Page 31 of My Retribution Too

“Danny, pull apart the recording Tyler gave you as much as you can. Also, check the footage from the drive. See if she had any other visitors besides me, unwanted visitors that may have stopped by before tonight. I have a feeling we’re getting fed bullshit. But before that, I need you to sweep Phoebe’s room.”

“What am I looking for? Bugs? Cameras?”

I nodded and brought my eyes to him.

“Exactly. And get the prints off the couple and run them. I want to know who they were, where they came from, et cetera… And dive a little deeper in the security firm Watson and Tyler own. See what you can find out on the hush. Tyler is supposed to be this computer genius. Find out just how smart he is,” I instructed before heading to my brother, who was off to the side, watching Watson and Tyler.

“Will do, boss.” Danny replied as I stepped away.

CHAPTER5

PHOEBE

Ican’t believe it happened again. I had a panic attack, and this time it was in front of my friends.

I glanced around the hotel lobby, watching curious and judging eyes watching me. It was as if they were waiting for me to go over the deep end again.

I really wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole. Or I could click my heels three times and disappear into Oz instead of out of it. I dropped my gaze and studied my still shaking hands. Everyone has been over to check up on me, everyone except Lock. Although he did have an excuse. Hewasworking, trying to figure out who broke into my room, trashed it and all of my clothes. Still, I couldn’t help the need to have him close.

I vaguely remember what happened before I lost it. I remember getting off the elevator on my floor with my besties, laughing with them. After that, nothing until I saw Lock’s handsome face. I had been dying to learn what happened but was afraid to ask. Ayana and Noelle have been tight-lipped about everything, both of them hovering over me with concerned looks.

But who scared me the most was Reed. He looked pissed as all hell, fury rolling off him like a tidal wave. He expressed his extreme displeasure with me when he so-called checked up on me. Really, he cornered me and lit into me something fierce.

“I fucking told you to stay away from him. Didn’t I?” He had moved in close and lowered his voice so no one could hear our conversation, but he didn’t turn down the intensity in his eyes.

I, of course, ignored him and took a seat, still feeling sluggish and weak. Reed continued to stand over me, looking down at me with wild eyes.

“Phoebe, do you have any idea what you’ve done by getting involved with that son of a bitch? You had to go against reason, against what we’ve told you. Now you’ve put me and G in jeopardy, our business in jeopardy, all so you could spread your legs open for that piece of shit. I swear to you, if you’ve compromised what I’ve built by your need to get laid, I’m—”

I growled deep and throaty. He stopped in mid-sentence as I sprang from my seat and stepped into his face. I kept my voice down, but like him, I let my rage overflow through my tone and words.

“You’ll what? Huh? Do you honestly think I give two fucks about you and your business? Fuck you for thinking this is all about you. Someone was waiting for me in my room to do god only knew what. My room was destroyed, trashed. Every scrap of clothing I own has been destroyed. All I have is the clothes on my back, literally. And to top that off, someone apparently left me some death threats on the walls, and you really think I’m going to lose sleep over your business?”

“Watch yourself, Gates,” he warned. I ignored him and stepped closer, narrowing my eyes up at him.

“No, you watch yourself, Watson. How dare you come over here and lecture me about who I decide to spend my time with? My personal life is none of your business.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You don’t have a personal life. Don’t you get that? What we do doesn’t warrant a personal life.”

I immediately felt the strength leave my body, and I sat back down in my chair, feeling defeated and alone, scared and lost. I ran my hands over my braids and rested my elbows on the table, burying my face in my hands.

“Phoebe, I…” Reed touched my arm, and I yanked it away, sending a death glare that would have melted off his face if I had powers like Scott from the X-Men. Reed jerked his hand back, a shocked look on his face. I could feel the tears ready to fill my eyes and I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me breaking down.

“Just leave me alone, Reed,” I told him and covered my face in my hands, wishing I could break down in peace.

Instead of leaving me alone, I heard Reed pull out a chair across from me; the legs scraping on the Formica floor. I tensed, ready for him to berate me further, but he surprised me. He calmed his voice and even sounded sincere.

“Look, Phoebe, I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t be going off on you like this, considering what you’ve been through. I swear, it’s just every time I see him, he irritates the fuck out of me. I want to smash his face in.”

I shook my head and chuckled, despite myself.

“The feeling’s mutual, count on that,” I had told him.

“Have you gotten any updates?” Reed asked, ignoring my comment. “Do they know who broke into your room?”

I shrugged a shoulder and dropped my hands from my face, giving him tired eyes.

“No, I don’t. But I’m sure if someone knew, they wouldn’t tell me. No telling what would happen in my fractured state.”

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