Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“You would do that?”
“Of course. My job is to protect you. To do what you need.”
I pull my hand away. “Right. Just doing your job.”
He said he doesn’t have sex for the sake of sex. But I am his job. And sex is what I needed.
He was just doing his fucking job.
I don’t say much until the pizza arrives, along with some garlic knots.
Leif nods to me, so I take a garlic knot and place it on the small plate. Our server loads a gargantuan slice of pizza onto my bigger plate.
“You all know how to eat our pizza, right?” she says.
“Absolutely, Frankie,” Leif says. “I’ll be glad to teach my companion.”
“Yes, he’ll teach me,” I say, forcing a smile. “It’s his job.”
“Still not talking to me?” Leif says, as we enter the apartment building.
I simply shrug.
We whisk past security to the elevators. Then he grips my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
“Kelly, I don’t know what the hell I did but—”
“Was sex with me part of your job?” I demand.
He cocks his head, drops his jaw. “Is that what this is about?”
“You said you’d go talk to Brindley with me because it’s your job. You said you’d do whatever I need you to do, because it’s your job.”
“It might interest you to know that my job description with the Wolfes does not include sex with you.”
“Yeah? It was what I needed at the time.”
“I didn’t make love to you because you needed it.”
“Make love?” I scoff. “I detest euphemisms, Leif.”
“Kelly, can we table this discussion? I already texted Brindley and told her we were coming to talk to her tonight. Please?”
I huff. “Fine. Let’s go talk to the bitch.”
I want to take back the word bitch, which is unlike me. I am changing, and though Macy and everyone else seem to think it’s for the better, I wonder if it truly is. I’m vulnerable now. So damned vulnerable—and I’m the most vulnerable to the man standing next to me.
The elevator arrives, and we get in, heading up to the fifth floor.
Brindley was moved from the fourth to the fifth floor at my request, and she was glad to go. Once the elevator arrives, we walk to her apartment—512.
“You sure about this?” Leif asks.
“Yes. I’m sure. Are you? Sure that this is part of your job description?”
He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Let’s get this over with.” He knocks on the door.
The door opens, and Brindley stands there. She’s a petite young woman with brown hair and brown eyes, a girl-next-door look about her. Very pretty, but not classically beautiful. A spray of freckles dances across her nose.
“Hello. Are you Leif?”
“I am. And of course you know Kelly.”
I don’t say anything.
“Come on in. I put out some cheese and crackers.”
Cheese and crackers? I’m full of pizza. And I hate the fact that the pizza was as delicious as Leif said it would be.
Leif steps back to let me enter first. I hold back my scoff. He is a gentleman, but then again… It’s all part of his job.
“Please have a seat.” Brindley gestures to her small living room.
I take a seat on the couch, and Leif sits next to me. Brindley pours us each a glass of water, setting them in front of us. “Help yourself to some food.”
“That’s kind of you, Brindley,” Leif says, “but Kelly and I just ate a huge dinner.”
Brindley’s cheeks redden. “I should’ve known. It is around dinnertime. But my mother always taught me to offer visitors food and drink.”
I resist an eye roll.
“You know why we’re here,” Leif says. “Kelly is still convinced that you have something to do with the messages she’s receiving.”
“I swear I haven’t.” She shakes her head, her eyes wide. “I would never do anything like that. You can search this place if you want. I have nothing to hide.”
“I don’t personally believe you’re involved,” Leif says. “I just don’t know how you can convince Kelly.”
Sure, Leif. Take her side. Take Terry to your special pizza place. Take care of everyone except me. I’m just your job.
Brindley sits down next to me, which makes me very uncomfortable. I’m just as close to Leif, but I don’t want Brindley in that bubble.
“Kelly, I have no idea what you’ve been through. And I’m so sorry for everything you’re still going through. But you have to believe me. I would never put any of you women through any more torment. We’ve all been through enough.”
I cross my arms. “You were only on that island for a few months.”
“I know. Still, I was subjected to the same abuse and torture.”
“For a lot less time.”
“Yes, and believe me, I’m grateful for that. So why would I want to torment any of you?”
“Indeed, why not?” I say with sarcasm.
“Kelly, come on.” From Leif.
I look at him.