Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“Just about how being as high profile and rich as the family is, they have more than their fair share of people that are willing to do anything to get that money.”
Something close to disappointment shimmered in Hannah’s brown eyes, but she turned away before I could figure it out. “There are lots of really bad people gunning for the Cordova’s, but they aren’t easy prey. Trust me on this one.”
“Well, considering your boyfriend is the chief of their security, I’ll take your word on it. Speaking of Leo, he never mentioned anything about me and Ramón?”
Her lips tightened into a thin, white line and I worried that I’d just put Leo in the doghouse somehow. “No, he didn’t say a word.”
“Weird, but don’t be mad at Leo,” I added quickly as her dark look grew. “He was probably just trying to stay out of it. Besides, whatever was or wasn’t happening between myself and Ramón is a moot point anyways. Ramón’s not here and…and I’m done waiting around for him to come back.”
Hannah’s focus remained on Honey as she scratched the dog’s big square head. “What if Ramón really is unable to call you right now? What if he comes back and expects you to be waiting for him?”
I shrugged, pretending to be way more cavalier about the situation than I was. “I can’t live my life on what ifs.”
“True,” Hannah chewed on her thumb, a physical tell she had for when she was holding something back.
Giving her my best intimidating stare, the one I used on my students, I asked, “Hannah, do you know something about Ramón? Did Leo say something?”
She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again then cleared her throat with a frustrated look. “No, Leo hasn’t said anything. Look, you need to get out of the house. Let’s go out tomorrow, just the two of us. We’ll have a girl’s day, it’ll be fun. Are you doing anything tomorrow?”
Truth be told, I didn’t really want to go anywhere, but I also didn’t want to end up a shut-in. The paranoid part of my mind insisted that was a bad idea, but I was starting to get desperate to feel some kind of normal again. I couldn’t go through life like this anymore. A year ago, I would have been giddy with the idea of going to a spa, but now the thought made me break out in a cold sweat.
“No. I have some online tutoring to do in the afternoon, but nothing in person.”
“Awesome.” She glanced down at her gold and diamond wrist watch. “Let me call Leo, he’s at some event at Obsession with Diego tonight doing security, and let him know I’m spending the night, then we’ll get some good snacks and watch some crappy TV.”
Guilt prickled at me, knowing that Hannah was rearranging her already busy schedule to spend time with me. She’d started working part-time with Judith at the Cordova Group in the event planning division. Yes, my formerly shy and meek friend now enjoyed helping put together big shindigs with million dollar budgets. I always knew she had it in her, but to be honest, I’d given up on ever getting her out of her shell. No matter how jealous I’d initially been of Leo and Hannah’s relationship, I had to say he was a miracle worker in turning my introverted and timid friend into a confident social butterfly.
I smiled at her, my chest warm with love as I linked my hand with hers and gave it a squeeze. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but we haven’t hung out in forever and I miss you. I mean, you’re more family than my own. I’ve really, really missed you.”
I gave her a big, squishy hug, my tension easing as Hannah relaxed against me. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Hannah drew back with a laugh when Honey tried to shove her way between us to get in on the love. “Then it’s settled. You get some snacks together, make it something good, and I’ll be right back. I just need to call Leo and tell him goodnight. He gets pissy if I don’t.”
Before she could leave, I grabbed her arm gently. “Hey, thanks. I really needed to talk to someone about all of this.”
Her lower lip wobbled, and she lowered her head to mine until our foreheads touched. “I will always be here for you, do you hear me? Always. No matter what.”
Chapter 14
The doctor finished examining the healing injuries on my face then muttered something, her expression intense as she concentrated on her work. They’d stitched me up as best they could, but even the most outlawed, cutting edge science in the world couldn’t disguise the deep lacerations that stretched from the back of my head to my jaw. When the helicopter I was in was shot down over the jungle, the thick canopy of trees below us had cushioned our fall enough that some of us survived, but a branch had broken through the window near me as we went down and tore my right side up. I was lucky—of the seven men who’d accompanied me on the rescue mission, only three, including myself, had returned.