Page 45 of Love In The Shadows

“—told him to trust me, but you know how our men get.”

She stopped short when she spotted me at the desk. “Oh! Avery! I didn’t know you were still here. Meet my friends.”

She interrupted herself to usher them all into the office. “This is Jessie. Olivia. And Joanie. We go way back. I thought I’d bring them by to show them the new rooms upstairs. Any occupants?”

She leaned over the sparse computer, checking the reservations for herself.

“Only the Spire,” I answered on autopilot. My job was to know which rooms were available as many guests would come to the bar to book their private suite.

Paige nodded, flicking through the electronic booking system. “All right. Well, that’s fine. The girls have seen that room before.”

She straightened and when she glanced at me, her brows wrinkled. “Are you okay?”

I swallowed hard and nodded. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, and even in the low light, Paige could likely see the effects. “I’m fine. You guys need anything?”

Paige cocked her head and continued to study me for another long moment.

“Paige, seriously, I’m fine.”

She waved a hand at her friends. “You guys get started without me. I’ll be right there.”

The three women filed out of the office, closing the door behind them. Paige came over and perched on the side of the desk. She reached out with a cool hand and stroked the side of my face.

“What’s going on, Avery? You can tell me. Asshole client?”

The soft look in her eyes pushed me over the edge. It had been so long since I’d had someone to confide in. At least, someone other than Bennett. He understood, more than anyone, what I’d gone through. But I hadn’t had a female friend to confide in for what felt like a lifetime. Not since becoming Avery. It made me miss my mother and the friends I was forced to leave behind when I entered WITSEC. I hadn’t dared to try and call any of them since running away from my handlers. I couldn’t live with myself if my choice to run negatively affected them.

A sob broke free from deep within me. I collapsed forward, and more tears followed.

“Paige, it’s such a mess.”

“What is?” She stroked my hair, her fingertips digging into my thick auburn locks. “You can tell me. I’m an excellent secret keeper.”

“Do you know who Eric is?”

The door of the office whooshed open before she could answer. I buried my face, expecting it to be one of her friends back to grab their purse or ask for a drink recommendation. But when a sharp, male voice rippled through the room instead, I bolted upright.

“Evening, ladies.”

Shit! Richie, flanked by two of his huge men, stood in the office. One of his goons shut the door behind him with just a little more force than was necessary.

Paige went ramrod straight. “Excuse me, Mr. Dalton, but this is a private office. I’m afraid I need to ask you to leave.”

Richie chuckled; the sound chilled me to the bone. “Now, Paige, is that any way to speak to one of your investors?”

My eyes went wide as they flew to Paige. Investor?

“Investor?” Paige said, echoing my own thoughts.

Richie’s eyes narrowed to dark slits. “Oh, Parkston hasn’t told you. Hmm. That’s interesting.”

Paige folded her arms. “What do you want, Richie?” she demanded, dropping all niceties.

“I want Parkston’s On the Fucking Hill,” he explained, his tone matter-of-fact, as though he were asking for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Paige snorted. “Parkston’s On the Hill? Well, I’m afraid it’s not for sale. Anything else?”

Richie’s eyes drifted to me and took a tour of my body before snapping back to Paige’s. The glance was brief but left me feeling completely violated, as though his greasy, sausage fingers had been all over me in place of his hollow eyes.

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