Page 48 of Ms. Fortune

I hesitate at that, thinking of Calnetta and Frank’s FBI connections. Could all of this be related somehow? Wouldn’t Frank have told me about this since he would know about it, right?

“I have no clue.” It’s not entirely a lie.

“Have you ever testified before a grand jury before?”

“No. I don’t usually deal with criminals.”

“Well, you’re going to be on your own in there. It’s not like a deposition. Attorneys aren’t allowed in the room. We’ll be out in the hallway if you have questions.”

“Great. Looking forward to it.” I want to believe there’s some sort of legal Hail Mary we can throw at this to make it go away. “You’re absolutely positive there’s no way I can get out of this?”

“I’m sure, Brandon. I’m sorry. I’ll be in touch tomorrow with details.”

I sigh. Defeat washing over me. “Thanks, Abbey.”

Hanging up, I hurl my phone across the room. It doesn’t travel far before shattering into mangled shards against the wall. A gasp sounds behind me, and when I turn, I find Normandy in the doorway to my office, a hand covering her mouth and confusion mixing with fear in her eyes as she stares at me. Shit. How much did she hear?

I watch her for a minute, waiting to see what she’s reacting to. Was it just the phone throwing?

“I need to go back to New York. I’ve been subpoenaed by a Special Grand Jury to testify. If I don’t go, I go to jail.” I scrub my hands down my face and drop my hands to my sides. This could not have happened at a worse time.

Normandy’s face drains of all blood, and she turns as white as a sheet. I rush over to her, fearing she’ll faint on the spot, and help her into the office and a chair.

“You’re leaving? When?” Something has shifted in her eyes. There’s still fear, but it’s got something else there that I hate even worse. Resignation. No, disappointment. Of course, she’s going to feel like I’m abandoning her when she needs me most. It’s how I feel too.

“I don’t know yet. I need to talk to Taylor.” I squat to be at her eye level and take her hands into mine. They’re freezing and shaking.

I want to fix this.

I can’t fix this.

“Okay….”

“We’ll figure this out. I’ll be able to be back here in time to do my part and get you. Don’t even worry about that. I’ll do whatever I have to to make that happen. It will happen. I promise you.”

She searches my eyes, looking for the truth in them, and I hope she sees that I’m serious. I am not going to fuck this up for her. There’s no way I will make her go through this alone.

“I promise. I won’t let you down.”

Chapter 32

QUIET LITTLE PLACE

NORMANDY

“Brandon, I’m scared.” I can’t stop shaking. It started in my hands and has now spread to my entire body. I feel like one whole exposed nerve, raw and aching from sensory overload. I am usually a put-together businesswoman in my own right, but now, with all this craziness around me, I feel weak and vulnerable. I don’t like feeling this way at all.

He rubs my hands between his, trying to warm them up and get the circulation going, but I can barely feel it. I’m going to be alone. I’m going to be kidnapped and alone. And there’s no guarantee that he will make it out of court on time to pay my ransom. What if he doesn’t make it out in time?

“I know. I know.” He kisses the palms of my hands, his breath warm against my skin. It’s the only warmth I feel at the moment. “I will make this work somehow. I’ll be out on time, I swear. I promise you. Don’t worry about anything. We’ll get through this.”

He sounds more like he’s trying to convince himself than me. And he can’t promise those things. There’s no way he can promise anything.

“Please don’t do that.”

“Do what?” he glances up at me, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Don’t promise me things you can’t follow through with. Or, at least, things we don’t know you can come through on. What if you don’t make it out of there in time?”

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