Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
"Hey," I say, stepping out of the way so he can enter the house. He steps inside and looks around the foyer while I close the door behind him.
"Something wrong?" he asks when his gaze finally falls onto me.
I shake my head. "No. I just haven't really heard from you so I wanted to talk to you a little." I lead him to the living room and sit on the couch. "So? Have you found out anything useful about what's going on? Like, what happens now?"
He takes a seat next to me and clasps his hands together as he rests his elbows on his knees. "The main thing is getting to the people responsible for putting the hit on you to begin with," he says. "But right now, we're keeping you and your father protected just in case they're planning another attack."
A lump of panic lodges itself into my throat at the thought of someone else coming after us. "I don't understand. Why in the world would someone want me dead? I haven't done anything to anyone," I exclaim.
"Unfortunately, you're simply the victim of doing business with the wrong kind of people." Trent shrugs. The wrong kind of people? I think back to all the companies I've worked with. On the surface, the companies all have everyday products that the average person could use. It's not like I'm advertising drugs or something super expensive and exclusive. I just can't fathom someone wanting to kill me over a few protein shakes and lipsticks.
"What? What do you mean business with the wrong people?" I finally say when I compose myself from the shock of his words. "We've only been doing business with makeup companies and fitness brands."
"That live you did the other night? The company you did that promotion for isn't who your father thought they were. It's a complicated situation, but they're the main reason you're in this situation to begin with."
I stare at him in confusion. "I don't understand. All I did was advertise lipsticks. What's wrong with that?"
He's quiet for a moment, and the silence weighs heavy on my mind. A multitude of different things pass over his face as he seems to struggle with what to say, and it only makes me realize that this situation is so much worse than I could've ever imagined.
"It's been revealed that the makeup company is a front," he starts. "The entity that owns that company is actually an Italian mob. And while you think you were only advertising their new lipsticks, they actually had you giving a coded message for a human trafficking auction in the script you had to use."
"I did what?!" I exclaim. Nausea flips my stomach. He has to be wrong. There's no way I could've done that. There's no way my dad could’ve allowed me to do that. My breath caught in my throat. Did my dad know about this? As if reading my mind, Trent shook his head.
"Your father didn't know either," he says. "I think your father simply took the money because it was a big payday for you, but he had no knowledge of the auction itself. Trust me, I checked into that."
I release a short breath as I smooth my sweaty palms along my jeans. This situation seems to get worse with each new piece of information presented to me, almost to the point where I'd rather be ignorant and not know anything just so I don't have even more to stress about.
"So are they the ones trying to kill me, then?" I finally bring myself to ask. Aside from the stress of knowing that I've been unknowingly working with an Italian mob, I've also been unknowingly committing a crime. Human trafficking isn't new to me, as it's something I've read about in news articles when girls go missing. I nearly throw up knowing I've been helping the bad guys facilitate something like that.
"No, but we finally know who's responsible for the hit after interrogating the surviving guy who attacked you and your father last night." I open my mouth to respond, but Trent holds his hand up. "I know you have a lot of questions, but I don't think it's a good idea to dump all of that on you right now. Just know that I have the information needed, and my team and I are devising a plan to handle all of this."
"But if I'm in danger, I'd rather know instead of walking around with no idea about who I should watch out for," I state with a frown.
"Even if I told you who they are, you wouldn't know them if you saw them," he says. "Besides, the less you know right now, the better."
"But—"
"Do you trust me?" he asks with a raised brow. I purse my lips as I stare at him. The question is loaded, especially after the truth bomb he'd dropped on me last night. A few hours ago, I didn't think I could trust him after he'd lied and kept so many things from him, but I know that trusting him is my only option right now. I sigh inwardly before I finally nod.