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Chapter 19
Speak Up
Chloe
“What do you have for me, Justin?” Brodi says into the phone.
He’s on a conference call. I don’t know how he does it. It’s like he goes all day. This call is with his Georgia team from what I’ve overheard. While it’s early afternoon for them, it’s late into the evening for us.
It hasn’t slipped my notice that he’s been working from here in the hotel when I’m sure he needs to go into his office. Instead, his assistant Eric—who he flew in from Georgia after one of his employees here fell ill—comes by daily with stacks of paperwork and a tablet he hands off to Brodi and returns to pick up each evening.
When I asked about the tablet, Brodi explained important and classified docs are on it. Things he doesn’t quite trust having emailed or transferred through doc shares. I can understand that.
Especially after he explained his father found a way to outsmart him and his brothers to gain controlling interest in their companies and he isn’t entirely sure if the person targeting me and Sid is also behind the issues he’s been having with some business.
“No, run those numbers by me again,” he says into the phone.
I’ve been trying to paint as quietly as I can. However, his barking orders have proved to be a distraction. He’s been going since early this morning.
Giving up on painting, I stand and head into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Looking at the time, I think of Ally. We still haven’t had a real talk.
Each time I call, she sounds like I’ve woken her up. I’m starting to call bullshit. My sister thinks I don’t know how to calculate time zones. My calls are not waking her from some deep slumber.
Grabbing my phone off the charger, I check for messages. Sid has been texting nonstop. I feel bad about not returning her calls or texts, but I know I’ll break down if I speak to her and my mind hasn’t been right to compose a text that won’t cause alarm.
Instead of replying to her last text, I call Ally. She can let Sid know I’m safe and alive. However, my sister’s phone rings several times before her voice mail picks up. This girl is trying me.
“Ally, call me back,” I bite out and hang up.
“You know what?” I murmur to myself as I dial her number again. She’s taking advantage of this distance. I have to remind myself that she’s twenty-two.
Otherwise, Brodi would be sending me home to shake some sense into her. I still don’t know why she’s home. Something that’s been burning my last nerve.
“Hello,” she pants into the phone after picking up on the third ring.
“Ally, what the—”
“Listen, I can’t talk right now. I’ll call you back.”
She hangs up and I stand stunned and fuming. She has some damn nerve and why the hell was she panting like that? I go to call her back, but the door opens and Brodi pops his head in.
“I haven’t taken a break for dinner. You want to come downstairs with me for a bite at the bar?”
I look up at him. I go to say no, but if I stay here, I’m only going to drive myself crazy over Ally and what’s going on in the States.
“What’s going on with my sister? I know you and Clayton talk. Has he told you anything?”
This look comes over his face. I drop my hip and cross my arms over my chest. He better give me a straight answer. If I even smell a hint of a lie, I’m going to jump on the first plane out of here. My sister always comes first.
He sighs. “I’m not going to lie to you. Ally has gotten herself into something you can’t get her out of. Clay is handling it. Trust me, my brother will keep her safe and make this all go away.”
“Make what all go away?”
“That I truly don’t know. Clay couldn’t tell me in detail over the phone, but he mentioned some names that give me an idea.”
“Oh, hell no. I want to go home.”
“Chloe, like I said, it’s nothing you can do anything about. She’s a big girl and my brother has it under control.”
