Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“We’re always good,” he said, laying on his slimy charm thick. “But you have to remember how dangerous it is to lead men on.”
I had a feeling this might not fully be about Eric.
“I swear I don’t even remember meeting Eric,” I insisted, carefully moving past him, nearly toppling another stack in the process.
“Maybe not. But your… charms can make a man believe you are interested. And some men… they will only let that teasing go for so long before they demand you make good on it.”
Cold pooled in my gut.
Because that felt a little too much like a threat, not words of advice.
“I… I thought you wanted me to be friendly toward the customers,” I said, wanting the conversation back in safe territory.
Frank sighed.
“Yes. Just not… too friendly.”
“Okay,” I agreed, frost lacing my veins as I put on a painfully fake smile. “I’ll keep that in mind. Well, I better get going. Thanks for talking to Eric,” I said, then turned and strode away before he could say anything else.
I kept my strides long and purposeful, suddenly very thankful for my grandmother’s long legs, until I got around the corner.
Only then did I break into a run.
I didn’t waste time getting changed like I typically liked to do when walking home at night from the casino. I just shoved my makeup back in the bag, shoved my sweats in my purse, and got the hell out of there.
I even took the way out through the actual casino so I didn’t run into Frank alone again.
As soon as the casino was behind me, I felt some of the tension shake out of my shoulders, but my pace was still just shy of panicked. And I couldn’t seem to stop myself from glancing over my shoulder to make sure Frank or one of his henchmen wasn’t coming after me.
I had to calm down.
Slow down.
Not look like an easy target.
I yanked my slipping purse strap back up on my shoulder.
Then a scream caught in my throat.
Because a hand grabbed my other wrist and pulled me down an alley between buildings.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Milo
Something was wrong.
Roe burst out of that casino like her ass was on fire, her eyes bulging, her skin pale. She kept almost breaking into a run before checking herself, making her do a few weird little skips before she seemed to get a little more control as she got further from the casino.
But her gaze kept sliding over her shoulder, looking for someone.
I cut between buildings and broke into a run up the street behind the Boardwalk so no one would see me trying to pursue her.
Then, when I was sure I was ahead of her, I moved into a small alley and waited.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the darkness with me, glad she gasped instead of screamed, giving me a second.
“It’s me,” I said, pressing her back against the brick wall. “You’re alright. What are you running from?”
Her breathing was fast and shallow. And, fuck me, if I didn’t notice how her barely contained breasts were moving in her skintight, wine-red dress.
“Frank,” she said, inhaling slow and deep. “He caught me in his office.”
Fuck.
“Did he catch you doing anything?”
“No. No, I got in the office. And immediately noticed a working camera,” she explained. “So I, uh, pretended to start writing him a note since he wasn’t there. That’s when he came in.”
“I texted you to say he was coming,” I told her. I’d been worried she might have taken the chance I’d given her. But Frank had been too all over the place to distract.
“My phone was in my purse.”
“Baby, you gotta keep that on you.”
“Where?” she asked, waving down at her dress.
I definitely didn’t need an excuse to take in that damn dress again. But did my gaze lower? Yeah, of course it did.
She wasn’t wrong.
The thing was painted on.
It wasn’t the kind of dress that allowed for pockets.
“You could have a tailor sew a hidden pocket,” I suggested. “Phones are thin now; you wouldn’t see it if it was in the right spot.”
“These dresses are really expensive,” she told me. “I don’t want to ruin them.”
“Where are they from? I’ll buy a few new ones and get ‘em altered.”
“No.”
“No?” I asked, brows drawing down.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You already paid me.”
“Yeah, but this is different. Something necessary for the job.”
“Like this?” she asked, reaching to touch the diamond necklace.
Alright.
She had me there.
There was no reason I had to get the phone to her at work. Let alone hidden under an expensive necklace.
I could have tried my little Eric angle with a bouquet of roses that would have cost a hell of a lot less.
“Yeah. I needed to try something out.”
“You could take it back.”
“I hate returning shit.” That was only partially true. I wanted her to have it.
Her gaze cut away, and I could see her biting the inside of her cheek. Something was bothering her about the necklace, but I had no idea what. Who would be upset about a diamond?