Page 43 of Hard Limits

“Damn.”

“It’s only money. I can make more money, but if Carissa’s poison keeps running through my veins, I’ll have no life at all.”

“He does have a point,” Zach said. “And the sooner he cuts his losses, the more time he’ll have left to enjoy everything the world has to offer.”

But Justin was shaking his head. “Don’t do anything hasty.”

“Meera might not be the one,” Nolan put in. “But we know Carissa definitely isn’t either, so Brax has to get away from her.”

“Couldn’t you negotiate a better settlement?” Ari suggested.

“Nothing like fifty-fifty. Carissa knows she can hold out longer than me. And unlike yours truly, she wouldn’t be able to start over. She might be competent at setting up an accounting system and running an admin team, but she doesn’t have an entrepreneurial spirit or the ability to lead. And although she can spot a Gucci purse at a hundred yards, she wouldn’t know a good investment opportunity if it bit her on the ass.”

And while she waited, while she bided her time, Brax was only making more money for her. As part owner of Dunnvale Holdings, she had veto power over any salary increases, so he couldn’t drain cash from the business that way, and for every dividend he took, she got one too because they owned the same class of shares. He worked, she lunched. He networked, she shopped. He dealt with any issues that cropped up in the clubs, she relaxed at the spa.

And yes, in his blacker moments, he’d even considered going down Alexa’s dark-web route, but knowing his luck, he’d hire an undercover FBI agent, and he couldn’t enjoy life from jail either.

Violet reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “I think that if you truly love this woman, then you should tell her how you feel, and if she feels the same, you should take the plunge. Love beats everything.”

“But leave it a few more weeks,” Justin added. “You need to be certain.”

They were right. They were all right. Brax had a lot to think about before he made the biggest decision of his life.

CHAPTER 17

THE ASSISTANT

I felt him before I saw him. A presence behind me as I climbed out of my car and speed-walked to my shared apartment. You know that odd prickle you get when you’re being watched? Logic told me to turn around, to check for danger, but what you can’t see won’t hurt you, right? My walk became a run—screw decorum—and I sprinted for the door of my building. I didn’t live in a great area. Being mugged was a very real possibility, especially now that I was wearing jewellery worth thousands.

I’d considered leaving Mr. Vale’s necklace and earrings in my apartment, but although I had a lock on my bedroom door, I didn’t entirely trust my housemates. And even if they were honest, our apartment was on the ground floor and my window didn’t close properly. Keeping the gifts in my desk drawer was an option, but what if I had to run on short notice? My oversized purse held emergency supplies—Meera’s debit card and driver’s licence, my phone, a small amount of cash, clean underwear and a change of clothes, shower gel, a toothbrush—plus I’d sewn my own passport into the lining. I could pawn the jewellery if necessary.

When I reached the building, I risked a look around, which was dumb because the lock on the exterior door was broken, so if someone was following me, they could easily come inside. But the only man in sight was in a black car on the other side of the street, and when I focused on him, he looked away.

A chill ran through me.

Was it all some big coincidence? Was he truly watching me? Or did I just have an overactive imagination? Could he be a cop waiting for a drug deal to happen? Or a drug dealer waiting for a customer? Or had my father finally found me?

Inside, I considered my options. Should I move on tonight? Climb into my car and keep driving until I found a new hiding place? I’d always known this might happen, planned for it, but life would become infinitely more difficult if Meera’s identity was compromised.

An hour later, I peeped outside, and he was still there. Just sitting in his car, checking his phone. Was he contacting my family? Telling them that the hunter had spotted his prey? How had he found me?

No, no, he couldn’t have found me. I’d been so careful. Indali Vadera was gone, and I’d used Meera’s name for everything.

But if the car was still there in the morning, I’d climb out of the window and vanish again.

I barely slept that night.

In the morning, the car was gone.

“Here, have this.” Mr. Vale used one elegant forefinger to push his coffee across the desk toward me on Monday morning. “You look as if you need it more than I do.”

“Really, I’m—” Another yawn came before I could stop it, and Mr. Vale folded his arms in a “see, I’m right” gesture. “Thank you.”

I took a sip, and the beverage was a little on the cool side, but he hadn’t complained once since his confession about Carissa Dunn two weeks ago. Now we only spoke with either a camera or a witness watching over us, and I’d actually begun to enjoy my job. It wasn’t the emergency department, but it was a million times better than being chained to Karam’s kitchen sink.

I’d also begun wearing make-up again. If video of me was going to be used in a court case, I at least wanted to look pretty while I gave Mr. Vale’s wife the metaphorical finger.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

---