AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Stepping from the water that’s slowly getting cooler, I grab a towel that could be likened to a carpet and wipe away the water. The starchy fabric scrapes across my skin. Satisfied that I’m dry enough, I wrap the towel around my hair and walk back into the bedroom naked.
Removing a pair of gray sweats and a cropped, sleeveless hoodie, I close the case and place them on top. Tomorrow I can wear what I had on today but past that, I’m going to need my clothes. My luggage feels like the only clean thing in the room and even though I’ve just showered, I already feel grimy again.
Suddenly, conscious of the fact that this hotel looks sketchy as hell and I didn’t check it out for hidden cameras, I dress quickly.
While I’m towel-drying my hair, standing in the middle of the room, I hear a loud knock at the door. Actually, I wouldn’t classify it as a knock. It’s a very aggressive banging and it’s most certainly at my door.
This ain’t a knock you’d hear from the hotel manager, this is more like one you’d hear from a S.W.A.T. team doing a raid. I freeze in the middle of the room, pulling the towel from my head as my eyes dart around for somewhere to hide.
Heck, it would be the cherry on the top of this already crappy day if I were murdered right about now.
The banging sounds again, this time more forceful than the last—if that’s even possible. As quietly as I can, I creep toward the door, wondering how many true crime dramas have this exact scenario? Single female, creepy hotel, hiding behind the door when it’s inevitably battered down, blood spattered across the carpet…
I need to stop watching true crime documentaries.
Perhaps very stupidly, I’m more curious about who it could be than the fact that they could shoot me through the peephole.
I try to control my shallow breathing and make myself as quiet as possible. Of course to me it’s all in surround sound: the thumping of my heart, every breath I take and the sound of the carpet crunching under my feet as I move across the room.
Gently, I place my hands on the door, pushing myself onto my toes to look through the peephole. What I see nearly has me cursing to high heaven.
It’s worse than a serial killer.
So much worse.
Nowthisis the cherry on top of the crap cake of a day.
My head knocks a little too loudly against the door as I lean forward. I suck in a breath, praying he hasn’t heard me.
“I know you’re in there, angel.”
My eyes close as I try to compose myself.
Of all the nicknames I’ve picked up over my life, I hate that one—coming from him—the most, because at one point it meant the world to me.
I hate the history that comes withhimcalling me that.
THREE
Noah
TWO HOURS EARLIER
The sound of my phone vibrating across my desk pulls my attention away from the contract I’m reading through. I’m glad for the distraction when I look down and see Jack’s name appear on the screen. He’s been my best friend since senior year of high school, and even though he’s in England, we still speak regularly given his involvement in my business, so it’s not unusual for him to call.
What is unusual is the sense of foreboding building inside of me at the sight of his name. I do the math on the five hour time difference and the fact that it’s got to be close to midnight over there does nothing to ease it.
Something must’ve happened.
Either that or whatever he’s calling me about is going to end up with me doing him a favor. I lean back in my chair, twisting my pen in my hand as I contemplate my next move. I can’t not answer.
Snatching up my phone, I connect the call and say, “Hey, man. How’s it going? Is London treating you good?”
Almost distractedly, he replies, “Hey, No. I’m okay, thanks. How are things with you and Sutton?”
I learned long ago that Jack seems to be incapable of using full names with people he cares about. For some reason, he seems incapable of saying one extra syllable in my name. I don’t bother correcting him any more because it just makes him do it more.
“We’re all good over here, man. Isn’t it late over there?” I ask, already knowing the answer but wanting to cut to the chase without being disrespectful.
