Page 41 of Sinful Seduction

Gannon had a bailiff take her out the side door because he was worried she was getting sick.

“I’ve got to get back in.If you need anything, call me.I wish every witness were like you.Take care.”

Jayla watched him go through the door and turned to the man.“Is there any way you could get my suitcase in the boardroom for me?”

“Absolutely.Sit down.I’ll be right back.”

Jayla nodded and waited for the door to close before walking into the bathroom and splashing cold water on her face.The door opened and closed as she stared at herself in the mirror.

“Where the hell did she go?”Beau yelled.

Jayla hadn’t turned the light on in the bathroom, and the sink was too far off to the side for them to see her.She stood and carefully moved against the wall.She couldn’t deal with them right now, maybe not ever.

She heard them cuss a few times, and then the door opened and closed again.She released the breath she’d had stuck in her lungs when she first listened to their voices.Jayla stood by the doorway and waited.

A minute passed, and the door opened again.“Miss?”

She sighed in relief and moved out of the bathroom.“I’m here.”

“There’s a side entrance I can let you go out.There are always taxis because the lawyers go back and forth between their offices and here.”

“That would be great.”

The bailiff made sure she got in a taxi.“Take care of yourself.”

“I will.Thank you.”

She had the taxi driver let her out on the other side of the city.She caught a train to the other side of Philadelphia.The sun was starting to set when she found a hotel and paid for a room.It wasn’t fancy like the last one, but it would do for the night.

She was on her way back to the room after going to the convenience store down the block for something to snack on.When she got to the hotel, she stopped in the lobby and dialed Joseph.

“This is Joseph.”

“It’s me, Jayla.”

“Where the hell are you?”he bellowed.“We’ve been searching the city for you.”

“It’s not important.I just wanted to call and thank you for the schools you put me in.They taught me a lot.Some people didn’t have that advantage.”

“Jayla.Tell me where you are so I can send a car to you.”

“No.I’m going away somewhere different.I just wanted to thank you.I don’t know if we’ll ever talk again.Take—”

“Jayla, tell me where you are.Please.I have so much to tell you.”

“I don’t think there is anything else to talk about.I’m done getting hurt by the people who should care about me.”

“I screwed up.I know.Let me explain...”

She rubbed her temple where a headache was starting to set in.“It doesn’t matter.Your job as my godfather ended when I became an adult.You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“Goddammit, Jayla.Tell me now.You have people looking for you.”

“Are you talking about the latest bodyguards you assigned to me?”

“Yes.They wanted to talk to you.”

“I don’t have the energy.They’re going to have to find closure another way.”