Page 139 of Pretty Little Thing

He shoots up and forces me onto my back. “You, Ms. Payne, are being a very, very bad—”

The phone vibrates again.

I scoff. “Someone is really desperate to reach me today…” Clive pushes off me and hops off the bed. “Wait! I must be punished!”

“Punishment later,” he says, heading toward the bathroom. “Now, clothes and breakfast and flights home.”

I throw on a pout. “Fine.”

Clive smiles and twists back in my direction. I set my feet on the floor and he tilts my face upward to kiss me.

“Good morning,” he says again.

“Good morning,” I say, smiling back.

He turns away and I watch that glorious ass saunter away into the bathroom.

I look at my phone and my smile becomes a sneer. I hoist myself up, throw on a bathrobe, and walk toward it, so not ready to embrace the real world just yet.

Uh-oh. Nine missed calls.

I call back the unrecognized number.

“Chicago Police Department.”

I blink. “Hi, this is Nora Payne. I’m sorry you’ve been trying to contact me but I’ve been traveling.”

“Yes, Ms. Payne. Let me transfer you to Robberies and Homicides.”

The line cuts off.

“Wha…” I wince. “But which one?”

Clive returns with a towel wrapped around his waist. He stops cold the moment he looks at me. “Whoa, what’s going on?” he asks. “You okay?”

“I’m being transferred to Robberies and Homicides.”

His brow rises. “… which one?”

“I don’t know! They should be more specific, right?”

“Yeah, there’s a huge difference there…”

“Ms. Payne?”a man says in my ear.

“Yes, I’m Nora Payne.” I hold my breath. “What’s going on?”

“I’m Detective Zimmer. I’m sorry to bother you so early but there’s been a break-in at your condo tonight.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“No, ma’am.”

I exhale at Clive. “So, just the robbery part, then…”

He nods and lingers by my ear.

“Well, what did they take?” I ask. “Is there damage? How bad are we talking here?”

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