Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Hawkins’s gaze ran over Meiling’s slight figure in a hungry, greedy way Slayer just couldn’t tolerate. He threw himself at Gedeon fast, the attack unexpected and strong, nearly tearing through his insides. Gedeon’s skin lifted as the huge cat shoved against him in an attempt to escape to get at their enemy. It took all of Gedeon’s strength to hold him back.
“My wife is bipolar. Her medical condition is not known and I don’t want it to get out. That is for her to disclose when she deems it appropriate. I have a top publicity team in place, and when they think it is best to go public with that information, she will. That time, certainly, is not now.”
Hawkins spread his hands in front of him and looked down in despair, shaking his head. Gedeon wanted to remind him that he wasn’t an actor, he was a musician. He was too busy fighting back his leopard. He was furious with the cat. They had a truce when it came to his work. The leopard was a part of what he did. He was supposed to listen, to pay attention to every word said, take in every detail.
He makes me uneasy. He’s telling half-truths, but it’s difficult to catch everything with you and Slayer so reactive. Maybe you should leave the room and let me handle this alone.
The moment she made the suggestion, Gedeon’s entire being rejected the idea of leaving her alone with Hawkins. What he thought Hawkins would do, he had no idea.
I’m staying. Calm Slayer down for me and I’ll keep it together.
You sound and feel like the Grim Reaper.
He wanted to be the Grim Reaper. One swipe of his paw and that would put an end to Guy Hawkins and whatever his game was. On the other hand, he had many clients he didn’t like and he’d worked for them. Done recovery for them. He didn’t have to like them, he reminded himself and Slayer. He just had to do his job and collect his enormous fee. He nodded and kept breathing, turning his energy inward, determined to get his emotions under control. If he could do that, he could get his savage leopard under control.
“Is your wife under a doctor’s care, Mr. Hawkins?” Meiling inquired. She filled the silence smoothly, keeping the attention on her so that Hawkins didn’t notice Gedeon and his smoldering, threatening silence.
“She has a doctor and takes medication, but every once in a while she goes off of it. That’s disastrous when it happens. A complete disaster.” Hawkins lifted his head, his expression stormy. “She can get taken advantage of very easily. I assigned her a bodyguard. I thought he was someone I could trust. He came with the highest of recommendations.”
Again, there was a long silence while he began pacing behind his desk, his hands locked behind his back as if to keep from strangling someone. Neither Meiling nor Gedeon interrupted him. They simply observed him as he seemed to use up his restless, angry energy before getting to his point. Finally, he turned back to them, once more gripping the back of his chair.
“Her bodyguard ran off with her instead of doing the responsible thing, which was what he was hired for. He was to protect her from herself. The two of them have disappeared. She can be very self-destructive. Manic and then self-destructive. Once she’s out of her manic phase, she becomes suicidal, realizing what she’s done, and she feels hopeless. It loops in her head that she’s worthless and has ruined everything. Our marriage, her career, that I would be better off with her dead. She must be found quickly. I called you as soon as I found them gone.”
“Did you give us all the details we need on both individuals?” Meiling asked, standing to indicate they would be leaving.
Gedeon was relieved they were at the end of the interview. Holding Slayer back was exhausting.
Hawkins nodded his head. “I’ll send the file to your business address immediately. You’ll have everything you need. If anything comes up, my private number is in that file, and I gave it to Mr. Volkov when I asked to see him.”
“Thank you,” Meiling said as Gedeon put one hand on her shoulder to pull her back toward him.
Hawkins didn’t bother to walk them to the door now that he had what he wanted. Gedeon thought his expression was rather smug. He didn’t speak until they were in the car and heading back to their house.
“Give me your honest impression of Hawkins.” He handled the sleek Audi through traffic easily. Now that they were alone and close to Meiling, Slayer was calm again.
Meiling pulled one of the sticks from her hair and a long thick swath of silky strands slithered down her shoulder. “He was being very dramatic on purpose. I don’t know him, so I don’t know if that’s his personality or if he was acting for our benefit. The idea of acting doesn’t fit. Why would he have to if his beloved wife is missing and he’s racing the clock to get her back? I read the media coverage on him and then on the two of them. There’s quite a lot. They seemed, on the surface, to be in love.”