AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I give her a red-faced, wide-eyed look, and Charlene laughs again. “No.”
“That’s okay. I’ll bet they’re equally thrilled.”
“Thank you.”
“But I have to ask, why are you still living here, and not back at the mansion with them? Wait, do they not know you’re pregnant?”
She sounds genuinely curious, so I allow myself to go with the flow and see where the conversation leads. “They know. But in light of everything that has happened, we agreed we’re better off living separately for the time being,” I reply.
“That makes sense,” Charlene agrees. “Do you know if they’ve made any progress in their investigation?” Her smile fades slowly as her gaze settles on my hands. “Marcus and I weren’t the best of friends, truth be told. But he was a good man, and hedidn’t deserve to die like that.”
“I haven’t spoken to the guys in a while,” I reply, careful not to give her the impression that we’re still in constant contact, thus making myself more vulnerable than I already am. “We don’t know where this is going or what’s going to happen next. But I’m sure they’ll tell me if there is anything I need to be made aware of.”
I know they would’ve said something if they found a connection between Charlene and their attackers. They would’ve warned me again to keep my distance from her. But based on our most recent conversations, it has become more and more evident that Charlene isn’t connected to any of this, as much as the guys hate to admit it. I guess it would’ve been easier to blame her for these horrors and send her back to prison. It would’ve made their lives, and mine, a lot easier with the ex-girlfriend out of the picture.
Yet the universe doesn’t work that way.
“I’d love to meet your girls,” she says as I kindly escort her out after going over some details regarding the remodel. “Annie and Miley, you said?”
“Yeah.” I think about it for a moment. “One day soon.”
“That would be wonderful. You know, Avery, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. A single mom raising two girls and building a career like yours takes guts and grit. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to keep working with you.”
“Thank you, Charlene. I only hope you’ll be happy with the end result. After all, you’re the one living there,” I reply with a dry chuckle.
I do want to finish that house. It may be counter-intuitive, given who she is and who she used to be. But Charlene hasn’t only been kind in words, she’s been kind in deeds, too. And like every other person regaining their freedom, she deserves a chance.
27
Luke
It took a while, but I finally manage to get a line on Toby. All I needed was one minute, one window of time, where he wasn’t constantly looking over his shoulder in order for my guys to keep tracking him through town. By the time I arrive at the café in Hershey, he’s still waiting in line for his drink to be prepared by the young, newly-trained barista. The girl is slower, so the queue is longer than usual, but it works in my favor, giving me opportunity.
Outside, my agents are in an unmarked sedan, parked across the street and out of clear sight. They know to keep following him and to try to do their best to not lose him. They will, eventually, because he’s a slippery SOB, but for right now, I’ve got him. And I intend to make the most of this encounter.
I walk up to him just as he turns around with his freshly brewed coffee. I move a little too fast for a man who’s too busy smelling his caffeine-infused nectar to notice me, and it works like a charm.
“Oh, shit, I’m so sorry!” I say as I intentionally bump into him.
The coffee cup hits the floor, the liquid spilling all over. Toby stills, hands lingering in the air as some of the drink drips on his leather jacket. “Dammit,” I hear the barista girl croaking from behind the counter.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeat and grab a handful of napkins from a nearby table, offering them to him.
“It’s fine,” Toby hisses, his voice low and flat, but his eyes never leave me. “Luke? I know you.”
I pause and give him a curious look, feigning gradual recognition. “Toby, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Again, so sorry about this,” I quip and grab the coffee cup from the floor. I make a move to toss it in the bin by the bar but do a sleight of hand instead and slip it into my jacket pocket. It’ll make a bit of a mess, but I’m content that I actually got what I came for. “I didn’t even see you. My mind has been a blur. I’ll buy you another one,” I add and ask the second barista to fix my so-called mistake while the first brings a mop and a bucket around.
The entire time, Toby just stands there, watching me like a hawk. It’s a bit unsettling, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve got him. Soon enough, I’ll know who he really is and where he came from. He’s not working for Charlene by accident. I don’t trust that woman and I certainly don’t trust a guy that’s willing to work for the likes of her. Whoever he is, I’ll figure him out. And if I so much as smell a threat, I will eliminate him without hesitation. A line was crossed with Marcus. A line I intend to wipe clean, no matter what.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“Yeah, just drenched in coffee,” he replies sharply. “You don’t have to apologize again, though. I got you the first few times.”
I laugh, feigning nervousness as I pay for his drink and hand the new cup over. More customers are entering the line as the young barista keeps mopping the floor. “Here you go. I hope I’ve made up for my transgression. My mind’s been a blur for a while, now.”
