Beautiful Liars by Kylie Adams Page B

over. And so she refused to consider it. Simone was giving Tommy Robb just enough credit. Psycho bastards like him must have limits. Stopping short of cruelty to animals had to be one of them.
    Feeling more vulnerable than ever and not knowing where to turn, she called Tilly, operating under the extravagant hope that the woman could offer some advice or even a moment of comfort.
    â€œSimone, please make it quick,” Tilly snapped right away. “The timing of this call couldn’t be worse.”
    â€œI still don’t have Chanel,” Simone cried. “Tommy won’t give her back. I don’t—”
    â€œYou have a missing cat,” Tilly cut in. “Okay, I have a missing husband and father. Dean Paul is nowhere to be found. The columns seem to suggest that I could find him in Finn’s bed. But apparently that’s not the case. I’ve already checked with him.”
    â€œHow long has he been gone?” Simone asked.
    â€œI haven’t seen him since early this morning.”
    Simone felt the urge to throw her cellular into the gutter. What a self-absorbed bitch! This was hardly a future plotline for Without a Trace . But she played along. “Are you worried?”
    â€œNo, I’m pissed off,”Tilly shot back. “And anger is bad for future lines around the mouth, so I’m slathering on the La Mer cream as we speak.” One beat. “You sound terrible. Are you crying?”
    â€œSecurity just kicked me out of Tommy’s building,” Simone said tearfully.
    â€œSimone, please! ”Tilly exclaimed. “You said he was stalkingyou. Now it sounds like you’re stalking him.”
    â€œTilly, he kidnapped my cat!”
    â€œHonestly, Simone, this is not a grown-up situation. I’m an adult woman with a child to raise and a husband who’s about to be unemployed. I have real problems to deal with.” Click.
    For a moment, Simone just stood there, fuming on the sidewalk. And then she let out a primal scream with the words, “Why am I friends with that bitch?”
    Simone’s cellular buzzed. If it was Tilly calling back, then she was not going to pick up. No such worry. But the incomingnumber stumped her. “Hello?”
    â€œThis is your last chance, baby girl. I never have to ask twice, but for you I’m making an exception,” Kevon Edmonds said.
    â€œI can’t talk right now,” Simone managed to say, mildly annoyed by the call but not revolted like she had been the other day.
    â€œYou sound stressed out,” Kevon said, his voice down an octave and the closest thing to real concern she had heard since the ordeal happened. “What’s wrong?”
    Simone opened her mouth to offer some vague answer, then suddenly burst into tears.
    â€œEverything’s cool, baby. I got your back. Everything’s cool,” Kevon said in a buttery voice that provided instant comfort. “I’m rolling, and I’m coming straight to you. Tell me where you are.”
    Simone hesitated.
    â€œI’m rolling straight to you, baby. Tell me where you are.”
    Finally, she relented and called out Tommy’s Park Avenue address.
    â€œJust chill right there. Do you hear me? Chill right there.”
    â€œOkay,” Simone agreed meekly. Doing so flooded her with a sense of relief. Someone was taking charge. Someone besides her. It was a strange yet glorious feeling.
    Simone waited for almost fifteen minutes. And then a 2008 H2 Hummer limousine coasted into view like a luxury liner. The front license plate emblazoned with the letters KEVONE dazzled obscenely with flashing white lights and sparkling rhinestones.
    A rear door lurched open.
    Simone peeked inside to see Kevon, cell phone planted to ear, nestled alone in a cabin built for at least sixteen passengers.
    Silently, Kevon waved her into his sanctuary. “Listen, this big nose nigga can smell, and I’m not signing off on this shit until