Page 63 of What About Love

“I’m okay.” Breakfast and coffee were priority.

“Good,” she stated with a nod, sending her ponytail and curls bouncing again. “Eat while I give you the other gory details. Since you were dead on your feet last night, they elected me to fill you in this morning. They have hidden cameras set up in each room except the bathroom, so change and do whatever else you need to do that’s private in there.” She passed her a small brown envelope. “This is a panic button. Eric said to wear this discreetly on your person at all times while in the apartment. The range is limited, so outside of this charming space, it’s not likely to work. Your toe ring and earrings stay on, naturally. And, besides the surveillance unit in 3F, there is a round-the-clock stakeout happening across the street. Holler if you get into trouble and Rossi men will be over on the double.”

“So that’s how Kieran saw me in my undies.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, he mentioned me giving the entire neighborhood a free peep show when he called me on the phone right before you came in. How was I to know they had staked me out?”

“Kieran said that, really?”

Angie shrugged. “I paraphrased.”

“I didn’t figure he did. He’s extremely well-mannered. I think I’ve heard him curse once. With that accent, even with the mouth of a sailor, he’d be easily forgiven.” She smiled again. “I’ve heard of worse ways to wake up.”

Her text alert sounded again.

“He’s persistent,” Angie observed with a giggle.

“You have no idea.” Val’s brow gathered. “There was something else.” She pulled out her phone again. “Wait a minute and it’ll come to me.”

Not two seconds later, she received another text.

“See what I mean?” she said with a twinkle.

Val looked at the screen, hooted with laughter then turned it so Angie could see.

In the text thread, the last message from Eric read:Smart-ass sub says ouch.

Still grinning, she slowly shook her head. “Hang on while I check my list.” She scrolled with her thumb. “Here it is. You’re supposed to go out today to be visible. Go only to public places like the mall. They want pervy murderer guy to have a chance to scope out both you and your place. You’ll have a tail, of course.”

“Got it.” She eyed the perky blonde as she took a delicate bite of her sandwich. “Why didn’t T or Eric come? Are you on the payroll, too?”

“Me, a Rossi operative?” Genuinely surprised, she spread her arms wide and scrutinized her petite, curvy frame. “Hardly. I’m only a messenger, one they thought would be inconspicuous. Even if the killer is watching, one sub meeting another is no big deal. A dom coming to a sub’s door might smack of a relationship and scare the murderous bastard away.”

“Especially T, since we have a scene planned tonight.”

“The carousel is a little more than a scene, hon.” Val leaned in and grabbed her hand across the table, giving it a firm squeeze. “Are you sure you’re okay with that, Angie? Say the word and I’ll go to bat for you.”

No, she wasn’t okay with a stranger doing who knows what to her on a platform fifteen feet about the floor with hundreds of people looking on. Or of sucking off anyone, but especially the man who stole heart but could never give his in return.

Val must have seen her uncertainty. She popped up and directed, “Grab your coffee,” then marched toward the other room.

Curious, Angie followed along. “Why are we having our coffee in my bedroom?”

“We’re not. I feel an urgent need for a tour of your place. Let’s start in the bathroom.” She gave Angie a meaningful look that could not be mistaken.

As soon as she closed the door, Val pounced. “All right, without peeping T and eavesdropping Eric listening in, tell me. How are you holding up? I can’t imagine.”

Then Angie did something she rarely ever did; she burst into tears.

“Oh, honey,” she exclaimed as she enveloped her in a motherly hug. “I told Eric he couldn’t ask this of you.”

“He didn’t. I volunteered,” she said between hitching breaths as she tried to bottle up her tears. “In fact, I insisted.”

Val twisted, looking around the bathroom. “No freaking tissues,” she muttered, grabbing the toilet paper and pressing a wad into her hand instead. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. Not without seeing it. It’s important we find those subs before...” She shook her head, unable to say what they all had been thinking since they found Elaine Danson. “I’m going over there and tell them it’s off, and to come up with a less insane Plan B.”

“No!” She caught her defender’s hand, keeping her from stomping out. “Three other women’s lives hang in the balance, more if I don’t do this.”

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