Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I hadn’t even thought of how I’d get out of here, and it melted me more that Bash had. It had been a long, long while since I’d felt like someone was looking out for me. Like I was part of a team. But nothing had really changed from that hotel back in Philly—this was all still temporary, all going to be snatched away any moment.
The only difference now was that running away wasn’t an option as long as Bash needed me to prove his case.
“I can get all of my research and notes,” I volunteered. “I have a ton of information Austin wouldn’t have, along with all my contacts. That will help.” I started to climb off Bash’s lap, ready to go and collect all the notes and files from Joey’s place that would now be evidence.
“Not yet.” Bash grasped my hips, trying to hold me in place.
During the brief, halfhearted (on my side, at least) struggle that ensued, someone knocked on the door, and the dark-haired man from the hallway pushed his way in and leaned back against the door to close it.
“My eyes are closed,” the man said in lieu of a greeting. “Super tightly closed. I’m seeing nothing.”
“Kenji,” Bash growled. “I told you—”
“Not to disturb you. Yes. But Silas is here, and he’s on the way up.”
“Silas? Why would he— Oh, for god’s sake, open your eyes! Nobody’s naked, unfortunately. Why the hell is Silas here?”
“Because Dev called earlier, and I may have mentioned the situation with Austin…” Kenji opened his eyes and saw me half-perched on Bash. “And your new friend Sterling Chase. And then he lit up your group chat, and Silas got involved.”
Bash sighed, letting his head fall back onto the sofa cushion. “Kenji, this is Rowe Prince. Rowe, this is my assistant, Kenji. Do not give him that look, Kenji,” he warned. “Rowe’s had a fuck of a day already, okay?”
Kenji’s skeptical expression didn’t waver one iota. “So, then, I shouldn’t observe that Mr. Prince has royally disordered everything around here?”
“Kenji, shut it.”
“Or that you’ve been walking around here like a sad Bella Swan since Rowe did his disappearing act?”
“I have not.” Now, Bash used his grip to push me off him, like he was going to jump to his feet and kick Kenji out bodily.
Before he could, I jumped up and extended a hand to Kenji. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you. Sorry if I’ve messed things up.”
Kenji glanced from my hand to my face for a moment before shaking it. “You don’t need to apologize to me. But you’ll find that I’m very—”
“Protective of Bash.” I nodded. “I get it. He’s way too nice.”
Bash made a disbelieving noise, but Kenji’s lips twitched. “I’m glad you realize it.”
“Kenji,” Bash said, exasperated. “Did you hear back from Legal?”
“I did—”
“Bash! What the fuck is this nonsense I’m hearing about Rowe—” Bash’s friend Silas walked into the office, dressed in perfectly tailored jeans and a button-down, and stopped short. “Prince,” he finished in a smaller voice.
“Hello.” I felt my face go red. “Nice to see you again.”
“Lock the door behind you, Silas,” Bash instructed. “Since you’re here, you can help us plan.”
“Plan what?” Silas demanded after making sure the door was secured. “What’s going on? Kenji said something about intellectual property theft.”
“Exactly. MRO was not Austin Purcell’s idea.” With a hand on my shoulder, Bash led me across the room to lean against the front of his desk while Kenji sat in one of the visitor chairs, and Silas stood in the center of the room with his arms folded over his chest. My discarded sombrero lay on the floor by his feet, and I had to swallow down a nervous bubble of laughter.
Bash quickly filled both of them in on everything I’d told him, as well as some things he’d learned from Austin earlier that day, keeping me pressed against his side the entire time. I hadn’t heard about his conversation with Austin, and the idea that he’d not only stolen my project but my story—Daisy’s story—made my blood pressure spike.
I’d been willing to let my claim to the project go—I didn’t need to get the glory, and the money still seemed impossible to me—but the idea that he was taking on my pain, my sister’s death, as part of his act? That wasn’t something I could let slide.
As Bash spoke, Silas’s gaze flickered between us, and though he nodded along to show he was listening, the look he gave me was distinctly unfriendly. I could tell he didn’t believe what he was hearing. Though I hadn’t expected any different, it made my stomach queasy. Bash had sounded so firm before when he spoke about believing me, but I knew how much he loved the friends he considered his brothers. How likely was he to stay on my side if it meant risking their disapproval?