Page 82 of Man of the Year

“How did you know I was here?”

“The tracking app on your phone,” he replies without turning to look at me.

Of course, someone tapped into my phone! How could I be so stupid? Rich, the dead guy, warned me about it.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

Walter doesn’t answer.

“Hey! What’s happening?” I repeat.

He throws a look at me over his shoulder. “You need to be quiet. I’m here to help, not to hurt you.”

“Then tell me what’s happening!”

“That’s up to the boss.”

“Boss who? Rosenberg? Nick?”

What if it’s Nick? What if he changed his mind about getting rid of me? That’s not exactly a reassurance. He is a freaking psycho.

“Why did Nick sedate me and tie me up? Where is he?”

“You need to stay quiet. You already almost ruined everything,” Walter grits out without looking at me.

“I don’t understand. What does Nick want from me?”

“He wants you gone. And that’s the problem.”

“It’s not if you are here to get me out.”

“It’s not up to me. If it were, I wouldn’t care. You jeopardized the entire operation.”

“What operation?”

He doesn’t answer.

“What operation?” I almost shout. “Who is in charge?”

That’s when the front door opens, and a dark silhouette appears in the doorway.

My heart does a panicking thud, but a second later, I recognize the man stepping inside, and my jaw drops.

Julien.

I freakingknewsomething was up with him!

SIXTY-FOUR

NATALIE

I’m trying to murder Julien with my stare while at the same time trying to pick my jaw off the floor.

This isn’t the Julien I know. Gone is his formal suit. He’s dressed in all black: tactical pants, long-sleeve shirt, army boots, and gloves. Gee!

He looks different, but it’s not the unusual outfit that makes no sense. It’s his expression. As he’s walking toward me, my brain whispers, “Hey, spot five differences,” and my jaw is still on the floor when Julien drops to his haunches in front of me.

The next thing blows my mind.

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