Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Max’s cow eyes peeked over the menu at Jersey. “Too much information. And that’s not why I’m asking you.”
“Shit.” Jersey sighed, flipping through a Madison travel guide. “It’s him. You’re worried that he gave me something, and you don’t want it in the media.”
“Listen …” Max laid the menu on her lap and wrinkled her nose. “I don’t need the details of your relationship with Ian, however crazy it might be. He asked me to get you tested. Also, we need to find your social security number and birth certificate to get you a passport. Same with Chris Ten.” She rolled her eyes.
“Well, good luck with all of that.” Jersey tossed the travel guide onto the desk and swiveled side to side in the chair. “I ran away at fifteen. I have no idea where my social security card and birth certificate might be. And just a heads-up … if you happen to scrounge mine, which might not be impossible since I know my legal name, birthdate, and place of birth, the chances of you finding Chris’s are probably less than zero. I mean … if you did, you’d be solving a huge mystery about his past that’s stumped detectives for months.”
“What if you both stay here while Ian finishes his tour? Then we don’t have to figure out the passport issue. I’m sure Ian will find something to keep you both busy and employed.”
Jersey didn’t have much to offer. How could she argue with Max when she and Chris were completely reliant on Ian and his willingness to employ them? “How long will he be gone?”
“Three months. Twenty shows from Portugal to Belgium.”
“Three months?” Jersey cringed.
“Yes. Can you two lovebirds stay apart that long?”
“Lovebirds? I hardly think dry humping on the plane and a quick blowjob in Chicago makes us lovebirds.”
Max ran her hands through her hair, tugging on it while pinching her eyes shut. “I don’t need that kind of detailed information, Jersey.”
“I’m just saying … don’t label us like that. But to answer your question, no … I don’t want to stay here, even if Chris stays here. Ian promised to show me the world.”
And I can’t inflict revenge upon him if we’re in different countries.
Max frowned, lifting the menu to hide her face again. “I’ll see if I can get you a passport.” She lowered the menu again and grabbed her vibrating phone. “Hi. Yeah, suite 2533. You have two radio interviews, a podcast, and a photoshoot. How are you feeling?” She nodded several times. “Good. You have an hour. Are you hungry? Are you sure? Okay.”
“He’s here?”
Max bit her lips together and eyed Jersey for a few minutes. “Mmhm.”
“Great. Room 2533?”
“No. Don’t you dare! He has a full day of—”
Jersey let the door slam behind her. Perfect timing. Shane and Ian rounded the corner.
“You good?” Shane asked, eyeing Jersey for a second before returning his attention to Ian.
Ian nodded, letting his gaze linger on Jersey as Shane opened the door to a different room. “You’re all kinds of trouble.” He held up his phone screen to the sensor on room 2533 and opened the door.
“Missed you too, Coop.” She followed him into the sprawling corner suite.
He lifted his suitcase onto the luggage holder and opened it.
“How’s your back? Sounds like such an old-man issue.” Jersey walked around the room, grabbing a granola bar from the basket of food on the counter by the coffee maker.
“The injury is old. Me? Not so much. But thanks for your take on the matter.”
She took a bite of the bar and nodded, sliding open the tall, gray and royal blue curtains. “Your room always has the best view.”
Ian hummed like it was no big deal. Every new view was a big deal to the girl who had seen very few views in her lifetime.
She took in the moment—the view, the fancy hotel room, the opportunities at her disposal thanks to Ian Cooper. Then she imagined it all vanishing for murdering him.
Prison.
Maybe the death penalty.
Did she care?
The greatest opportunity in her life was a chance at revenge. Not college. Not love. Not success. Vengeance for the Russells.
Revenge.
If Dena and Charles knew, would they understand? Would they be proud of her?
“Coop, can you even remember a time in your life that something took your breath away? I bet not. People who have always had everything can’t possibly imagine what it’s like to have nothing.” She stiffened, feeling him at her back, hovering over her, trying to taunt her with his size and authority, high on the false sense of power that she gave him.
“You think you know me, Jersey?” he whispered in her ear.
She sucked in a sharp breath as his hand pressed to her hip, sliding around to her stomach. Swallowing hard, Jersey nodded once.
“I don’t think you do.”
Jersey pressed her left hand to the window as her drumming heart made it hard to breathe. Ian’s other hand slid around her waist too.