Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Go through the back. There are fewer of them,” Manny advised. “I told them I was calling the cops, so some left.”
I squared my shoulders. “Okay. I’m out.”
I walked out the back door and headed to my car. Some had moved across the street, but the real assholes, the ones who liked to give me a hard time, came closer, ignoring Manny’s threats of trespassing. There were shouts and flashes as the throng descended, yelling and trying to get me to react.
Where’s your date?
How much have you had to drink, Nick?
Should you be driving?
Who were you meeting?
What are you working on?
Why are you hiding?
The one group I detested more than anything were a little more personal.
Here to get some drugs, Nick?
How long until your next stint in rehab?
What? Food and a fast fuck and you’re off?
What’s in the bag? Alcohol for later?
I wanted to shout back something equally as rude, like, “No! Your mother’s underwear I took as a souvenir.” It would amuse Mila when I told her later, but I knew better than to engage.
I got to the car and slid inside, gunning the engine and pulling out of the parking lot as quickly as I could. I shielded my eyes from the flashes and kept the car moving forward, grateful I didn’t hit any of them. I wouldn’t have minded running some of them over, but I really just wanted to get to the hotel and make sure Mila was okay. It upset me that she didn’t have a phone. What if she got into some trouble? My heart raced at the thought.
Finally out of the lot, I floored it and drove away, looking in my rearview to see a couple cars coming after me. I headed toward the highway, determined to lose them. Or at least get back to the hotel before they had a chance to descend again.
I managed to beat them, and security opened the gate quickly for me. I hopped from the car, feeling my anxiety growing. MJ hadn’t answered her phone, coward that she was, and my scathing voice message would let her know she’d crossed the line this time. The front desk informed me they hadn’t seen Mila, and there was no answer in the suite. The elevator took forever, and I pounded on her door, turning when Andi called to me from across the hall. “Nicholas?”
“Where is she?”
Andi looked confused. “Isn’t she with you?”
I threw out my arms. “Does it look like she’s with me?” I snapped.
She frowned and grabbed another keycard from her pocket. “Calm yourself down, Nick. Why isn’t Mila with you?”
I explained what had happened, pacing and getting more upset by the moment when we saw the suite was still empty.
“Fuck, what if she had a car accident? What if Carmen let her out somewhere, and she got lost trying to get here? What if she’s downstairs getting harassed even now?”
“I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation. Did you call Carmen’s phone?”
“Manny said she’d forgotten it. Neither of them has a phone.” I pulled on my hair, my mind racing, my imagination running overtime. “She’s out there…” I exploded. “Goddamn MJ—this is her. I don’t know where Mila is, I can’t reach her, and I don’t know how to fucking find her!”
Andi grabbed my arm. “Stop it. You’re overreacting, Nick.”
I pushed her away, and I headed for the door, flinging it open, startling Mila, who was on the other side. She gasped, stumbling back, and I reached out, grabbing her arms and dragging her into my embrace.
“Oh, thank fuck, you’re safe. You’re here,” I muttered into her neck. I stepped back into the room, bringing her with me. “You left your phone. I couldn’t call you. You should have been here when I arrived.” I pulled back. “Where were you, dammit?”
She blinked at my vehement tone, and she winced. “You’re hurting me.”
I released her, stepping aside.
“Don’t yell at me,” she said.
“I’m-I’m sorry. I was worried. Upset.”
She cupped my cheek, and I turned my face, kissing her palm. “I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“Carmen had to go home and change before going out. Then we got a little lost. It took us a bit to find the hotel.” Mila smiled ruefully. “I wasn’t much help with directions, and her car is older. No navigation system. We had to ask a few people, and we got turned around. But I’m here now. I’m fine.”
I pulled her into my arms again. “Good. That’s good.”
She let me hold her. “Breathe, Nick. Just breathe with me.”
I realized I was holding her too tightly. Reacting too strongly. I managed to loosen my embrace, and I took in some calming breaths. She pushed at my chest and I let her go, but I was glad when she took my hand.
“What a night,” Andi commented. “I was just going to go grab a drink when Nicholas showed up. He got me worried.”