Page 46 of As the World Falls

“I have my ways to keep your brother safe. If you get the proof I need to take down James, I’ll ensure your brother walks away unscathed.”

“How can you promise that?”

He grins cunningly. “I can’t go giving away all my secrets now, can I?”

I rest back in my seat, eyeing him warily. He was the best chance I had right now. James was becoming more unpredictable and quick to have his little mood swings. The blood on his face yesterday solidified the fact even more to me that he was much more than I had bargained for him to be.

“Fine. I’ll do it,” I agree, although my throat wants to swallow the words back up as soon as I do. I didn’t understand why I felt so guilty when I had clearly been right about James and my brother’s compromised safety.

“I knew you’d make the right choice,” he boasts. I decided I didn’t want to stay in his presence any longer, so I stood from the stool, shrugging my jacket on.

“I guess I’ll keep you updated on what I know.”

“I’ll be in touch,” he calls as I turn and leave without another word, feeling utterly slimy. I hated how I felt like I was betraying not only my brother but also James. I don’t know why I suddenly felt obligated to him. I only got in cahoots with him for this very reason.

I think it may be because although I didn’t entirely like him…I felt as though I owed him. Because until I met him, until that moment in the elevator yesterday that I’ve been trying so hard to forget, I didn’t realize how much I had truly settled in my life and how much adventure I craved in it. James Kingston felt like an adventure—an entirely dangerous one.

I had just walked out of the elevator the following morning to head to James’s office when my phone dinged, and I looked down to see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown

Meet me downstairs. I have a car waiting for us.

“Are you kidding me?” I grumble, knowing it was most likely James. I save his number and turn straight back into the elevator. I take it back into the lobby, where I walk outside and spot James leaning against his car, smirking at me.

“I take it you knew I had just made it up?”

“I may have passed you on the way down,” he says cheekily. “You looked so determined. I didn’t want to break your stride.”

“Has anyone ever told you how kind you are?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard such words in my lifetime.”

“Maybe let that notion resonate with you a little bit then.”

“I’ll remain unbothered,” he grins, opening the door to let me inside the car. I scowl at him once more as I move past him and get inside.

“Where are we going?”

He sits down next to me and stares forward. “One of my warehouses. I want to check in on some things.”

My heart begins to beat faster in my chest. Is he checking in on his illegal shipments? Probably. Why would he care to check in on the legal stuff? This was my chance to get some more proof. I haven’t been inside the warehouse yet and was seriously curious about it.

My palms begin to sweat, and I rub them down my skirt to dry them off. James glances at me and then looks down at my hands, rubbing up and down my skirt.

“You’re nervous,” he notes.

My heart beats even faster now. “No, I’m not.”

“Your hands are sweating, are they not?”

“I’m just warm.” It was literally only fifty degrees out, but that’s beside the point.

He watches me more intently for a moment, then looks away again, but it doesn’t make me breathe any easier. This car felt stifling and small when I was sitting next to him.

Once we’re there, I nearly dash out the door, not waiting for him to let me out from his side. I suck in a lungful of the cool fall air and let it relax me as I lean against the car and stare at my feet. But then another pair of feet stopped just before mine, clad in fancy black shoes. I slowly bring my gaze up to meet James, who is now standing directly in front of me, eyeing me curiously.

“What is wrong with you today?”

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