Page 16 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

He glanced over his shoulder to look at Summer. Were her eyes red? He hadn’t done anything to her. Hadn’t touched her. “Nothing.”

Lisa pursed her lips; clearly, she didn’t believe him.

“Maybe she’s just emotional,” he said. “Big day and all that. I didn’t do anything.” Why was he defending himself? Maybe he should change the subject. “How’s she doing?”

For a moment, it looked like Lisa wasn’t going to let him off that easily, then she smiled. “Great. She’s a natural.”

He was aware Lisa had been worried about leaving him in the lurch. She was obviously confident Summer could do the job. “Will you be able to train her in just two more days?”

“She could probably take over tomorrow.”

High praise.

But he’d known Summer was bright. She’d had to be, to carry out the scams she’d done. He glanced over to the desk where she was tapping away, doing an excellent job of ignoring him. “Good. I’m going to take her now,” he said. “Show her where she’ll be staying.”

Summer looked up from the monitor, her eyes narrowed. “I have somewhere to stay.”

“This place comes with the job. Think of it as a perk.”

“No.”

He raised a brow.

She took a deep breath; he could almost see her counting in her head, trying to stay calm. “Nice as it is for you to arrange something for me, it’s not necessary. I’ve got a place to stay.”

“Well, now you don’t need it.”

She gritted her teeth and then forced a smile. “It’s been registered with my parole officer. I could get into trouble if I stay somewhere else, and it’s too late to contact them now.”

Was she telling the truth? Should he push it? Her eyes were a little red.

“Please,” she added.

He sighed. “Okay. But I’ll drive you home.”

“You really don’t have to. I’m quite capable of getting there myself.”

He smiled. “I want to.”

He turned to Lisa, who was standing with her mouth open. When she caught him looking at her, she shook her head. “Right then. I’ll finish up for the day. You two go ahead.”

Summer’s eyes held a distinctly mutinous expression, but she got to her feet and picked up her purse from the desk. “Thank you,” she said to Lisa. “You’ve been very patient.”

“No problem. I’ll see you on Thursday.”

…

They didn’t talk in the elevator. Summer stared straight ahead. The door opened on the ground floor rather than the parking garage, and she followed him out and through the main reception area. She’d worked here for two months. Now she peered around surreptitiously, but—thankfully—didn’t recognize anyone.

The same black car was parked out front, the engine running, the driver standing by the rear door, waiting for them. He opened it when he saw them approaching.

“There’s been a change of plans,” Nik said to him. “Where are we going, Summer?”

She reeled out the address and then climbed into the back of the car, shuffling across as Nik got in beside her. She fastened the seat belt and stared out the window as the car pulled into the traffic. She didn’t know the area where they were heading, so she had no clue how long the trip would take. Not long, hopefully.

She didn’t like being in such close confines. It made her feel…she didn’t know exactly. She was just stressed out from everything that had happened today. She hoped that after a good night’s sleep, everything would seem better in the morning.

She cast a sideways glance at the man beside her. His long legs were stretched out, his hands resting on his thighs. He had big hands, perfectly manicured. She curled her own into fists to hide her chewed nails. It was a habit she’d thought she’d broken, but had picked up again in prison.

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