Page 42 of The Revenge Plan

Me: Yes. What’s it to you?

It didn’t take Ax long to respond.

Ax: Can’t say I’m surprised with the way you were all territorial about her.

I had been territorial; I thought. And he had noticed it. I hated that. He sent another text.

Ax: Careful with her, I hope you’re using protection. She’s probably been around the block a few times.

Me: This, coming from a self-confessed playboy

Ax: That makes me an expert. You don’t want to catch something nasty from her

Me: Yes, daddy.

Ax sent me a middle finger emoji and I chuckled to myself as I threw the phone on the bed. My mind immediately went to the subject of the conversation and why she wasn’t back from her jog yet. I got up and made breakfast for the two of us hoping she would be back in time for us to eat some together. By the time I left for work, she still hadn’t come back from her morning jog. I left her a text.

Me: Are you avoiding me?

I immediately deleted it. I came off needy. And one thing Caiden Scott wasn’t needy for was Hailey. I mean, she was good, but not that good. I wrote another text.

Me: Where the fuck are you?

I didn’t get a reply. She probably left her phone at home, I later thought. By the time I reached my office, she still hadn’t replied. I threw my phone on my desk and turned my attention to my assistants, who came rushing in. According to the number of messages Layla was reading to me; I had been in high demand after I had left work early last Friday. After rattling what she thought were the important ones, she added, “And Mr. Jones is waiting for you in the visitor’s lobby. He had set an appointment with you.”

I was almost lost as to who Mr. Jones was until I remembered it was Fred, the private investigator I had hired. My mood darkened.

“Send him in.”

A few moments later he came in.

“You found something?” I asked him as he was taking a seat. I checked my phone again. No response, but it showed that she had read it.

“Not a lot that you didn’t already know. The tape from the night of, is still missing.” Fred had grown to calling the night Liam died thenight ofwhich made it even more portentous.

“About your in-laws,” it sounded like a jab, but he wore that serious detective face of his, so I wasn’t sure. He continued, “you were right, the Lyndells are in a colossal mess and Julian is trying to sell the mine.”

“He can’t. He doesn’t have the deed.”

Fred looked surprised, “how did you do that?”

“I have a little helper,” I didn’t want to tell him it was Hailey who had helped. Like the universe was playing games with me, my phone chimed. Hailey had responded.

Hailey: I’m not your beck-and-call girl.

I quickly typed a response.

Me: I wake up to an empty bed, and an empty house What am I supposed to think?

“Hailey Lyndell?” And the motherfucker guesses it right. I reluctantly nodded.

“How did you get her to agree?”

“Not that hard. A little blackmail was involved though.” I would never go through with the threat but Fred and Hailey didn’t need to know that. “What else have you discovered?”

Fred took out some papers from his briefcase. While he was doing so, I grabbed my phone and typed:

I have a boner because of you. Now what am I supposed to do?

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