Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Would she drift forever in this numb, gray reality?
There was a knock on the door and it opened, Brad Perry walking through. He looked out of place in his tailored suit and polished loafers.
The perfect bureaucrat.
Taylor turned, absolutely ready to stop thinking about her impending existential crisis and get back to the job. The good news was if she died, she didn’t have to worry about what to do with the rest of her lonely life.
“Hello, Taylor.” Brad nodded Kim’s way. “Hey, Solo. Thanks so much for getting our girl here. I was overseas, and I just got in a couple of hours ago. How long was the drive?”
“She flew in by a private jet to Bliss. Lucky for her we’ve got a couple of rich people who like to fly, hence the private runway,” Kim explained. “It’s about eight hours from there, but it’s gorgeous country so I didn’t mind. It kept her under the radar.”
Kim’s words reminded her that she’d had a ridiculously long day. She’d flown by private jet to Oklahoma City, and then in an even smaller private plane to Bliss. All so no one could track her. She’d started the day at the awful hour of four a.m. eastern time. It was a little over three hours to Oklahoma, and then another three plus to Bliss, and all that driving.
She was exhausted, and there were still talks to be had. But the bed looked so inviting at this point.
If she put her head down, she could close her eyes and hopefully forget for a little while.
Of course she could also dream. Dream of him and have to wake up and remember who he’d turned out to be.
“Well, I’m sorry you have to turn around and do it all again, Solo,” Brad said. “But I promise you I can take it from here. I need to have a talk with Taylor before the big boss gets here in a few hours.”
Kim chuckled. “Nah. I think I’m staying for the time being. I’m on retainer, Brad. Gotta earn those big bucks.”
“I thought Kim was staying until we were ready to go to London.” She didn’t like the thought of being all alone with the Agency. Which was sad since they were her employers, and she didn’t trust them.
“I am,” Kim assured her.
“There’s no need.” Brad sighed, a long-suffering sound. “I understand that Taggart wants some of his people in place, but I would like to keep this team tight.”
“Good,” Kim countered. “Then you can pick who stays from you and whoever the Agency sent. We don’t need two handlers.”
Taylor yawned, going to the window and looking outside while Kim started arguing with Brad. She didn’t care. She wanted to get through it and be done and see what the hell was on the other side of this.
God, she missed her dad.
Though there was a part of her that was glad her dad hadn’t ever had to know how stupid she’d been.
“Why does Taggart want you here? He’s going to be here himself tomorrow afternoon,” Brad argued.
“Good. Then it will be super easy for you to ask him yourself,” Kim countered.
Her dad wouldn’t blame her for being dumb enough to fall for Drake Radcliffe. He would wrap his arms around her and kiss her forehead like he did when she was a child and tell her that her heart was far too big and open for this world, and she couldn’t help but try to give pieces of it away.
Then he would have quietly killed Drake Radcliffe, taken his body apart, and buried it on different continents.
She really, really missed her dad.
“I don’t understand. It’s not like Drake hasn’t worked with Big Tag before,” Brad returned with an exasperated tone.
“Again, something you should ask Big Tag.” Kim wasn’t backing down.
Maybe she could sneak away. She could slip down the stairs and out into the Wyoming wilderness. She knew a lot of survival skills. Half of surviving was simply being aware of what was around you. Listening.
Listening. Hearing danger before it came her way.
What?
“Drake?” She turned from the window.
Brad’s jaw went tight. “Yes. I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure you would work with him given your prior relationship.”
Kim’s eyes had gone wide. “Relationship? With the kid?”
The “kid” was a whole-ass grown man who had to be pushing thirty at this point. Maybe past. “Why would you bring up Drake Radcliffe’s name?”
Brad’s expression turned grim. “Because he’s taking the co-lead on this. He’s going to have to explain to you why, but this case is personal to him, too. I hope you can understand that. He’s coming up to talk to you in a minute, and I wanted to warn you.”
“Warn her?” Kim had her hands on her hips, staring Brad down. “You don’t warn a person two minutes before a bomb goes off. You wanted to ambush her so she didn’t have anywhere to go and no way out. And now we know why Big Tag wants me here. I don’t know what’s going on, but no woman goes that pale over a man who treated her well, and I won’t be a part of this. Fuck you. Fuck the Agency. Pack up, Taylor. We’re going back to Bliss. We’ll reassess from the road.”