would you consider taking this ring and—”
Every inch of my skin is tingling like my life is about to radically transform. Don’t smile, don’t do it . For all I know he’s going to ask me something stupid and I need to keep my wits about me so I can kick him.
But, oh God, I want to grin and clasp my hands together. Sean wouldn’t pretend to propose and then not do it. There’s a happy dance building inside of me, making my heart flutter and the corners of my lips tip up. Anticipation and excitement are coursing through my veins as the words come from his heart.
Everything is about to change.
Then, it does. The door to the little beach shack slams open and hits the concrete wall hard. The sound cuts off Sean’s question and he jumps to his feet when he sees who’s standing there.
CHAPTER 2
Gabe. The man is covered in sweat like he’s been running. He walks quickly toward us, straightening his rumpled suit. “I wasn’t here and I didn’t see this,” his hands fly in the air like he wants to punch something, “whatever the fuck this is. Avery, you know better. I told you.” Worry pinches his brow as he lets out a rush of air and points at the door. “Go, get out of here and for the love of God, don’t wear the fucking bracelet when you’re not working. If Black asks, I didn’t find you. You were already gone.”
For a moment all I can do is blink, “ But, why are you—’
Gabe looks at Sean and some unspoken message passes from one man to the other. Gabe repeats, “Go. Separate. Find Mel and w ork out your timeline before you check in tonight.”
But I don’t move. “Gabe, what’s happening?” What’s wrong? Because something is very off.
The old man stares at me and for a moment I think he’s seeing someone else, maybe a daughter. I remind him of someone he cared about, someone that he failed somehow. The haunted expression lingers at the back of his eyes as if he’s seeing a ghost. “Avery, Black knows about you two. She’s always known, but she tolerated it. Something changed today. I don’t know what, but her orders were to find you and remind you that you are her property, and to use excessive force in doing so.”
Sean tries to pull me away from Gabe, but I know the old guy won’t hurt us. Besides, if he was here to take my head off, he would have done it already. “Sean, it’s all right. He’s warning us, and I bet that he’s risking a lot to do it.”
Gabe’s eyes remain locked on mine. His voice is pleading. “Something changed. I know you won’t run, but you need to get away from her. Quit and walk away before this gets worse. Some one’s going to end up in a body bag before this is over and I sure as hell don’t want it to be you.”
Without another word, Sean pulls at my hand and gives me the keys to his car. “Go back to the dorm and lock yourself in your room. I’ll check on you to make sure you’re all right.”
“Sean?” I don’t like this. Gabe and Sean exchange looks, like there’s more to be said but they don’t want to say it in front of me. It feels like I was booted off of cloud nine, did a free fall, and landed smack on my face. Emotional whiplash is a bitch. “What else is going on? You know that Black knew about us, didn’t you? Then why is she—”
“No, we’re not discussing this right now.” Sean’s gaze slips over me quickly. “Where’s the bracelet?”
“At the bottom of my p urse. I didn’t realize…” I didn’t think she’d be tracking me for kicks. It’s the first time that I really realize Miss Black isn’t the business woman she appears to be. I’ve been thinking of her as a boss, but she isn’t. She’s more than that, much more. My jaw flops around. There are so many things I want to say, but they all sound stupid now. I’m naïve. Miss Black isn’t some passive woman trying to make a quick buck. Call girls are her empire and she’s the queen, which makes me a pawn.
Sean watches me for a second
Every inch of my skin is tingling like my life is about to radically transform. Don’t smile, don’t do it . For all I know he’s going to ask me something stupid and I need to keep my wits about me so I can kick him.
But, oh God, I want to grin and clasp my hands together. Sean wouldn’t pretend to propose and then not do it. There’s a happy dance building inside of me, making my heart flutter and the corners of my lips tip up. Anticipation and excitement are coursing through my veins as the words come from his heart.
Everything is about to change.
Then, it does. The door to the little beach shack slams open and hits the concrete wall hard. The sound cuts off Sean’s question and he jumps to his feet when he sees who’s standing there.
CHAPTER 2
Gabe. The man is covered in sweat like he’s been running. He walks quickly toward us, straightening his rumpled suit. “I wasn’t here and I didn’t see this,” his hands fly in the air like he wants to punch something, “whatever the fuck this is. Avery, you know better. I told you.” Worry pinches his brow as he lets out a rush of air and points at the door. “Go, get out of here and for the love of God, don’t wear the fucking bracelet when you’re not working. If Black asks, I didn’t find you. You were already gone.”
For a moment all I can do is blink, “ But, why are you—’
Gabe looks at Sean and some unspoken message passes from one man to the other. Gabe repeats, “Go. Separate. Find Mel and w ork out your timeline before you check in tonight.”
But I don’t move. “Gabe, what’s happening?” What’s wrong? Because something is very off.
The old man stares at me and for a moment I think he’s seeing someone else, maybe a daughter. I remind him of someone he cared about, someone that he failed somehow. The haunted expression lingers at the back of his eyes as if he’s seeing a ghost. “Avery, Black knows about you two. She’s always known, but she tolerated it. Something changed today. I don’t know what, but her orders were to find you and remind you that you are her property, and to use excessive force in doing so.”
Sean tries to pull me away from Gabe, but I know the old guy won’t hurt us. Besides, if he was here to take my head off, he would have done it already. “Sean, it’s all right. He’s warning us, and I bet that he’s risking a lot to do it.”
Gabe’s eyes remain locked on mine. His voice is pleading. “Something changed. I know you won’t run, but you need to get away from her. Quit and walk away before this gets worse. Some one’s going to end up in a body bag before this is over and I sure as hell don’t want it to be you.”
Without another word, Sean pulls at my hand and gives me the keys to his car. “Go back to the dorm and lock yourself in your room. I’ll check on you to make sure you’re all right.”
“Sean?” I don’t like this. Gabe and Sean exchange looks, like there’s more to be said but they don’t want to say it in front of me. It feels like I was booted off of cloud nine, did a free fall, and landed smack on my face. Emotional whiplash is a bitch. “What else is going on? You know that Black knew about us, didn’t you? Then why is she—”
“No, we’re not discussing this right now.” Sean’s gaze slips over me quickly. “Where’s the bracelet?”
“At the bottom of my p urse. I didn’t realize…” I didn’t think she’d be tracking me for kicks. It’s the first time that I really realize Miss Black isn’t the business woman she appears to be. I’ve been thinking of her as a boss, but she isn’t. She’s more than that, much more. My jaw flops around. There are so many things I want to say, but they all sound stupid now. I’m naïve. Miss Black isn’t some passive woman trying to make a quick buck. Call girls are her empire and she’s the queen, which makes me a pawn.
Sean watches me for a second
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