Page 17 of Desolation

“Increíble! You think just because some woman crosses your path that you find attractive she is just going to pull her pants down and spread her legs,” she says throwing her arms in the air before opening her car door and climbing in.

“Hey, like I said, you are a beautiful woman—”

“And you’re an egotistical boy.”

I rub my chest. “Ouch.”

“I’m just passing through. You won’t see me again.” With that she pulls out, nearly running me over.

Well damn. Guess I’ll need to go find some other fun for the night.

Chapter Six

Mari

I lay on my bed in my room, thoughts filtering through my brain. I’ve been gone too long. Although Michael is in session and currently in Washington. And my kids are with his parents at their estate west of Boston. They spend every summer there. This year is no different, making it easy for me to get away. I told my company I was meeting with potential partners to grow my foundation. That I would be gone a week or two. I’ve been gone almost two weeks now and I am sure people are starting to ask questions.

I get off the bed and grab my purse making sure my phone is stashed away and make my way to the door.

I’m nearly outside the shelter when Rochelle catches up to me. I swear she has a tracker on me or something.

“Hey, where you headed?” she asks.

“Just needed some fresh air.”

She walks backward in front of me, slowing me down. “Is that what you needed yesterday?”

“Huh?”

She stops suddenly causing me to halt in my tracks. “Is that what you needed yesterday?” she repeats.

I don’t know what she’s talking about. I was gone for almost ten hours yesterday but it’s not like we aren’t allowed to leave. “I needed to get out.”

“Out into some fancy ass car worth a few hundred thousand?”

My breathing and my heart rate freeze.

How the hell did she see me?I was nowhere around here.

“Is that how it is? You a whore? That why your husband beat you?”

I clench my fists. “What the hell are you even talking about?”

“You makin’ money on the side with some rich guys?”

I don’t need this shit from her. Good thing I got good at lying. “You must have mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know any rich guys. I went out to look at some of the areas where Karen told me they had apartments.”

Her face drops and I know my lie is working.

“Here, look,” I pull open my handbag and produce the brochures I was given, along with notes I made about the areas. “I know I need to leave. I just wanted to see where I could go.”

She frowns. “Shit. I’m sorry. I guess I did mistake you for someone else. I was walking around and I saw someone who I thought was you.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. You know I wish I knew someone with some fancy ass car. What kind was it?”

She props her hand on a hip. “Ugh. You and me both. I think it was an Aston Martin.”

“Whew,” I whistle. “Damn, what I wouldn’t wish to get into one of those.”

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