Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
She ran a hand through her messy strands, and a flicker of anxiety crossed her face.
I reached down and cupped her chin. “It’s all good. Go back to sleep. I’ll call you later this morning. After the sun has come up.”
She sighed, then nodded.
I fought the desire to kiss her. If I did, there was a good chance I wouldn’t stop there. I was already in trouble. I didn’t need to make it worse. Linc, when he’d been angered, was never easy to deal with.
My phone began to vibrate in my pocket, and I bit back a curse. I had to go. The fact that it was three in the morning, and they were awake, trying to get me on the phone, wasn’t good. Stepping away from her so that I couldn’t continue to touch her, I tried to smile.
“Go back to sleep,” I told her, then turned to walk away.
The more I looked at her, the harder this would be. I hated fucking New York City, and I hated that she lived here. I wanted her closer. Somewhere I could get to her easily when I needed her. The texting her when shit was dark would no longer do the trick. Not when I knew what it was like to have her naked body in my arms. I much preferred that distraction.
Closing her bedroom door behind me, I pulled out my phone to see Bane had called, and so had my father. Damn, they were acting like this was the fucking Feds. It was a PI. Most likely one hired by the parents of Arden Neilson—Noa’s former editor and fiancé. Which meant the religious little farming family still refused to believe Arden’s reasons for “skipping town.” It also meant the PI wasn’t high profile. They couldn’t afford shit like that—I knew. I’d done my research.
Bane: I can see you read my fucking text. Answer your phone.
Rolling my eyes, I opened the door to her apartment and stepped out before hitting the Call button.
Making sure the door locked behind me, I only heard the first ring before Bane snapped in my ear, “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Good morning to you too,” I drawled.
I knew when he was ready—or rather, when the boss was ready—Linc would hand over the head of the Mississippi branch to Bane. But right now, he wasn’t in charge. He could suck a dick. I owed him no explanations.
“Maybe where you are,” he replied, annoyed. “That’s about to change. Who the hell is Arden Neilson, and what did you do with him?”
Just as I’d guessed. Damn nosy-ass parents of his were causing trouble. I’d prepared for this just in case.
“Editor at a publishing house who was going to be working with Opal. He was shady as hell. Had a fiancée he was cheating on with Opal and she had no idea. I made him go away. She’s got a much better editor now,” I told him as the elevator opened and I stepped inside.
I left out that Noa had made sure to get Opal an excellent editor. I didn’t need to involve Noa in any of this. Using Opal as an excuse would give me just cause in the family’s eyes. I knew that, and I worked with it.
Bane blew out a sigh. “Why didn’t you tell someone? You don’t make the call on shit like that without talking to Linc.”
“My sister, Bane. I didn’t need Linc’s permission.”
“Regardless, he’s fucking pissed. This might ease it some, seeing as this had to do with Opal, but the PI knows some shit that he shouldn’t. You were sloppy as fuck. Not like you. Where was your head?”
Scowling, I stared at the elevator doors. “How was I sloppy?”
“The PI knows who we are. He also keeps saying shit about some fiancée of Neilson’s. You’ve been seen going in and out of her apartment building. He never mentioned Opal in all this.”
I’d been trailed and not sensed it! Jesus. Maybe I had been more distracted with Noa than I’d realized.
When the doors opened on the ground floor, my gaze swung over to the security guard who stood at his desk in the lobby. I didn’t like knowing some fucking PI had been watching this place. I also didn’t like the idea of the Ken Doll showing back up in hopes of taking Noa to brunch.
“I’m headed back now. I’ll handle this when I get there,” I told Bane.
“You’ll be doing more than that. You’ve caused an issue that isn’t going to be easily cleaned up.”
Damn, they were being dramatic about this.
He ended the call without waiting for a response while I walked over to the security guard. I’d decided he and I were about to become friends. Especially when I offered him double whatever he was currently getting paid. If I couldn’t be here full-time, then I needed other eyes on Noa. Staying focused on anything else would be impossible otherwise.