“I’m missing some critical information. I know I am.” I can’t help the frustration.
Ella changes the subject. “Got a text from Jax a few minutes ago.”
“What did the fucker say? I know he blew it way out of proportion. He always does.”
Ella may be my personal assistant, but she’s also my friend, and she’s no stranger to Jax and Evan’s antics.
“He said your boss is there.” She says the statement cautiously but with a hint of mischief.
“He gave me a ride, and being the polite person I am, I asked him to stay for a drink. He agreed.”
“There was also something about taking him home with them and karaoke and the fact that Jax thinks he’s the hottest man alive.” She says it all like it’s a question, and I know she’s trying to pry my thoughts from my head.
I grumble. “Says everyone.”
Ella laughs. “You don’t agree?”
I find myself pouting into the phone. “I never said I didn’t agree. I just don’t know why everyone always has to bring it up.”
Ella laughs harder. “Careful, Nova. Hot, murderous men are super dangerous.”
“Thanks for the reminder,” I groan.
She’s right. Heisdangerous, and I keep forgetting that.
Her voice changes again, turning quiet and serious—almost scared. “Nova, if Eagan does find out that the companies Owen acquired were evil in some way, the deaths of those CEOs don’t get rid of the illegal activity—or the people that were involved in the illegal activity.”
“What are you saying?” Though I already know the answer.
“I’m saying you need to be more careful. Mr. Mills may be in danger, and you might be too.”
Something catches my eye, and I hang up the phone. A shadow moves silently through the trees outside the restaurant.
I freeze, straining my ears to listen for any movement. A chill races down my spine. The telltale sign I’m being watched.
My instincts kick in, having been in this exact scenario more times than I can count. I reach into my bag, pretending to search for something, acting oblivious to my surroundings.
Though I appear calm and clueless, my palms start to sweat, and I’m internally berating myself for not being more alert. I have no idea how much of the conversation the person in the shadows caught.
Finally wrapping my fingers around a red lipstick tube and a hand mirror, I pull them out and face the restaurant.
Usually, I would never turn my back on a potential threat, but if they wanted to harm me, they would have already done it. They are here for information.
But I’m here for the same thing, so I find myself in a bit of a standoff with the person in the shadows. Who will make the first move?
I take my time, applying the lipstick slowly, as if trying to make sure I get it exactly right. While I’m doing that, I peer at the mirror, watching for the shadows to shift.
As expected, they do not wait for me to go back inside. Meaning, they either got the information they needed, or they think I’m clueless and useless. Likely the latter, or they wouldn’t have moved.
The shadow is large, probably a man. He retreats further into the trees, moving slowly in a straight path.
I inch backward, keeping my steps silent even though I know he’s already turned and cannot see me.
When his shadow disappears out of sight, I spin and stash my lipstick and mirror roughly into my purse and follow him on silent feet.
I rely on men thinking women are clueless in this business, and they rarely surprise me. If I’d been a man, this guy wouldn’t have so carelessly let me follow him.
He keeps a straight path through the trees, still quiet and out of direct light from nearby buildings, but he doesn’t look back once. Stoppingbefore the tree line, he surveys an empty parking lot lit up with street lamps. It appears to be a warehouse parking lot, but the cracks in the pavement and the plants growing through them suggest this warehouse isn’t currently in use.
