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“End the call.”
“Lottie? Lottie?” Ace called through the phone.
“End the call. And don’t do anything stupid.”
“Um, Ace, buddy. I have to go, all right?”
“What’s wrong?” Ace asked.
“Nothing, honey. Say hi to Maxim for me. I’m sorry I can’t get home for his birthday.” She winced as she said that. What was she doing? Leaving a clue for a seven-year-old?
Fuck. She ended the call.
“Slide it along the floor.”
Crouching, she pushed the phone along the floor.
“What are you doing here, Eleanor? How did you get up here? And why the fuck are you holding a gun on me?”
A gun with a silencer on it.
Eleanor James, Liam’s stepmother, clicked her tongue. “Such atrocious manners. You were such a sweet girl before. That must be Liam’s influence. He always was uncouth. It’s his Irish blood. He even uses their last name, rather than his father’s.”
“Maybe he’d rather be as removed as possible from that man and you.”
Oh, God, what was she going to do? Necklace. She needed to hit the panic button on her necklace.
Please let it work from this far away.
“Liam will be home soon,” Lottie lied. “You should go.”
“Oh, I am going. You’re coming with me, though.”
“Why? Why do you want me?”
“You mean you don’t know? Charlotte Malone, beloved younger sister of the New Orleans Malones. The very rich and powerful New Orleans Malones. Lover to one of the richest men in the country. And you really have no idea?”
“Money? This is about money? Seriously?”
“Actually, it’s about love. Now, we’re going to leave and you’re not saying a word to anyone. Or I’m going to have the man who I have following Nico shoot him in the head.”
Fuck. Fuck.
Was she serious? Lottie had no idea. But she knew that she couldn’t risk Nico. Her hand twitched, wanting to use her necklace now. However, she didn’t want to draw attention to it.
Feeling numb with fear, she made her way out of the apartment. A gasp left her lips as she saw Evan lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
“We have to help him. Call the paramedics.”
“Don’t be stupid. He’s dead. Come on.” Eleanor dragged her to the elevator.
The walls aren’t closing in on me. I’m fine.
They rode down to the ground floor without anyone climbing in. Eleanor had hidden the gun in her huge handbag. Lottie wondered about the doorman. Worry for him filled her. But Eleanor had her arm in a hold.
As they got toward the door, panic started to fill her. She couldn’t do this again. Couldn’t let herself get taken. Her breath started coming in sharp pants.
“Stop it. What’s wrong with you? Get outside. I told you if you make a scene I’ll kill Nico.”
