Family first, Anna. Always. Just get out of there, now. Get back here.”
He hangs up, and I’m left spinning. Confusion and anger toil in my belly. Blaming me for all this? I never wanted any of it.
But what difference does that make? I either do as he says, or live in fear. Or not live at all. My parents will be dead, and as flawed as they are, I love them. Maybe Cyrus could protect me, but not all of them.
He’s one man.
Within twenty minutes, I’m back at the house, stepping out of the white mini-van that was my Uber ride just as a black stretch Lincoln pulls up in the driveway.
I pay my driver and he speed away because the vibe here is unpleasant at best.
The sky is still dark, a hint of the morning sun coloring the horizon orange as my dad stands under the lights on our front walkway with my mom wandering out the front door, breaking into a broad smile when she sees me. She doesn’t look upset at all, blissfully unaware of the chaos and destruction happening around her. I’m tempted to tell her everything, but what would that do except upset her? She wouldn’t remember it tomorrow anyway.
“Anna, thank God.” my dad gushes as he comes over to me and wraps me in a hug. Dropping his voice, he adds, “Follow my lead.”
The other car comes to a stop, the headlights exposing what the dim morning light didn’t and the chauffer emerges, walking back to open the other door and a man steps out in a black suit, white shirt, black tie. His hair as blonde as mine but his skin is the color of a copper penny.
The juxtaposition is equally jarring as confusing.
And creepy.
He moves around the back of the limo, swishing his hand to the side of his head and it’s obvious his skin tone is unnatural. Too much bronzer and time in the tanning booth and I wonder if he thinks he looks good or he’s using it for shock value.
He brings his knuckles just under his nose as if he’s warding off an offensive smell, then says, “What is all this, Niko? I got to the hotel and she wasn’t there. Did you lie to me?”
His dead blue eyes drift to me for a moment and I could swear, he gags. This has to be a joke, right?
“Anna, I’d like you to meet Alex Sokolov, finally. Alex, this is Anna. You’ll never believe it but her purse was stolen. She was out with some friends and her purse was snatched. She’s been at the police station ever since…not at the hotel like her phone showed. I’m so sorry--”
Alex’s hand leaves his nose to put his palm out to silence my dad, his brows knit together.
The story is a good cover but I can’t tell if he’s buying it. His eyes are soulless. His dark suit hangs on him like it was made for someone much bigger. He meets my eyes again and bares his teeth on a bizarre hiss.
I hold my breath as he sucks all the warmth from the beautiful day then finally purses his lips, sucking in his cheeks.