Page 33 of Broken Boss

“Maybe we should stop at a locksmith,” I murmur, stopping her from getting out of the car just yet. “You can buy a deadbolt. I don’t know what the locks on your doors are like, but?—”

She gives me a sarcastic look, hand on the door handle.

“I have more than enough locks on the door, Chris. And I need to get home and walk the dog.”

“Walk the dog where?”

I can tell she’s getting frustrated with my questioning, but something is setting my alarm bells off. She glances over her shoulder, too tired to keep giving me an attitude.

“I usually take him to Central Park. It’s only a few blocks away.”

In my head, I try to envision roughly where we are—a slightly residential area of Manhattan. Can’t be cheap, but the building we’re in front of isn’t pricey, either. It’s an understated beige stone building with iron guards in front of the windows.

Autumn opens the door and steps out onto the sidewalk. Pocketing my keys, I get out, too, and walk around the car.

“I’m coming with you.”

She stares at me incredulously.

“No, you’re not.”

Locking the car doors to make a point, I stare her down.

“Yes, I am. You shouldn’t be walking alone in the park this late.”

Her laugh is disbelieving, a surprisingly rich sound that I wasn’t expecting. “It’s just after five. I’d hardly say that’s late.”

But already the sun is setting behind these buildings, red-tinged golden light bathing the trees. “It is for this time of year. You’ve got maybe half an hour of sunlight left. Let me come with you. Then I’ll go home.”

Her lips press into a flat line, eyes narrow as she considers. I’m praying she has a moment of giving in to authority, which doesn’t exactly seem to be Autumn’s vibe.

“Fine,” she sighs, turning toward the building, keys already in hand. My heart jumps in my chest.

You shouldn’t be excited about this, I chide myself. It means nothing; you’re just keeping her safe.

The elevator opens and Autumn steps out to the right, down to an inconspicuous apartment door. I’m scanning everything, looking for a weak point. If her ex shows up, I want to know the building is at least relatively safe.

Putting her key in the lock, she won’t look at me. Nerves, maybe? What could she be afraid of me seeing?

Once the door clicks, she finally looks over her shoulder. “Stay here. Please.”

It almost, almost comes off as begging. Trying to quash my piqued curiosity, I raise my brows slightly and keep my hands in my pockets. She slips through the door and disappears.

The sounds coming from the other side catch my attention immediately.

“Hi, baby.” I hear her gush in a tone she’s never used before. Blood rushes to my ears. Of course, she has someone at home. I’m an idiot for insisting on walking her dog with her. There’s probably a man here that she doesn’t want me to see, a boyfriend, a lover, maybe a dog sitter?—

“I’m so sorry—did you have a good day without me? What did you get up to?”

There’s one, two beats—and still no response. A strange thumping sound coming from the apartment makes me frown. Then the door opens, and a dog rushes out into the hallway, quickly squaring off with me.

We stare at one another. He’s clearly some kind of mutt, a mix of breeds, maybe a little terrier in there with the wiry hair at his neck and ears. Lean but muscled, he stands between Autumn and me as she reappears with her coat still on.

“It’s okay, Frank. Be nice.”

Frank.

Frank.

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