Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
A knock sounds at my door, and I grab my phone to check the time. Keaton was always early, but this is ridiculous. Maybe we can have a bit of alone time before breakfast. I think about all the ways I can tell him good morning as I make my way over to the door and open it.
“Missed me? I…” I trail off when I see it’s not Keaton.
Standing in the hallway is a woman who is even shorter than I am with jet black hair and glasses perched on her small, upturned nose. She’s in jeans and a blazer that are a bit too big for her. Freckles sprinkle her cheeks, making her look young.
“Elsy Harbor?” she asks, but I think she already knows who I am. Her chin tilts up, and her glasses slide back up her nose. Her shoulders draw back, and it reminds me of someone.
“I swear I returned those library books,” I tease and wonder if she lives in the apartment building and needs something.
“You think I look like a librarian?”
“In a good way,” I rush to say as she glances down at her outfit. That bit of confidence she had drops from her chin. “I always thought it would be cool to be a librarian.”
I really hadn’t meant it in a mean way. She’s actually quite adorable. “Me too,” I say, and she lifts her head as she smiles softly.
“But other passions called.”
“Right.” She nods in agreement. “The library will always be there, and maybe one day we’ll have stories of our own in them.” A whimsical expression lights up her face.
“Is there something I can help you with? I actually need to get to work and my—” I pause, not sure what to call Keaton.
“Your boyfriend? Keaton Lone, he’s coming? That’s who you thought I was when I knocked.”
“I wouldn’t call him a boy.” And how the hell does she know that? “What’s your name?”
“Call me Jade.” I wonder if that’s her real name or a nickname because her eyes are a dark green. “I saw you with Keaton Lone last night. I was actually going to come talk to you, but then I thought it might be best to come back.” Had she been outside my apartment last night waiting for me to come home?
“You don’t live in this building, do you?” She shakes her head. “I’m not answering any questions about the Lones.” My hackles start to rise. Who is this woman?
“I was shocked to see him myself, but he’s not why I wanted to talk to you.” Her brows pull together as she thinks things over.
“Jade.” I pull her back to the moment here.
“Sorry, I just don’t believe in coincidences. Not in my line of work.”
“And what is your line of work?”
“Figuring out the truth and making sure the rest of the world knows what’s going on right under their noses.” Heated passion lights up her words.
“Okay, I think this conversation is over.” I step back to shut my door. Is she on to Keaton or what happened to him?
Her hand flies out to stop me. “Malice. That’s why I’m here.”
Last night when I told Keaton about my new job for JM Tech, I could have sworn I saw him tense before he tried to hide it. I don’t think he realizes that when it comes to him, there’s nothing he can keep from me.
“What about them?” Jade glances down the hallway both ways to make sure no one is around. “Gray Malice isn’t a good man, and I believe he’s selling things he shouldn’t be to very bad people.” Her words shock me.
“That’s quite the accusation.” JM Technologies has government contracts, and the Lones do too, for that matter.
They might not be owned by the government, but they supply them with things no one else is supposed to be able to get their hands on. Things no one knows about. I had to take a polygraph and sign a million contracts once I’d agreed to this job because of things I might see or work on.
A decade ago, there were rumors that both Dr. Lone and John Malice supplied technology to Masan Inga to stop Reqathe from invading their country so that our government could stay out of it. All of a sudden, Masan Inga had everything he needed to protect and push back. It worked and the Reqathe retreated. All rumors, of course.
“I’m not talking about John Malice. It’s Gray, now that he’s taken over for his father.”
“Why are you telling me this? I’m going to be a low-level lab tech.” Even if this is true, what does she think I can do about it?
“Are you sure about that, Elsy? You might not remember me, but I was a grade behind you in school. Everyone knew you were Keaton’s girl. Everyone.”