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Freedom was in the air, and I was hungry for it.
Chapter Ten
Day 24
I was getting restless. The nightmares kept coming and waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat wasn’t helping. Especially waking up next to Ryzen. We were spending a lot of time together, and it was making me feel dirty. And guilty. Like my body and mind knew I wasn’t supposed to be within ten feet of this man. And his constant need to try to fuck me was keeping me on edge.
Last night when he’d tried to pull me to him, I had laughed and swatted him away. He was enjoying it, this game we had of him trying to get into my pants, and me playing coy and embracing my newfound virginal persona. The only way to get him to stop was to mention Covington. That got his full attention.
“You’ve really been taking good care of me, Ryzen, ever since I was… taken.” I stabbed my palm with my nails, willing the gods of crying to give me one fake tear. “So patient and caring. And I know you’ve been keeping Covington at bay while I recovered emotionally and, um, mentally.”
He leaned in closer, holding his breath as he hung on to every word.
“And I want you to get what you deserve.”
Prison. A kick in the ass.
“So whatever you need me to do to reassure Covington that I’m back on board, that we’re madly in love and ready to get married…” I bit my bottom lip and lowered my head. “I’m ready to do that for you. You mean that much to me. Let’s close this hotel deal.”
And the winner for Performance of the Year goes to… Nova La Roux!
“Sweet Nova.” He exhaled and gripped my hand. “You’re sure that’s what you want?”
I nodded and tugged my hand gently out of his grasp.
“OK, if that’s what you want.” He caressed the side of my face, my nostrils flaring. “I’ll set up a dinner this week.”
*****
Day 28
There was a lot to do regarding the Shiver Box to ensure we didn’t go under and have to permanently close our doors. Ryzen wasn’t giving me much information regarding his side of the insurance claim, which was maddening. I knew it was going to be a slow process, and I had no idea if the FBI was making the insurance company stall. So we had to just keep going and proceed as if they weren’t involved.
Ryzen said he was working with a building inspector and a long list of engineers and architects to determine the extent of the damage. I found that odd, considering the building was just a pile of rubble with a fence going around the property. Juliet and I had hired a public adjuster to help us with our side of the claim and they’d helped us already by getting the insurance company to cover Owen’s wages in the meantime. We also hired a forensic accountant. She was amazing and helped us analyze our invoices, calculate our inventory losses, and get everything ready to submit to the insurance company. The only thing we could really do while everything was up in the air was try to maintain a presence on social media and keep people interested in our products.
Valik had finally laid off babysitting me twenty-four seven and I was getting as much evidence as I could, taking photos of anything and everything that looked like it might help the FBI, and wearing the necklace with the camera in it. Ryzen questioned why I always had it on, and I told him that it helped me feel closer to Juliet when I was afraid. He bought it, or at least I hoped he had. He didn’t bring it up again. I had met with Delove and Dobbs one more time in the past week, and they had said the same thing as before.
It isn’t enough. We need more.
A plan had been brewing in the back of my mind, and when Ryzen locked himself in his home office in the morning, I knew that today was the day. I pressed my ear against the door, his voice slightly raised as he spoke on the phone with someone. He sounded angry and panicked. Was he talking to Voledetti? Whatever it was, it was serious. He flung the door open, and I stood there smiling, a cup of coffee in my hand.
“Here you go,” I handed him the cup and batted my eyelashes at him. “Everything OK?”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Everything is wonderful, Nova.” He turned me around and ushered me down the hall. “Why don’t you do a spa day. On me. I’ve got to head out in a little bit to an important meeting.” He handed me his credit card and walked me to the elevator bank.
Paying to get rid of me, huh?
I ran back to my apartment and changed into leggings and a black hoodie, tucking my knife into my combat boots. There was an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I shook it off as I tossed my cell phone onto my bed and grabbed the secret phone Thora had given me. Couldn’t have Ryzen tracking me, not today. I tugged my hoodie over my hair, keeping my head down as I took the elevator to the parking garage, hauling ass out the side exit. A cab pulled up and an elderly couple got out. Before the driver could pull off, I opened the door and slid into the back seat.
“LaSalle and Van Buren, please.” I pushed the sunglasses up my nose and kept myself small in the backseat. If Ryzen wasn’t going to his office first, then this was going to be a big waste of time. But deep down in my gut, I knew he was going to show up.
Please let him show up.
“Park here.” I pointed down a side alley that gave a clear view to the front of Goodacre Corporation. The driver looked at me with raised eyebrows when I didn’t get out. “I’m waiting for someone. Keep the meter running.” He shrugged and put the car in park.
Five minutes passed, then ten, and I was beginning to think that my grand plan wasn’t so grand after all. But close to the twenty-minute mark, a familiar black SUV pulled up to Goodacre Corporation, and I leaned forward, peeking through the front window.
“You following your husband, lady?” The driver chuckled.
