Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“We need a room,” William says lowly. “Ren Hayes will okay it. I’m his friend William.”
I wince. How can Ren be friends with this douchebag?
The man at the desk jolts at the name, staring at William with narrowed eyes. His jaw ticks as he studies William and then cuts his eyes to me. I attempt to keep my features impassive, but my lip wobbles slightly. I’m willingly going into a room alone with the guy who killed my best friend. This is stupid. Stupid but necessary for answers.
The man tears his stare from me and makes a phone call.
“Mr. Hayes,” the man says. “Sorry to bother you, but I have a William here with a lovely blond lady. He’s asking to use a private room under your name.” The man nods. “Yes. Of course. Thank you, sir.”
He hangs up and stands. “Welcome,” he says to us both. “Mr. Hayes said you can use the Blue Box. It’s small and quiet. Very private.”
William nods like a bobble head. “Perfect. I knew he’d come through.”
My stomach drops to my feet—a pebble forms in my throat. Ren wouldn’t so easily let this bastard take a girl to a room, would he? And using his name? Surely not after everything he’s been through with this guy.
My mind flitters with all the memories of our time together. When I told him William came to his house with me there, he was horrified. He promised he would never allow what happened with Kate to happen to someone else. And although I reacted in anger at first, I believe him. A sense of calm washes over me. Ren was so sure of the fact he’d protect me. That he’d find me. The fact William just told him our whereabouts is comforting. Ren has a trick up his sleeve and I need to trust in what he said. That I’m not alone. That he wants to protect me. Even when I’ve pushed him away and told him I hated him.
I don’t hate him.
I can’t stop thinking about him. I can’t stop reminiscing over our time together. I can’t stop dreaming about the way he took care of my body or how he took care of me.
We follow the man down a series of hallways. He unlocks a door and a blue light shines out into the hallway. From my vantage point, I can tell it’s indeed small, with no obvious cameras like the other room, but Ren said they have them for safety clauses. So I can only hope they’re in here but out of sight. The room is no bigger than fifteen by fifteen feet with a small bed in the center. Simple and to the point.
“Enjoy your evening,” the man says, turning on his heel.
Before he’s rounded the corner, William gives me a shove into the room. I stumble until my knees hit the bed. Rather than falling and putting myself in a vulnerable position, I spin around and square off with him. He closes the door and is already tugging off his tie.
“You killed Kate,” I blurt out, meeting his stare bravely.
Panic flashes in his eyes and he frowns, freezing in place. “Ren told you?”
“I pieced together most of it,” I tell him. “I’m sorry the prosecuting attorneys didn’t pick up on it.” I glare at him. “For some reason, Kate was in love with you.”
He scoffs. “Hardly.”
“She thought you should leave your fiancée for her.” I tear up with emotion. “But you killed her instead.”
“Enough,” he barks out, giving me a shove.
I hit the bed and bounce. Before I can scramble away, he flips me over. A scream is lodged in my throat as I ready myself to fight against a sexual attack, but he’s not trying to rip off my jeans. He’s pulling my phone out of my pocket.
No!
“Recording me, huh?” he demands. “Bad girl.”
My phone hits the floor with a sickening crack.
“William, I just came here for answers. I want to know why you killed my friend!”
With quick movements, he slides his necktie around my throat and yanks back, hauling me off the bed. I claw at the tie, but he twists the material, cutting off my air supply.
One.
Two.
Three.
Don’t panic.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Fuck.
Seven.
Blackness eats at my vision.
Screw this asshole.
Slamming my foot down hard on his dress shoe, I revel in the howl of pain that escapes him. As soon as he loosens his grip, I kick away from him, thrilled when I nail him in the nuts. He falls onto the bed whimpering, holding his balls.
“Tell me everything and don’t miss a single detail,” I hiss through my tears.
“Your phone is dead. You won’t have leverage on me.”
Does he not know about the cameras or does he just think he can buy the footage from whomever is recording? Please be recording.
I hate entitled assholes like him. They think they’re above retribution—above the law and decency. Williams of the world are why it’s so broken.