Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“I don’t know anything about what happened to that dead guy back there.”
Lucy nods slowly. “We’ll see.” She gestures at the doors. “You can find your own way back. Don’t deviate from the path. Lady’s watching.”
I feel sick as I hurry inside. The cold air conditioning hits me like a hammer. It’s like cold metal eyes are staring at me from the doorways. I try to find cameras, but I don’t see any.
This situation couldn’t be any worse. Ryan was my only chance at escaping this place. I don’t know who sent him or what they were going to do, but now I’m cut adrift again. I’m trapped, and to make it worse, Lucy’s clearly suspicious of me.
I struggle not to run. I find the elevator, take it to the apartment, and put Rosie down in the living room.
Before I fish out the phone from where I hid it down the back of the couch.
No messages. Nothing at all.
I could scream.
Who killed Ryan? And what if they’re coming for me next?
The phone is everything now. Without it, I’m totally lost.
I put it back in its hiding place and try to pretend like I’m not drowning.
ALLIE
Mass strides down the hallway, his shoes clicking slightly on the marble floor, and throws open the door to a lavish suite. “Welcome to your Turkish home,” he says, casually waving a hand at the room around him.
Light streams in through gauzy curtains. Rosie squeals and crawls toward a low couch set near a coffee table. Satya follows her in, cooing and laughing with my daughter as I stare around in wonder.
It’s incredible. The warm smell of ocean air drifts in from a balcony covered in flowering plants. More plants fill the interior alongside blue-and-white mosaics set into the walls. The kitchen is modern and looks barely used. Mass frowns like the place barely meets his lofty standards, which is probably the case.
But for me, it’s pure luxury.
“We’ll stay here while we’re in the country,” Mass says, peering out at the street below. I join him on the balcony.
“Is this yours?”
“My local fixer tends to stay here, but she found alternate lodgings.”
“You have a lot of women employees.” That tumbles out of my mouth before I can stop it. Instantly, my face turns red and regret boils in my stomach. Why am I so stupid sometimes?
Mass seems amused as he moves closer to me. His body is big and warm. “Is that a little jealousy I hear?”
“I’m just curious.”
“Women are as reliable as men. Sometimes more so. I don’t have to worry about my female employees running around town fucking everything that moves.” He scowls out at the nearby buildings. “Usually, at least. Are you sure you’re not jealous?”
“No, it’s fine, I don’t care at all.” Which is shockingly only partially true, and I’m not happy about it.
“Of course. You sound like you’re completely comfortable with my staffing choices.”
“Good. Glad we had this conversation.” I hurry to get away from him before I say something else equally stupid.
But he catches my arm. His touch is like lightning on my skin. His stare makes my heart quicken. “There are no other women but you,” he says very softly. I stare in astonishment. I’ve never seen him so intensely serious and vulnerable before. I can tell this isn’t some cheesy line. I can tell he means it utterly sincerely and at face value.
I stay for a moment, lost in the beauty of his hard face, overwhelmed by how gorgeous the whole city is spread out below us.
But then Satya laughs at something Rosie does, and I pull away, hurrying inside without replying. I don’t trust myself to speak right now.
I find Rosie giggling in Satya’s arms. The pair of them are rocking on a chair in the corner. The whole room is airy and gorgeous, and I pause to watch them.
Satya’s surprisingly good with Rosie. My daughter’s always been pretty fussy around anyone but me and my mother. Even my dad and brothers have a hard time getting her to calm down and be happy. That’s why we’re so attached at the hip. She’s my everything.
And there she is, difficult, grumpy, fussy Rosie, suddenly having a great time with a woman she barely knows.
I’m not sure how I feel about it. Surprised for sure. But also grateful.
“You should explore the city, Mrs. Cardone.” Satya beams at me. Rosie squirms and starts crawling around her feet. The older woman gets down and plays with the little girl like it’s nothing.
“I can’t. I mean, I should bring Rosie, and I don’t know what Mass wants.”
She makes a dismissive gesture. “I’m sure your husband can provide for your safety, and Rosie is more than happy here with me.”
I cross my arms, hugging myself, trapped by indecision.
It’d be good to have some time to myself. I’ve never been abroad before, and I’d love to at least go for a walk around the nearby area. But the thought of leaving Rosie behind kills me. I don’t trust anyone with her.