Page 71 of Savage Beauty

“But I didn’t…” I step closer to her. She doesn’t believe me, and I need her to. “I promise. I didn’t…I was drugged and taken away on a sailboat.”

“Seriously?” She’s standing on the asphalt for the parking lot for the oceanfront hotel.

“I promise.”

“And you’re just hanging out here on the beach?”

That does look bad. “I…” How do I explain? Damn Max and Arrow for telling me I couldn’t go back into my office. “I just made it back a couple of days ago. And Max said that I shouldn’t?—”

“Max? Is that who you married?”

“What? No. He’s this…” What is Max? “My sister was worried. She knew I’d never resign. And she hired some people to help find me. They did, but they didn’t want me to go back to Origins. Not yet. They’re still trying to figure out what’s going on.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Odd occurrences have been happening. Someone broke into our lab two nights ago. They stole my laptop.”

I look back down the beach, in the direction I came from. She’s talking about me. I stole her laptop. And I don’t know what they found. It’s some of what I’m supposed to review with the CIA and NSA.

“Sloane, are you telling me the truth?”

“Yes.” The pearl necklace she so often wears isn’t there. In its place is a necklace with an emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds.

“Well, come back to the office with me. You owe it to me, at least. I had to pack up your lab?—”

“You have my work?”

“Of course. I’m interviewing someone next week for your position, but I’d much rather have you. You did the work of two people.”

She’s right. I did. I’m damn proud of that, too. Sand coats my feet. “I’m barefoot.”

“My car’s right here. How about I give you a ride to your place? You can get your shoes, and we’ll go back to the lab. I mean, are you still interested in working for us?”

“Yes.” That’s exactly what I want. It’s what I’ve wanted all along. “They said you might be involved.”

“In what?” She sounds angry.

If I were her, I’d be angry too.

“Who is they?”

I don’t know how to answer her.

She releases a frustrated sigh, and I bury my toes in the warm sand.

“Sloane, who is ‘they’?”

“The people who helped find me. They work with the United States government.” I’m not sure how to describe them. How would Max describe himself?

“Look. Let’s get out of the sun. We’ll talk about this at the office.”

CHAPTER23

Max

Fuck, I’m winded. A year ago, I could’ve done five miles without feeling it in my lungs and knees. And my time is for shit. Maybe Knox is right. Beefing up, as he calls it, has a downside.

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