Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Baranov.” Liam whispers the name heavily. “The girl.”
I glance at him and nod. “You know her?”
“Only vaguely.” He seems disturbed as he taps a finger against the glass. “Did Kieren say anything to you? Leading up to his disappearance?”
“You mean, leading up to him ruining my life?”
“Yes, love, but I was trying to be tactful.”
“No, he didn’t say anything. What would he say?” I do my best Kieren impression, lowering my voice a few octaves. “Hey babe, been banging some hot chick from high school behind your back, heh heh, hope that’s cool.”
Liam seems amused. “Did he act strangely? Not at home, but at work. Did he request anything? Ask to see documents that weren’t his?”
The questions catch my attention. A slow, creeping feeling rolls into my guts. “Nothing like that. We didn’t really work together that much. He was high up in project management and I’m an accountant.”
“You have access to your father’s books?”
“For the business, sure.”
“Do you ever bring your laptop home with you? Maybe leave it around the apartment? Does Kieren know your passwords?”
I shove away from the counter and get to my feet. “What the hell is this?”
“Questions, love, that’s all. Not accusations. You’re not in trouble.” He holds his hands up, trying to calm me.
“What did Kieren do? Why were you sent to look in his car?”
“Can’t talk about specifics.”
“But you can torch his vehicle and drag me back to your place for questioning?”
“That’s within my parameters.”
“Screw this.” I turn away, afraid and angry and deeply confused, but sure about one thing. “I need to talk to my dad.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Why the hell not?! You’re making it sound like Kieren did something wrong at work.”
“Because if he knows you and I spoke—“ Liam pours a third drink and refills my glass too. “He’ll wonder how and why. And I’m generally not disposed toward lying to my bosses.” He slides the glass toward me. “Don’t storm off.”
I glare at him, seething. “Are you threatening to tell my dad what we did?”
“I’m being straight with you. Sit down and finish this glass. Besides, it’s not safe yet.”
“You said the cameras were off. The cops don’t know who we are.”
“No, they don’t, but other people likely saw you enter and leave. They’ll have a vague description. You need to stay off the streets tonight.”
“Tonight?! As in, all night?”
“Looks like we’re having a sleepover.”
CHAPTER 3
REGAN
My jaw drops as he impatiently gestures at the whisky. “Come back. Sit down. Sip this. You’ll feel better.”
“Stop trying to get me drunk. I’m not staying over here. There’s no way.”
“So you want to go back to your father’s place smelling like gasoline and smoke?”
I hesitate, because he’s got a good point. I’ve been staying in my childhood bedroom ever since I caught Kieren balls deep in Vera in our bed, and it’ll be hard to hide my nasty smelling clothes from my parents. Even if neither of them have so much as seen a washer and dryer in decades.
“I’ll get a hotel room.”
“And risk some clerk ratting you out? A girl comes in, stinking like a barbecue, dressed like a cheap ninja—“
“Hey!”
“They’ll call the cops in a second. You’ll rot in prison. Drink the whisky, stay here, shower, let me wash your clothes, and you can leave in the morning.”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. I look toward the door, panic rising again, but I don’t move.
What if he’s right? What if it’s safer to spend the night here and let him do the laundry before I go back in the morning? Nobody at home will question that. I’m a grown ass woman, I can come and go as I please.
But staying here, with Liam…
“What will I wear? While you’re doing wash?”
The look on his face is utterly infuriating. “I’ve got shorts and shirts. Don’t worry about that.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I suppose I feel guilty. I didn’t have to light the car on fire, but you looked like you needed it.”
I bark a laugh, march over, and snatch the drink. My third of the night, which is three more than I normally have. “You burned the car for me?”
“Entirely for you, love.”
The look he gives me, plaintive, fascinated, filled with sin, makes me throw the whisky back and shoot it down my throat.
“Just one night and I’m staying on the couch.” I slam the glass down. “Where’s your shower?”
Water runs down my body. I wring out my hair, not happy with this makeshift wash, but otherwise it would smell like a chain-smoker’s dungeon. The door to the bathroom is locked, but I keep waiting for Liam to come rushing in anyway.
I can’t stop thinking about him. The way he moves, the way he looks at me like he’s impossibly curious and can’t help himself. He’s handsome in a rough and scary sort of way. I’ve always tried to avoid men like him, which is how I ended up with Kieren. My ex was perfect: nice family, good hair, outgoing, the All-American kind of guy. My father deeply approved, and maybe that was part of the charm. Dating Kieren meant doing the right thing, and that’s always been everything.