Page 16 of No Way Forward

“What do you want?” she demanded.

“I want to know her schedule.”

Azalie grumbled. “Listen, I helped you before, but you didn’t say anything about shooting people and hurting Zaid.”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

“Yeah right.”

“There are many lowlifes in this world who will do anything for money. That’s not important. What is important is that the next time—”

“I don’t want to know about a next time,” she hissed. “I’m not involved.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” the deep voice growled. “How do you think Richard Kagen will like it if I tell him I have proof his daughter’s best friend arranged for her to be kidnapped.”

She gasped. “I didn’t arrange it. You approached me and… and you threatened me.”

He laughed.

“Besides, you don’t have any proof of anything. You paid me in cash, and if you try to use our phone calls, I’ll just say you kept harassing me asking me if I knew where she ran off to. So you can buzz off.”

“Azalie—”

“Goodbye.”

She disconnected the call and blocked the number. Her heart raced. What she had just done was risky, but it was necessary. The last thing she ever wanted to happen was for Zaid to get hurt. What if he was the one shot instead of that new guy? She couldn’t take it.

No, this was the right action. Novette might be back, but knowing her she would try to run again. If she didn’t, well, her dad would marry her to some old ugly jerk. Then Azalie could make Zaid forget about her. He would move her into the mansion permanently, and all would be perfect in Azalie’s world.

Chapter 8

The clink and clack of a weight machine drew Novette’s attention. She wandered down the hall and found Zaid lying on his back and bench-pressing what looked like three hundred pounds. The new guy spotted him, although with his arm in a sling, Novette wondered if he could rescue Zaid should there be an accident.

She checked her phone and slipped it into her sweatpants pocket. Twelve fifteen at night, and he worked out. “Should you be doing that? It’s only been what two weeks since you got out of the hospital.”

Both men glanced over at Novette. Zaid placed the bar on the posts and sat up. He ran a white towel over his bare chest and rubbed his neck with it. She tried not to focus too much on that body. Good God, the man looked good.

“I’m fine. I heal fast,” he quipped.

“Hey, Ms. Kagen.” Jeff waved with his good hand. “I was just talking to Zaid about you.”

She approached them. “Me?”

Zaid cast Jeff a repressive look, which he ignored. The younger man offered her a friendly smile. He didn’t have the intimidating presence that Zaid had, but then others didn’t cow him either. That was a good thing if he was to continue to work for her dad.

“Yes, ma’am. I was telling him I’d like the position of being your bodyguard. I mean when I get this cast off.”

During the kidnapping, Jeff had been shot and broke an arm. The shot turned out to be nothing more than a flesh wound.

“I appreciate you risking your life for me, Jeff, and I’m so sorry that you were hurt. I don’t like the idea of someone doing that on my behalf. I hope it won’t ever happen again.”

“It won’t,” he insisted. “Not with me on the job.”

Zaid shifted an eyebrow skyward at his comment. The goof probably didn’t realize he cast doubt on Zaid’s ability to protect her.

“I’m not putting you on Novette. Besides, that’s not what Mr. Kagen hired you for.”

“I know, but I’m not finished school, and I’ve had plenty of training in the field of—”

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