Page 105 of Boss

“Your father hired an attorney.” She looked over to the kitchen table where the lawyer’s card was.

“I know. He told me.” Tarek stepped away from the window.

“So you’ve seen him?”

“I have. Who else knows you’re here?”

“Reese and those men outside and probably Dale I guess. They know about the USB drive. She keeps hinting about it,” she said.

“Where is the drive?”

“Destroyed.”

“Kassidy?”

“I destroyed it.”

“Do they still think you have it?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Keep it that way, it’s what’s buying us both time.”

“I plan too. I’m glad you came Tarek.”

He shed his coat and put it on the back of the chair.

She set the gun down on the coffee table. “You aren’t well.”

“I’m fine.” He removed his cap and proved that statement to be a lie.

Shocked by the scars to his face and neck, she stood. She put her hands to her mouth and held back her words of sympathy and concern.

“I look that handsome huh?”

“My God, what did the doctors say? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I have enough drugs in me to lift an elephant. Don’t worry, darling. I’m fine. And you’re right. There are things I haven’t told you,” he said. She took his hand and brought him over to the sofa and forced him to sit.

“What did you tell the cops?” he asked.

“They have a video of you attacking me and Daniel. They have two dead men at the ranch, and you ranting and raving like a lunatic. You attacked an officer. You choked a paramedic that tried to help you. I was exhausted and scared. I didn’t have to tell them much.” She stood and paced away from him. “I was almost killed. That’s why I destroyed the USB drive. Exactly who else was I supposed to protect in all of this insanity but myself?”

“My father didn’t try to kill us.”

“And you know this because he denies it?” She tossed her hands up in disbelief.

“No. Yes, yes he denies it, but that’s not why I believe him. I think he’s protecting my brother. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“I'm scared Tarek,” she said.Kassidy went to the bedroom and he followed. She turned and put her hand out to stop him from getting close. “I'm scared.” He pulled her to him. He hugged her as much as he could. And she could tell it hurt him to do so. She relaxed her hold on him and rested her face against his chest.

“Nothing you did deserved what I... what my family put you through. Here,” he said. She let him go. She looked at him. He reached inside his leather jacket pocket and brought out an envelope of money.

“What is that?” She took a step back.

“Enough money to get you out of the state for a few months. I need time to clean up this mess.”

“I don’t want your money!”

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