Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Behind Boaz is one of the hired security officers with a nose like Pinocchio who announces, “He says there’s a meeting with you today, but I don’t see him on your schedule, Governor Baker.”
It takes Dominic a second to realize this is Paul speaking. Paul is one of Frank’s main men. But Paul doesn’t have a nose like Pinocchio. Right now, if he turned his head, his nose would whack Boaz right in the face.
Dominic clears his throat, and despite how shaky he’s feeling he says, “That’s okay, Paul. He’s a squeeze in.” Dominic gestures for Boaz to enter. “Please shut the door behind you.” Paul nods and does as he is told, while Boaz stands on the other side of the room, an angry demon glaring at him. Good Lord, this is really starting to scare him. He feels like his mother, before she was committed. She always said she saw demons and witches. She said they were watching her.
I’m not my mom.
“Take a seat, Boaz,” Dominic insists, pointing to the chair on the other side of the desk. His heart races as Boaz comes closer. But up close, Boaz is just Boaz. Not a demon.
Boaz works his jaw, using one large hand to grip the back of the chair. He yanks it back and sits with an agitated exhale. “Is there a reason we couldn’t meet at your private home?” he asks.
“We couldn’t. Jo is there. She’ll ask questions. You know she’s never liked you.”
Boaz scoffs, looking out the window. “What do you want then?”
“You know why I called you in.” Dominic retrieves the crumpled paper again, spreading it out on top of the desk. Then he digs in his pocket for the original note from his mailbox. Both are written the same—dark, bold lettering that practically screams at him. The name BRYNN written twice.
As if bored but willing to entertain him, Boaz leans forward and studies the papers. “Okay?” Boaz glares at Dominic. “They’re just words. They mean nothing.”
“They mean everything, Boaz,” Dominic hisses. “You don’t understand. There is someone out there who probably saw you that night.”
“Not possible,” he retorts in a matter-of-fact tone. “I was careful. No one was around.”
Dominic sits forward, dropping his elbows on the table. “Well, there are only three people who know about Brynn, and that’s you, me, and that weird-ass cleaner. I’m not sending these notes to myself. Are you doing this?” Dominic’s eyes fall to Boaz’s large fists in his lap. One wrong word and he’ll likely blacken his eye, governor or not.
He almost regrets asking when Boaz sits up taller, cocking an enraged, bushy brow. “Are you out of your damn mind, boy?” he snaps. “I came all the way out here to help your ass, just like I did out there. Why would I waste my time doing something like this for both of us to get caught?”
“I—I don’t know. For more money, probably? Jolene told me True Oil let you go. It could be blackmail.”
Boaz’s jaw ticks, but nothing further. He sits back in his seat with flared nostrils. “They did let me go, but I don’t need their damn money. I get plenty of that from you, and so does my cleaner. Neither of us have ever spoken about our jobs to anyone. We wouldn’t jeopardize ourselves with silly notes.”
As much as Dominic wants to ask why Boaz has been fired, he doesn’t bother. He can ask later. Right now, he needs to know what the hell is up with these letters. “Did you tell anyone else about that night? Anyone at all? Your wife, maybe? Or a buddy you know at some bar or something?”
“No, Dominic. I didn’t. I’m not married, and I wouldn’t be that stupid. Look, I’ve done work like that before, not just for you. It’s my job. People like you with your status decide to make a mess and I clean it up.”
Dominic nods, wanting to be reassured by that, but not being able to. Boaz is too calm about this. These letters should frighten him too, especially if neither of them are sending them. That means someone saw them. Someone knows.
Boaz had done a job for Dominic way before he’d become governor, back when Dominic had attended a seminar with Jolene at True Oil Co. A man robbed Dominic one night after he’d picked up salads and smoothies for him and Jolene to eat at the hotel. The person took his wallet, his watch, and the wad of cash in his pocket. Dominic was upset about it and had informed the police. Boaz overheard the entire thing and told Dominic he’d get his assets back for him. Within a couple hours, Boaz appeared at his hotel room door, returning his wallet, watch, and wad of cash with a stain of blood on it. “He didn’t get far,” was all Boaz said, and Dominic had been intrigued by him ever since, despite Jolene’s warning to stay away from him.