Treacherous by L.L Hunter Page A

the
authorities know about new evidence your father has been trying to
conceal.”
    “ New
evidence?”
    “ Yeah. Anyway, I don’t
want you to be alarmed. I just thought you should know. You know,
in case the police come to question you.”
    “ But I don’t know
anything.”
    “ Exactly. And this is
why I am not telling you. To keep you safe, keep you
innocent.”
    I didn’t know what to
say. Why had my father gotten himself into this time? I knew
representing criminals was a dirty and dangerous business, and my
father often played with fire… I had a feeling this was about what
I had overheard at my party. Something Frankie knew
about.
    “ Charlotte? Are you
there?”
    “ Yes. Sorry, Mum. I
have to go. I’m going out of town for a few days.”
    “ What? Where? And with
whom?”
    “ I don’t know.
Frankie’s taking me away, romantic getaway. You know how it
is.”
    “ Frankie? Are you
still seeing him? What about Nathan?”
    Oh, why did she have to bring up
Nathan!
    “ Mum, it’s
complicated.”
    “ Charlotte, be
careful. You’re playing with his heart. I think he really likes
you.”
    “ Well, if he really
likes me then he should call me. I have to go.” I cut her protests
off short and went back to packing my bag. Frankie would be here
soon, and I knew I was playing with Nathan’s heart. But what could
I do? Frankie was here and Nathan was not.
     
     

Chapter
Twenty-Three
     
    Nathan
     
    On my way back to the campus, my phone
rang. I hit answer and adjusted my Bluetooth earpiece.
    “ Hello?”
    “ Nathan, you have to
get back to campus right away. You have to get to
Charlotte.”
    “ What? Susan, slow
down. Is Charli okay?” My heart began pounding. Shit. What if that
prick had already hurt her?
    “ She’s leaving town
with him.”
    “ With who?
Levi?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ When?”
    “ Right now.
Today.”
    “ Shit.” I didn’t
normally swear in front of women, but right now, I couldn’t help
it. I was in a conundrum. Legally, Susan couldn’t testify against
her husband, but I was confused. Was she working against Stephen,
or with him? I had to question her. But that would be for later.
Right now, my main concern was for Charli’s safety.
    “ I’m on my
way.”
    * * * *
    I pulled up in front of the campus ten
minutes later. Not bothering to park my car properly, I ripped the
earpiece out of my ear and ran towards the doors to Charli’s
building. When I reached the door to her apartment raising my hand
to knock, the door opened and Charli stepped out, walking into
me.
    “ What the… Nathan?
What are you doing here?”
    “ Are you okay?” I
looked her over for physical signs Levi had hurt her but couldn’t
see any. There were no emotional scars either. Not yet
anyway.
    “ I’m fine.” She
crossed her arms across her breasts and leaned against the
doorframe. She was pissed at me. I was a fool for not calling her.
I pushed my hand back through my unkempt hair in
frustration.
    “ Look, I can explain.
I’m sorry I haven’t called you.”
    “ What’s the deal? I
thought you cared. You acted all loving on Sunday then you totally
blow me off. Don’t you know common courtesy?”
    What was I going to
tell her? “I had to work.” Lame excuse, Nathan.
    “ Yeah, sure.” She
pushed off the doorframe and walked back into her room, leaving the
door ajar. I caught it with my boot before it closed and followed
her. Upon seeing her overnight bag, I hesitated.
    “ Going somewhere?” So
it was true. She was going away with him.
    “ Uh… yeah. Just for a
few days.”
    “ Oh, who with?” She
stopped playing with the zipper on her bag and spun around to
confront me.
    “ What’s it to you? You
didn’t seem to care about me the past few days. Why do you care
now?”
    “ Because… because,
Charli, I’ve come to my senses.” It was now or never. I had to stop
her from making the worst mistake of her life, and possibly the
last. I stepped towards her and pushed a stray piece of hair