Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 202770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1014(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 676(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 202770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1014(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 676(@300wpm)
“I don’t trap easily,” he says. “I’ve got this.”
“But we might work with her and York?”
“We’ll see, Emma.”
“Does mom know?”
“She knows.”
“How?”
“She found photos she showed me. Marion was naked.”
I inhale a sharp breath. “And we’re still considering this cruise line?”
“Give me some credit for having a plan. I’m working on a partnership to replace them but, Emma, I need that journal.”
“I locked it in a safety deposit box. The key is at my apartment that I can’t go to because of York. It has no names anyway. It’s just a bunch of nasty thoughts from his nasty mind.” I grab my purse. “I need to take a few days and then go to Germany. I need to see mom while I’m there.”
I try to pass him. “Get me the key before you leave.”
“Fine. I’ll get you the key.”
“Promise.”
“I promise.”
I jerk away from him and head for the door. “Emma.”
I stop just before opening the door. “Yes?”
“I need that file back.”
I exit the office, and rush for the elevator. It dings and I manage to enter with a cluster of people. Chance steps in front of the door and grimaces at the crowd. He has to let me go. I sink to the back of the car and realize that Jax never gave me his number. I grab the card Savage gave me from my side pocket but as I glance at my phone, I spy a text from Jax that reads: My phone number is now in your phone and here is Savage’s for easy use. Text me or call me when your meeting is over.
I shoot him a reply: I had a problem. I have to get out of the office with a folder now. I’m leaving. I’m going to the Starbucks four blocks west of my office to grab an Uber there.
The elevator opens and I dash out of the door, through the lobby, my heart racing. I don’t know what’s in this folder. I just have this sense that Chance might chase me down for it. I’ll analyze how bad that is when I see what’s inside.
All but bursting onto the street, I cut right, and thank God, for the crowd. I weave inside it and I make it a block when suddenly a man steps in front of me: York.
Chapter forty
Emma
York’s hands come down on my arms, and to most women, he’s Mr. Tall Dark and Good Looking, rich and powerful, a man you want to touch you. For a moment, I let him do just that. For a moment, I’m remembering my nightmare, back in that dark room, a prisoner that can’t escape but I know what comes when I try: I fall to my death. For a moment, I’m paralyzed, but that darkness washes away in a gust of ocean air, the world around me exploding with honking horns, voices, the smell of salt and city. I shove against him. “What are you doing here, York?”
“It’s a busy street, Emma. Luck just brought us back together.”
“There is no luck to you and me together.”
“We both know that’s not true. Let’s go somewhere and talk. Somewhere alone. I’ll remind you how much you like being alone with me. I promise.”
“Never again. How did you get into my apartment?”
“You gave me a key.”
“I changed the locks.”
“You’re confused and we need to talk about secrets. Mine,” he pauses for effect, his gaze raking over my body, “and yours.”
I want to tell him that outing Marion for hurting my mother would be worth anything he could say about me. I do, but it’s not that simple. The company, the families that work for the company, that depend on it, would all suffer if this goes the wrong direction. And in my core, I feel a need to hold back, to see inside that folder before I do anything else.
Before I can answer, Jax is suddenly at my side, his hand catching my hip, molding me close. “There you are.” He looks down at me. “You okay?”
Now I am. Now, I can breathe again. “How are you here?”
“Lucky,” he says softly.
Lucky.
Yes. This time luck is luck.
“Should we let Jax in on the secret?” York asks.
My gaze jerks to York. “Go away, York.”
He gives a laugh. “I guess that’s a no. Quid pro quo. You do remember what that means to me, right?” He winks and steps away, disappearing into the crowd.
Jax turns me to face him. “Are you really okay?” he asks again, rubbing my arms. “You’re trembling.”
“Can we just get out of here? Like the entire city?”
His eyes darken. “You want to leave now?”
“Yes. Now. No stops. To the airport and we leave.”
“Now it is.” He takes my hand and we walk a block to the SUV waiting on us. Jax helps me inside and I swear when that door shuts, and the vehicle starts to move, relief washes over me. It’s almost as if I’m running for my life.