Page 59 of Virtue & Vengeance

He shoved his face in front of mine and hissed. “Figure it out. Why don’t you call your hot shot lover? I’m sure he could get figure it out.”

I should have been shocked that he knew about Zander, but I wasn’t. “We … broke up.”

“Tough shit. I don’t care. Call him.”

“I’m not calling him. If you have the money, I’m sure we can get it out.”

“I don’t have the fucking money! This is your problem. You fix it or else.” He pulled the gun from the waist of his pants and pushed the end of it into my temple.

I squeezed my eyes shut and begged myself not to cry. The last thing I wanted to do was drag Zander into this whole mess, but I knew he was the only way I was going to get the car for Allen.

I just needed to sound convincing and not give Zander any indication that something was wrong.

“Give me your phone,” I snapped bravely.

He glared at me with yellowish eyes. “Don’t take that tone with me, you stupid girl.”

He leaned into me, and I held my breath as his stench filled my nose.

“You really are stupid if you think I’m going to let you use my phone to call your boy toy. You think I’m dumb, don’t you? If I let you use my phone, he can track me down. Think again.” He pressed the phone receiver to my face, the cord tugging the base from the desk. “Call,” he ordered.

I took a deep breath, and with shaky fingers I pushed the buttons on the phone, dialing the number to the main lobby of Empire Sevens. It rang several times, and with each ring, my hand gripped the receiver tighter.

When I heard the receptionist’s voice on the other end, my stomach flipped with relief.

“Can you please connect me with Mr. Hale?” My voice was shaking, and I cleared my throat to keep it from giving me away.

“I’m sorry, but is Mr. Hale expecting your call?”

“No, but-”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Hale isn’t taking calls right now.”

“Please, if you just tell him Ed-”

“I’m sorry. If it’s urgent enough, you can call him on his cellphone.”

And then the line went dead, and I was sure she had just signed my death warrant.

“Well?” Allen demanded impatiently as I hung up the phone.

“She hung up. He wasn’t there.”

“You expect me to believe that you have no other way of getting in contact with him? Call back and don’t hang up until you’ve talked to him.”

I sighed but redialed the number.

“Empire Seven’s, how can I help you?

“This is Eden Vaughn. I need to speak to Mr. Hale.”

There was a slight pause, and then she responded tightly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Vaughn, but Mr. Hale isn’t taking any calls.”

I could tell by her tone that the gossip of Zander and I had reached her.

“Please, it’s an emergency.”

“I’m sure it is, but as I said before, you can call him on his cellphone.”

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