Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Coming to save me, so to speak.
He plows right into Enzo, shoulder bumping him away and makes a grab for my purse. His fingers graze over mine, and the feeling of his skin against me offers more comfort than I want to admit. I don’t need to be saved. I don’t need some big macho man to literally run over here and push away the bad guy.
I can do that myself. Depending on someone else to provide a sense of safety and security for you is a surefire way to get hurt.
“What the hell?” Enzo spins around, and I swing my purse in front of me, putting a physical barrier between us. Clothing it to my chest, I pull my shoulders in and act scared. “I think I should call the police. That guy was totally going to try and mug us.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“Why? Are you going to go after him?” I pretend to dial 911.
Enzo tenses. “Why would I do that?”
“To stop the bad guy?”
He blinks a few times then tries to reach for me. “I’ll keep you safe.”
“Oh, hang on.” I bring the phone to my ear, letting my hair fall over so you can’t see that the screen is either black or my lock screen. “Yes, um, the corner of Canal and Lake Street.”
Enzo backs away. He knows he can’t get involved with the police, especially if something really is going down with his family.
“I…I’ll go look for the guy.” His eyes are wide, not knowing how to sweet talk his way out of this one. When someone like this is cornered, their go-to would be to insult me and then get out of the situation. Which is exactly what he does. “I still think you’re overreacting but if that’s what you want.”
“Oh, that would be amazing.” I put on a cheesy smile, pretending to swoon. “My hero.”
And now he’s puffing out his chest, loving that he gets to play the part of hero—even though I know he’s just going to dip out.
“Yes, I’m here,” I say into the phone. “Some guy tried to grab my purse and mug me. Yes, I’m fine. My boyfriend scared him off.” I can’t help myself. Enzo doesn’t like titles and he’s not interested in a relationship. I haven’t cleared my Andie from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days plan with Mr. FBI yet, but this is getting too close for my own comfort.
And after the shit I’ve been through, I will never allow another man to push me out of my own boundaries ever again.
“I think he went that way.” Enzo steps back. “I’ll find the motherfucker.”
I bring my hand to my chest and talk to the imaginary 911 dispatch until he’s out of sight, which takes a while since he’s out of shape and does a weird walk-jog sort of thing.
“You guys okay?” I ask the group of girls. “Sorry to scare you like that. We were recording a TikTok.”
It’s scary how quickly that lie is bought, and the group of young adults all laughs. Half have their phone out already and I’m sure a little clip of this is going to end up on the internet.
“Mira,” a man’s voice sounds in my ear. It’s not Mason’s, so it has to belong to his partner.
“Yes?” I bring my hand up and touch the earpiece, making sure it’s still in place.
“I need you to quickly cross the street and step into that parking garage that will be on your right.”
“Okay.” I nod and start to turn around.
“Don’t turn. I got eyes on him. He’s gone the opposite way.”
I hurry down the street, pause at the street corner, and then speed across, not stopping until I dodge inside a public parking garage. This is the last place I’d advise a woman to take shelter, as I’d usually avoid being alone in a parking garage at night all together.
“Go down just a few spaces and we’ll be there.”
“How will I know it’s you?”
“Look for the kidnapper van,” the man says and I laugh as I look around. I don’t see anyone else in here at the moment, and I’ll feel safest if my back is to a wall. The lot is pretty full so I go down and move between a truck and a minivan, standing with a brick pillar behind me. I have no idea where Enzo went and I can’t be sure if he’ll try to resurface anytime soon.
Something is going down with his family, and the part of me that gave up on my dream of becoming an FBI agent myself has been slowly waking up. I want to follow him, go back to his place and dig through his personal items.
But would definitely involve having to sleep with him, and I’m just not that committed to the role.