Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Matt disregarded calling the bosses. They would bitch to high heaven if he bothered them for what they’d term his personal, unprofessional shit. Worse, they’d be right.
He needed to figure this out himself.
The key fob to the forbidden parts of the apartment burned a hole in his pocket. He’d experimented yesterday after Ethan had delivered his, “accidentally” stumbling in front of Todd’s bedroom door to see if it unlocked the asswipe’s lair. Holy shit, what do you know? It had worked. In fact, everywhere else he tested—Madison’s door and Todd’s study—the telltale green light blinked on the panel, and the lock clicked in release. Matt had exercised every ounce of self-control not to barge in and start searching the dirtbag’s hiding places. He’d only held back because the minute he opened the door, Todd would have been alerted in an instant and thrown him out of the unit—and off Madison’s protective detail.
Time for plan B. He had to gather information without the prick catching on.
Matt tossed together a high-protein dinner of eggs, chicken, and broccoli, scheming as he shoveled in clean calories, then tidied the kitchen. Absently, he flipped channels, but had no interest in the meaningless talk shows, news, reruns, or retread movies. He hated being cooped up. And after all their time together in the swamp, he couldn’t handle Madison refusing to speak to him. Everything he needed was just down the hall, and he couldn’t touch any of it.
Fuck.
Matt lurched off the sofa. He couldn’t take feeling bottled up for another minute.
On the far side of the living-dining area, he stared at a set of double doors. He’d noticed them, of course. He’d even taken stock of the fact there was a long, narrow balcony with—of all fucking things—a swanky underlit lap pool, complete with water feature and chaise lounges. Todd was a pampered SOB.
Matt wasn’t about to leave Madison, but he needed some goddamn fresh air or he’d explode.
He shoved his way out the doors and into the unbearably humid evening, then skirted the narrow pool and leaned against the railing, staring out over the Potomac. He watched the sun dip slowly toward the horizon.
Their third full day here was coming to a close, and he was already losing his shit. How the hell could he handle this for another ninety plus? More importantly, how could he keep Madison from slipping through his fingers?
Fuck that. She was his, and she didn’t deserve to stay trapped in this glittering cesspool of backstabbing, greed, and depravity. But without any clues or help, he didn’t know how to save her and salvage their future. He would figure it out, though. He’d be goddamned before he let an asswipe like Todd Pershing defeat him. The entitled prick might have money and be underhanded as hell, but Matt had outsmarted men way better than Todd.
He glanced to his left, looking in the distance past a park and a smattering of retail shops near the water, then meandered to the end of the balcony for a better view. In the corner, half-hidden behind a tall potted tree, he spotted a door he hadn’t noticed.
A point of entry into Pershing’s room? Had to be since it was accessible from the same balcony. The blinds were closed, so Matt couldn’t tell for sure, but he’d bet this opening led directly into Todd’s suite. And there was no panel for a key fob in sight.
Yee-fucking-haw.
Before he lost all sunlight, Matt studied the eaves, roofline, and surrounding area. He saw no surveillance equipment. Was it possible Todd hadn’t wired this part of his unit to capture sight and sound? There was only one way to find out. And if he got caught? Well…fuck Todd Pershing. Matt was going to bring the chump down, and this entry point just might be the break he needed.
Wiping all excitement from his expression, Matt headed back into the unit and passed a handful of hours with mindless TV and a phone game. Dark had fallen hours ago, and the city was beginning to slow down when Matt dragged on a pair of shorts, grabbed a towel from his bathroom, and headed back onto the balcony.
As soon as he cleared the door, he did another surveillance sweep. Nada. And the more Matt considered the reasons why, the more he understood. Todd didn’t want any technology capturing spaces where he played. Otherwise, his actions might be used against him for blackmail fodder later. Since this balcony was accessible from his bedroom, Matt bet it wasn’t wired.
Did Madison know that? He’d ask her that question later, but his guess? No.
Busting past Todd’s door was zero problem. Matt hadn’t always been upstanding, and a little teenage delinquency had taught him a thing or two about locks. After less than a few minutes and a bit of light from his mobile, he found the vulnerability in Todd’s door. With a few turns of his wrist and a little finagling, he heard a click. Matt twisted the knob and walked right into Toddhole’s bedroom.