Page 23 of Savage Romance
Okay, if they can handle this, so can I. With a grateful nod at Lenny, Zoe lifted her chin and walked with all the confidence she could muster toward the hotel.
Assess the situation.
Do damage control.
Keep your wits together.
Piece of cake… Right?
Right. Her mouth twitched in a wry smile.
Chapter Seventeen
Humming All of Me by John Legend under his breath, Ben walked purposefully toward the Audi. The new furniture arrived on time and was even better than he’d envisioned. Now it was time to see to his woman. He chuckled. I’m turning into a love-sick fool. He was slipping his hand into the pocket of his suit jacket to collect the car key when he encountered a folded slip of paper.
Frowning Ben slowed his pace, pulled the wrinkled piece of paper from his pocket, and realized what it was. That’s right, I need to pay the debt from Zoe’s brother. It totally slipped my mind! Resolving to get it done right away, Ben unfolded the IOU, smoothed out the crinkles, and read the message.
Halted completely. Read it again—a third time.
God—fucking—damn it.
The blood in his ears roared.
It wasn’t the amount of money, which was substantial but wouldn’t make a dent in Ben’s considerable bank account, it was the name of the debtor that made his blood pressure spike. Zoe’s brother was mean and cowardly Michael Connolly.
The abusive asshole whose cruel mistreatment according to Byron still had Charlotte waking up screaming occasionally.
Which meant, Zoe had been playing him all along. Just like those bitches who’d played Ben’s father.
The paper in his hand crumpled and pain registered as his fingernails dug into the skin of his palms. A primal urge to hit or destroy something crept up to him and he made an effort to unclench his fists and flexed his fingers. He needed to keep his wits about him. Ben closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose, willing the pounding in his ears to recede and his pulse to lower.
Is the sheik even real? Or… is he an… actor?
Is this just a scam to extort some money from me? Is Zoe here to make me pay for Connolly’s suicide?
He shook his head.
I can’t believe how gullible I’ve been. But she’s going to pay for this and pay dearly.
Fuck!
His body temperature rose again and so did his heartbeat.
Nostrils flaring in anger, Ben stalked toward the parked Audi, his agitated footsteps creating a loud echo on the concrete.
Is she targeting Charlotte and Byron as well? Have I endangered my friends by bringing Zoe into the fold? What have I done?
Worry, doubt, and anger battered at his frayed nerves and assaulted his senses. He knew better than to drive but his urge for vengeance and confronting Zoe was too powerful to ignore.
What a train wreck. Minutes ago, he’d felt happy, light, and in love. Love… He scoffed. That deceiving bitch!
Still shaking with the aftermath, Zoe stared at the swirling coffee as she stirred the liquid. She’d managed to keep her emotions in check as the EMTs took the young actor to the hospital. The crowd of spectators had dissipated once the ambulance had gone, and she’d spoken with her staff, thanking them for their professionalism in dealing with a traumatic situation. Only once inside her office did she have the privacy to process her own thoughts and emotions.
She lifted the mug to her lips, but carefully lowered it as her hands shook so violently the coffee threatened to spill over the rim.
Her heartbeat drummed against her ribcage like the organ was about to explode. She wanted to cry, sob, and wail, but she was worried she wouldn’t be able to stop once she started. Zoe clenched and unclenched her fists as she fought the urge to scream. Shouting wouldn’t do her any good, either.
Fast footsteps approaching her door made Zoe look up from the coffee she wasn’t planning to drink.
