Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I don't get a chance to read any before my phone starts to go off.
"Pierce," I say, answering the call.
"Pierce, it's Hollis. I got your email." He's quick to get to the point, and is he talking in hushed tones?
"I wanted to thank you for getting me the room and see if we could meet up today."
"I should have pieced together you being here with the resort bullshit." Yes, I'd mentioned that in the email.
"That's not why I'm here, or it hadn't been. To be clear, I'm not on board with this resort shit." Now if Tinsley wanted it, I would be, but she's on the other side. So now I am too.
I’ll fight tooth and nail to stop Biff in his tracks. I was already trying to get my name away from anything he is involved in. He’s gone too far this time, coming after my girl.
“Seems like an awfully big coincidence,” Hollis says. He’s right to be skeptical. He’s originally from the city where everyone knows everyone in the finance world.
“It’s not all a coincidence,” I admit it. “But as I said, I’m not here to put a resort in.”
“Not any resort. A Bilton Inn Resort. It doesn’t get more commercial.”
“Bilton—”
“I know. When I saw the name—” He lets out a sigh. That won’t be an easy strong-arm, and Hollis is aware of that too.
“Let’s meet and see what we can come up with or what connections we might share that we can use together.”
“You’re still in.” I know what the “in” is referring to.
“At the moment, but you—”
“No, I don’t get tangled in that bullshit.” Hollis has a handful of years on me, but I would have known if he was in. He didn’t necessarily need the King of Thieves. The Frost last name has stood on its own for a long time. His father was a good man, and Hollis had to step in earlier than he should have to take over.
"I'll use whatever pull I need to there. This is wrapped up in the Bradfords." He curses under his breath. I don't tell him it's also wrapped up in Tinsley. I'm not outing her part in this.
"I have a bit of a hold on them, but one is a loose cannon." I hear the sounds of children's laughter in the background.
"I need to get off. Come up to my house this afternoon. I'll email you the time. Keep this shit close to the chest. I don't want this getting out, especially today." I want to ask what today is, but the laughter grows louder, and I hear a woman call out for him. I assume she's his wife.
"Got it. I'm not a resident, so I'm not in on the gossip mill."
"Everyone is in on the gossip mill. You need to learn that real quick around here. People are talking about Tinsley being in your room last night. You should be—" He cuts himself off. "This afternoon." Hollis doesn't wait for a confirmation before ending the call. I smile to myself. If there’s one thing I don’t mind people talking about, it’s Tinsley being in my room. As a matter of fact, I rather enjoy it.
I head downstairs to grab a quick coffee before I dig in to all of this more and make a few calls. What I want to know more than anything is where the fuck Biff is.
"Mr. Harte," Betty says when I hit the bottom step. "I'm sorry about the earthquake and the small fire. Things can get a bit strange around here." I don’t even know how she keeps a straight face, but she manages it. It only makes me like this town more.
"I hope nothing important got burnt." I lean up against the tall reception desk.
"We kept it contained." They really are thick as thieves around here. I would prefer this club over the King of Thieves. I don't think they stab each other in the back when push comes to shove. They'll all go down together. “Where are you off to this morning?”
“I wanted to grab some coffee, and then I have some work I need to handle.”
“Oh, what kind of work do you do?” Betty cocks her head to the side, waiting for me to divulge any information she can get her hands on.
“I dabble in a bit of everything.”
“That’s vague.” She calls me right out on my evasiveness.
“Keeps the mystery going.” Her over-colored brows lift, knowing I’m on to them.
“Right.” Betty fights a smile. “I can grab you a cup of coffee, or you can check out the bakery, but I will have breakfast ready soon.”
“I’ll head over to the bakery.” She tells me where it is, along with a few other places in town. I make the short walk over and grab a pastry and coffee before heading back to my room, wanting to be quick.