Page 52 of Betrayed

I accepted her answer because it made sense; as a private investigator, he’d notice things others didn’t.

Every guy should take PI classes or lessons,or whatever it is they do to learn their skills. It’d make girls everywhere very happy indeed because nothing was more annoying than changing something, like cutting or dying your hair, and your boyfriend not noticing.

“For food, we got a variety,” Emily changed the subject. “But if there’s something specific you want, just let me know and Jack can bring it when he relieves Jay tomorrow.”

I sagged on the couch.This is really fucking real. I clutched the cute pink turtleneck to my chest.I’m going into hiding. Meg and Emily exchanged looks, but waited for me to speak. Having been through some rough shit themselves, they probably understood how overwhelmed I felt.

“Thank you,” I finally said. “For everything you’ve done for me.”

“You’re welcome,” they answered together.

“I know you’d rather do your class work, but I’d be happy to lend you a book or two if you want something fun to read,” Emily offered.

“That’s okay, I have books on my…”

Laptop. The laptop I can’t bring with me. The laptop that is more like an extension of my body than a tool.

The tears filling my eyes overflowed when I squeezed them shut. I curled forward and rested my elbows on my knees, hiding my face in my hands.

Please let this be a bad dream.

A hand rubbed small circles between my shoulder blades.

I looked over just as Meg said, “It’ll be okay. The guys are close to figuring this out, so it shouldn’t be for long before this is all over.”

Her words were empty platitudes, but I was desperate and latched on to them like a drowning kid to a life preserver.

I sniffled and nodded. The whole situation was hard to accept.

I was about to be a millionaire, so it’d make sense for someone to kidnap me after I have access to my money. But they were threatening my father through me. Which made no sense.

But it did. Threatening me was a sure way to get my father to do whatever they wanted. Had they threatened me before? Had he been forced to help criminals to protect me?

I feel so alone. There was no one I could talk to, not even my dad.I should call him, find out what's really going on.

Without thinking, I reached into my back pocket for my phone. Right, it wasn’t there. I sighed and asked, “Have you talked to my dad? How is he doing?” He had to be a nervous wreck with everything going on.

“John talked to him earlier and we’re sending him regular updates so he knows you’re safe,” Meg answered me.

“He must be so worried.” He hadn’t been himself since all this started, so I knew the fear and stress were getting to him. I couldn't help but wondering if there was guilt in the mix too.

“Let’s get all this put away in your room,” Emily said after a few minutes of silence. “Then we’ll have some more tea and ice cream.”

Wine sounded better, but I didn’t think they’d approve of me asking for it.

“Maybe we can sneak a shot of whiskey in the tea,” Meg whispered. “The boys don’t have to know.” She winked.

Who winks anymore?I laughed for the first time in days. I stood as I wiped the tears off my cheeks with the back of my hands. “That sounds like a plan.”

Emily, Meg, and I carried the bags to the spare bedroom, where Emily pulled a suitcase out of the closet for me to borrow. “Can’t have you lugging your things around in plastic bags.”

Tears of gratitude filled my eyes but I blinked them away. I didn't want to cry anymore.

Meg worked at SSI so I could convince myself she was just doing her job by being so nice, but Emily didn’t. She was doing this out of the goodness of her heart. I had a feeling Meg was too.

There’s no way sneaking whiskey into a cup of tea is in her job description.

Their generosity was almost too much to handle, bringing more unwanted tears to my eyes.

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