Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Fay finally climbs off me, her hands going to her hips. “That’s it. You’re moving in with us.”
Here we go.
Fay, my overprotective bestie. Fay and I met a few years ago, which I always considered to be fate. She came to my bar for a blind date. The douche never showed, but it was my gain. She turned out to be this little spitfire and the most loyal person I’ve ever met. “Fay, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” She turns to Theo, her rich and powerful hunk of a fiancé. Talk about a smokin’ hot love story. They met when Fay was hired as his executive assistant. He was a total asshole, but love doesn’t make sense sometimes. After a whirlwind of lies and forbidden attraction, they finally gave in and are getting married in a few months. “She’s moving in with us. And you need to find her a job. One where she’s not wandering the streets late at night.”
“Fay, I don’t need a job or a place. I have both,” I remind her.
She turns back to me. “They’re not safe. You’re not safe. Nothing is safe!” She cries harder. Geez, the girl can be dramatic.
I shake my head. “Trust me, it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Oh yeah? And what happens next time?”
I can’t hide the fear that comes over me at the thought. “It won’t.” My voice cracks.
“That’s it. Theo, do something.”
“What? No—wait!” Before I can catch his attention, Theo pulls out his phone. “What are you doing?” I demand. He doesn’t answer me as he taps the screen and puts it to his ear.
“Craig. Theo. That protective care unit you formed? I need your best—”
“Oh, knock it off, lover boy. You can be all macho with her,” I point to Fay, “but not me. I’m perfectly fine taking care of myself. I always have been,” I finish, talking to no one. Theo doesn’t blink an eye.
“Thanks. Send me his credentials.” He hangs up.
“What the hell did you just do?” I snap.
He tucks his phone back into his suit pocket. “Hired a bodyguard.”
I scoff, and Fay looks at her man with heart eyes.
“Jesus. Call whoever that was back and tell them to cancel.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. I’ve been telling you both that area is fucking trouble. Maybe now you’ll listen to me.”
I sit up straighter, getting mad. “No, you said the bar was sketchy.”
“It’s all the same.”
Fay cuts in. “Mindy, this should be an eye-opener. I’ve never judged you for what you do. I love you no matter what. But when it becomes a safety issue, I have to speak up. I worry about you. You should never be out wandering the streets in the middle of the night. Russell should have someone walking you to your car.”
I want to tell her our lives are not the same. I don’t have a rich, hot-as-sin man to rescue me. I don’t get to say no to the obligations in my life. My survival depends on it. “I know. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you involved.” I wouldn’t have if the stupid hospital hadn’t called my emergency contact.
Her shoulders slump, and I feel like an asshole. “They called ‘cause I’m your person. Why would you ever think I wouldn’t be here for you?”
“Fay, it’s not that. It’s just…” We live completely different lives. She wouldn’t understand my struggles. I open my arms, and she comes back to snuggle in the bed with me. “I know you’re trying to help, and I appreciate you both. But I promise, I’m fine. I don’t need a bodyguard. I’ll buy myself some mace like other normal people and have someone walk me to my car. Okay?”
Fay doesn’t look convinced, Theo even less so. Thankfully, she gives in. “Fine. But if anything happens, someone even looks at you the wrong way, you’re coming to stay with me.”
“Deal. Your little boy toy can make us food while we binge all his fancy streaming channels.”
Theo groans, and Fay sparks a smile. “Deal.”
“Excuse me, folks.”
We turn our attention toward the doorway where a man sporting a shiny badge stands. “I’m Detective Garrett Rochel. Miss Parks, I was hoping to get your statement and have you answer a few questions.”
I nod, and Fay moves off the bed. “Why don’t you two—?”
“We’re not going anywhere.”
Ugh, I hate possessive Theo sometimes. “Fine. What do you want to know?” I ask the detective.
“Can you walk me through your evening?”
Chapter two
Mindy
A loud noise blares from my nightstand, startling me awake. I slap my hand around to find my phone and shut off the alarm. I sit up, cringing at the stiffness in my neck and the bright ass sun blazing through my blinds. I flop back down, dozing. I’m almost back to sleep when the snooze wears off. “Fuck me.” I snag my phone and immediately regret the movement. Lifting it above my head, I crack open an eye to look at the time and groan. I have to report to Theo’s office at three o’clock. That’s in forty-five minutes.