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Make sense. Tell me it’s wrong.
Whatever she sees in my expression puts her in panic mode, and she runs back toward the gate’s access panel. Her fingers work fast to push in the code, but to me everything seems to be happening in slow motion. Each breath is harder than the last.
This has to be an error. Please, God. Let it be wrong.
“What’s got you so scared, sweetie. What’re you looking…” Mariah trails off now, seeing what I am. She takes the pictures from my hand and pulls me with her toward the still running car, placing me in the passenger seat and even buckling me in.
I’m on autopilot, and it isn’t until we pull into traffic down the street that I react. “Where are you taking me? What the hell is all this?”
“Who gave you those pictures?” she asks instead of answering me, making a right turn toward the expressway. “Please, London. It’s important that I know where these came from.”
“An FBI agent—”
She cuts her eyes to me. “A Shawn Hayes?”
“Yes, but why?” We’re on an expressway with the signs indicating that The Loop is our destination. “What’s going on? Why are you even here?”
“My cousin gave me the afternoon off and I decided to spend it with you. Was hoping we could get some lunch or watch a movie, but now that won’t do.” Cutting off an older man in a large SUV, she presses down on the gas of her BMW coupe. “You doubt him.”
“My rational side is telling me to run, but my heart doubts what that agent said. The man I know, and the one Hayes painted, are not the same. Can’t be.”
“And what if he is?”
“Then there has to be a very good reason behind his actions.” That’s the God’s honest truth. Deep down I know Malcolm is dangerous, my fam—the Fosters wouldn’t fear him if he wasn’t, but I still need an explanation. I need him to make this right. Give me back the feeling of safety taken from me today. “All I know is that right now, I’m scared.”
“Of him?”
“Of everything.” Of knowing that either way, my feelings for him won’t change.
“All the more reason to go see him.” With a high arch in her brow, she looks at me for confirmation.
“Would you take me back to the house or elsewhere if I say no?”
“Would I agree with it? No, but yes, I would.”
“Thank you.” I believe her. Just like I know that rash decisions can lead to catastrophes. That he’s never been anything but good to me, and I have to believe in that if nothing else. “Now, take me to the Asher building. He needs to see these photos.”
A small smile crosses her lips and she takes my hand in hers, squeezing. “Don’t lose your trust in him, London. Not everything is as it seems.”
30
Early that same morning…
“YOU’RE UNEXPECTED IS HERE,” Mariah announces around ten thirty through the intercom. I’ve been expecting this visit.
Have seen him skulking around; at the airport and outside my building. He’s following a dead-end trail that will lead to nowhere.
“Let him in.” I grab my cup of coffee and sit back in my chair. Waiting. There’s a ping on my computer, an incoming email that I’ve been waiting on all morning from the developer in Shanghai, but it’ll have to wait. The construction of my building is ahead of schedule and will be completed within the next eight months versus a year.
I’m happy with that. Opens the door for more business.
“Good morning, Mr. Asher.” Shawn enters my office sans Marcelles. His cocky gait and grin—that I know something you don’t attitude doesn’t intimidate me in the least. However, I’ll give it to him for having enough balls to continue his pursuit.
“Drop the polite act and get to the point.”
“Is that how you want to play?” Shawn eyes the documents on my desk, trying to read something he’ll never understand. It’s in Mandarin and from the office of a powerful organization requesting my services.
To this agent’s detriment, I’ve read his file. Know his strengths and weaknesses. While the man prides himself on his brute attributes, the skill of speaking several languages evades him. He understands some Spanish and Italian, but that’s it. There’s no fluency.
