Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Just as I get through the door I turn back. “It was nice meeting you…?”
“Ren. Ren Hayes.” The friend smirks.
“The Ren Hayes?” Sebastian stiffens, causing me to go on alert.
William pales and slams the office door shut in Sebastian’s face.
“Rude,” I snap out.
“Come on,” Sebastian urges with his hand to the small of my back, sending shock waves up my spine and liquid heat to pool in my stomach.
We don’t speak again until we’re back in the car. This time Ford takes the driver’s seat and Sebastian joins me in the back.
I unbutton a couple buttons on the blouse I’m wearing. I’m flustered and mad at how things went up there in William’s office. And, like a bitch in heat with every touch or look from Sebastian, despite knowing him for over six damn years, it only worsened things. Ugh. These professional clothes are a hindrance. I can’t breathe. I’d love to put on my shorts and tee and just feel normal for once.
To feel free.
“What did you mean, The Ren Hayes?” I turn to ask Sebastian to distract myself, but the question fades when I find his eyes on the cleavage I’ve exposed. My heart rate quickens and water floods my mouth.
“Ren Hayes?” Ford barks over his shoulder. “The man just acquitted for the murder of that woman from that club? It was on the news.”
All heat drains from my body, leaving an icy chill in its wake. I look at Sebastian for confirmation and going from the dip in his brow and tense posture, I’d say that’s exactly who he meant.
“Drive,” Sebastian demands.
I flop back into my seat, not realizing I’d darted forward when Ford brought up just who I was toe to toe with minutes before. Murder?
Death’s cold hand snakes up my spine, whispering over the flesh, causing goose bumps to rise all over my skin. Sebastian shifts in his seat, his thigh coming to rest against mine, reminding me I have nothing to fear from Ren or men like him. Because I have four protectors who won’t allow anyone to harm me.
Anxious energy has been coursing through my veins ever since we left William small dick’s office.
Fucking Ren Hayes was the last person I wanted around Clo and the fact he was in William’s office with William working for the state is foolish of him. That’s a media storm just waiting to happen.
The boring bastard looked twitchy as fuck and with good reason if he has a past linked with Ren Hayes. Ren was accused of the murder of a woman named Kate Rose. She met him at a nightclub and was later found strangled to death. Ren’s DNA was found on the victim and his fingerprints on a silk scarf wrapped around her neck. He claimed they were an item before she died, and were into rough sex. And that the scarf was a gift he bought her.
But there was no evidence they were an item. The bastard charmed the jurors and got off.
Lack of evidence.
Now I’m on edge. We looked into William when they first started dating, but this business with Ren came later. He wouldn’t have flagged up. I will be doing a fresh look into William’s background when we get done with this coffee meeting with her father.
Zac and Leo arrived at the coffee house with Mr. Sterling a few minutes ago. He’s decided to sit outside, which makes our job of keeping them safe twice as hard. Crowd points of possible attacks are greater in open space. But Mr. Sterling likes to be seen. It’s good for his image.
I search the perimeter of the coffee shop again and nod to Ford, who sits next to the table Clo and her dad are having coffee at. It’s apparent he only wanted to meet in a public space when the paparazzi show up and begin snapping them together. Jack Sterling needs the world to think he’s a devoted father spending time with his only child. We all know better. Clo would never see him if it wasn’t good for his image. I’m not saying he doesn’t love or care for her, he just loves his career more. It’s been fucking tough watching her grow into this beautiful woman, but so lonely and in desperate need of love.
It’s all around her, yet she can never know it.
I can’t hear what they’re talking about, but the quick glimpses I give Clo tell me it’s something she’s not happy about—no doubt informing her of more photo shoots and organized events she will be required to attend. This girl never complains about being a tool in her father’s campaigns. She does what’s expected of her, like a puppet on a string. I’m dying to cut her loose from them, to set her free…or use them to string her up in more fun ways. Fuck, I need to stop thinking about her this way. She doesn’t fucking help my cause. There’s so much inside her waiting to burst free. I can see it battling under the surface, clawing for an escape, begging for me to unlock the cage she’s kept in.