Page 22 of Sexted By a Stranger
My grip tightened on the wheel, but my expression stayed impassive. "Why the sudden interest?"
"Curiosity." She pressed her lips together, meeting my eyes directly. "Connor and his crew… they look like they've seen a ghost when they hear your name." She paused, choosing her words. "You don't strike me as just some investor. You have… more than what's on the surface."
"Business is war, Sheila," I deflected, keeping it smooth. "To win, you gotta be meaner. Leave less on the table. After a while, you get a reputation." I glanced sideways, catching the flicker of confusion in her eyes.
She nodded thoughtfully, letting it drop.
The car merged into the Manhattan lunchtime crawl. Silence thickened in the cramped space. I checked the rearview – clean. Casually, I threw out, "Sheila, any plans for this afternoon?"
"Seeing Leon," she answered instantly, her voice lighter at her brother's name. "Doctors said longer visiting hours today."
"Good." I nodded. "Tonight. You and your mother stay at the hospital. Don't go back to the apartment."
She froze. Amber eyes wide with confusion. "But Leon's got the nurse—"
"For safety." My voice cut through hers, firm. My eyes held hers, intense. "Trust me."
She bit her lower lip, her lashes fluttering once. Then her gaze dropped. Softly, she said, "Alright. I trust you."
I watched her slender figure get swallowed by the hospital's glass doors. The last trace of warmth vanished from my eyes.
I spun the wheel. The black sedan shot forward like an arrow slicing through the afternoon sunlight, heading straight for Vesperwood Manor.
"Boss. We're set." Lennox pushed the door open, Ragnar a shadow behind him.
"All assembled?"
"Conference room," Ragnar confirmed. "As ordered. Everyone who knows about the recent ops."
I stood, straightening my suit jacket. Tonight, we root out the rot.
Chapter 8
Sheila
My phone rang. It was Luca.
"Sheila." His voice came through the receiver. "How's Leon?"
"The doctor says he's stable. Rejection reactions are within the expected range." I leaned against the wall, trying to make my voice sound relaxed. "I just found out you arranged for the doctor, too. Thank you, Luca."
"No problem." He paused. "Free tonight? Let's have dinner."
My heartbeat kicked up half a notch—was this... a date?
I pressed the back of my hand to my burning cheek, hearing myself say, "Sure."
"Seven o'clock. Lennox will pick you up." Clean and efficient, he hung up, leaving a string of dial tone echoing softly in my ear.
Dinner.
With Luca.
Not in my leaky apartment, not at some greasy deli, but a proper dinner with candles and tablecloths.
I looked down at myself—gray cotton shirt, faded jeans. I couldn't find a second decent outfit in my closet. My only "dress"was the black uniform from Celestial. I couldn't help feeling troubled.
Back in the ward, Mom was peeling an apple for Leon. He looked much better, with some color back in his face. Seeing me enter, he grinned. "Sheila, I'm really recovering. You don't need to worry so much."
