“I did what the sheriff and the police asked me to do.”
“I’m sure they didn’t mean you should keep information fromme.”
“If I’d told you, would you have been able to keep quiet, or would you have leaked it to friends in the media? I know the answer to that.”
Scott tellingly changed the subject. “This is a completely different situation than missing the world championships because of a bike accident. This ishuge. It’s the biggest news in climbing this year. I’ll call your sponsors, set up a slate of interviews—”
“I told you already. I’m taking a week off.”
“You’re … what? You’ve been out of action for more than a week already. This was your first public appearance since—”
“I just found out that someone I considered a close friend tried to kill me just to win a title. I’m still healing physically and emotionally.Do notpush me!” Sasha had never raised her voice at Scott before. “I need time.”
A hand came to rest on her shoulder.
She glanced up.
Darius.
Scott conceded. “Okay, you need time.”
“I will be out of touch for a week at least. I’ll check in with you when I’m able.”
“All right.” Scott wasn’t happy. “Time waits for no one, but I understand.”
Clearly, he didn’t, but that was his problem.
“Thanks, Scott.” She ended the call.
“Is everything okay?”
Fighting tears, she stood, slipped into his arms. “Nothing is okay, except this.”
“Maybe you need to turn off your phone for a few days.”
“Good idea.” She sent a quick text to Megs and Nicole, letting them know she was shutting off her mobile. Then she turned it off—something she never did.
The drive to Darius’ condo was short. “I wanted a place close to the office and the highway system that was quiet, so I ended up in East Wash Park.”
His condo was in a secure high rise on the east side of Washington Park, which Sasha had never seen.
“That’s a big park. So many trees—and a lake.”
“It’s more than a hundred fifty acres withtwolakes.” He chuckled. “You don’t know Denver very well, do you?”
“I don’t know Denver at all.”
He parked in the underground garage, grabbed their bags out of the back, and they rode the elevator to the sixth floor. “Second door on the left.”
He unlocked the door and stood back to let her enter.
“Home, sweet home.” Sasha couldn’t help but smile. “I like it.”
Darius’ home reflected his personality—ordered, classy, and a little Spartan. There was no art on the walls, no photographs on the shelves, no houseplants. But everything about it spoke of good taste.
A blocky sofa of black leather sat in the living room across from a gas fireplace, a matching loveseat beside it. There were wood floors throughout, with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. The primary bedroom had its own bathroom, with a large tub, a walk-in shower, and twin sinks. There was a second bedroom and a second bathroom, as well as a small office. A balcony stretched from his living room to his bedroom, facing west.
Sasha stepped outside, took in the amazing view—the park with its lakes, the downtown Denver skyline, and, far to the west, the mountains. “Standing here, it doesn’t feel like you live in a big city.”
