“I did. It went straight to voicemail. I knew Brutus was with you.”
“What’s up?”
“I found your woman. By my guess, you’re not going to like where, though.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kayla
I checked the time on my wrist watch as I pushed through the double doors toward my office building’s parking lot. It was just after seven. I’d stayed late at work, to take a few late patient appointments and get through some paperwork. At least, that’s what I’d told myself. The real reason was because I just didn’t want to go home. I’d decided to rent an apartment since for some reason I just couldn’t go through with the actual purchasing of a condo. While I liked the apartment it didn’t feel like home. I tried to convince myself it was just because I hadn’t moved my furniture in yet but in the back of my mind, I knew that wasn’t the truth either.
I pushed my hair back with my hand, sighing and looking up to stop short in my tracks. Right outside of the office building stood a huge, burly man dressed in all black. He was leaning against a dark Lincoln town car. I wouldn’t have paid him too much attention save for the fact that he looked familiar. Like I’d seen him before.
“Ms. Reyes?” he questioned as I moved closer.
“Who’s asking?” My gaze shifted around the mostly empty parking lot. This guy and his car were in between me and my own vehicle. I eyed him wondering if I could outrun him.
“Ms. Reyes, my name is Brutus. I work as head of security for the Townsend family. Mr. Townsend has asked me—”
“Which Mr. Townsend?” I questioned with narrowed eyes.
“Joshua,” he answered without hesitation, “has asked that I escort you to his location.”
I took a step back, eyeing this Brutus person warily. “How do I even know you’re telling the truth?”
Unperturbed, Brutus nodded. “Mr. Townsend thought you would ask that.” Without answering my question, Brutus pulled a cell phone out and dialed. “I’m calling him.” He put the phone to his ear. “Yes. Yup, just as you said. Okay.” He held the phone out to me. “It’s Joshua.”
I refused to reach for the phone, still not wanting to get too close. Though, I did remember seeing this guy at the police station with Joshua the night of the robbery.
Brutus nodded again, turning the phone to him and pressing another button. “You’re on speaker.”
“Get in the damn car, Kay,” Joshua’s angry sounding voice reverberated through the phone.
I shook off the chill that ran down my spine at hearing his voice for the first time in days. I had to remember to be strong. “No.”
“Kayla Reyes, if you don’t get in the car—”
“You’ll what? I mean, you couldn’t even show up yourself? And where the hell is this Brutus supposed to be taking me? I don’t know this big scary looking guy. This could be considered kidnapping.” I turned my gaze up to Brutus. “No offense.”
He shrugged. “None taken.”
I heard Josh’s telltale grunt through the line.
“Kay, I know you moved out and I know why. I’m asking you to trust me. Please get in the car with Brutus. You’re perfectly safe with him.”
I didn’t want the sincerity in his voice to penetrate my anger but it did. My shoulders sank a little. “What about my car?”
“It’ll be fine at the office parking lot. We’ll get it tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Wh—”
“Get in the goddamn car,” he growled.
I bit back a laugh. “Fine.”
I heard a few hushed words between Brutus on the phone before I stepped closer to the door he now held open. I climbed in, wondering what the hell I was even doing. Twenty-four hours ago I was certain I wanted a clean break from Joshua Townsend and one simple gesture on his part and I’m riding to God knows where to see him.
I spun the different possibilities of where we could be going around in my mind. Going to Joshua’s home seemed the most obvious choice but then again this felt like he had something else up his sleeve. I wanted to question Brutus as he silently drove but I figured I’d get no answers there. From the stern look in his eye when he glanced back at me through the rearview mirror every so often, I figured he wasn’t the type of give up information easily. Call it a hunch. While Brutus didn’t come off as the friendliest, I wasn’t particularly nervous or frightened. Though, I was wary of trusting Josh with my heart, I completely trusted him with my safety and well-being. If he sent this Brutus to pick me up, then I was safe.
