Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“She wasn’t a PI.” Harlow fought back a growl. “She was my receptionist. It was her first day. Yes, I know about that situation, but I think the ties go deeper. I think it would be best if we moved you somewhere they can’t find you. Do you want out?”
Miranda nodded. “I want out. I’m so scared to stay here, but I don’t want them to hurt my mom.”
“She’ll go with you. I talked to her about what might happen if you were in too deep, and she’ll do anything,” Harlow explained. “I have to make some arrangements. When is your next shift?”
“Tomorrow. I have to work every day. And I’m supposed to do something new tomorrow afternoon. I’m doing something Phil calls a run. He said it’s important that I do it right. I’m supposed to drop something off at an address downtown before I come into work. Harlow, I’m worried it might be illegal.”
Oh, it was totally illegal, and she was going to have to work some magic. “If you do that, they will have proof that you’re involved in crimes. They will use that to make you do whatever they want. They targeted you, and this is the position they’ve been working to put you in. We need to move you tonight.”
She looked like a deer in the headlights. “Tonight?”
Harlow nodded. “Yes. You are going to work the rest of your shift like nothing happened. Then you’re going to go home and I will meet you there, and we’ll move you and your mom tonight. Lucky for me a mentor of mine has a couple of safe houses, and he loves to help so he can hold it over everyone’s head. From there we’ll figure it out, but you cannot go on that run tomorrow. It’s imperative they don’t get blackmail material on you.”
Miranda wrapped her arms around her chest as though self-soothing. “I have to go back out there?”
“I need a couple of hours,” she replied. “You can do this. Forget everything and do your job. If Phil asks about tomorrow, tell him you’re ready. Pretend like nothing happened. You talked to me and I’m cool with it now. You think my Master and I might become regulars. Can you keep it together?”
She took a long breath. “Yeah. Yes, I can. If my mom can put everything on the line for me, then I can put a smile on my face for a couple of hours.”
Harlow slid her phone from its hiding place under her clingy shirt. There hadn’t been a rule about no cell phones, but she didn’t want to make it obvious. “Put your address in. I’ll be there when you get off.”
“I usually make it home by two a.m. I don’t have much to pack. I can be ready quickly,” Miranda assured her, and she added her address and phone number. “You’ll be there?”
“I will be there,” Harlow promised. “And I’ll contact your mom and have her ready to go. It’s going to be okay. When you’re safe, my partner and I will start looking into how this club works and who’s in charge. If we can get enough to go to the police, we will. Until then you need to lay low.”
“I’ll help you with that. I know some things.” She looked to the door again. “I know some people who might be helpful for you to talk to.”
Ruby was going to be thrilled. She lived for this kind of shit. She was going to get to hack systems and play chicken with mobsters. She wouldn’t care that they weren’t going to get paid for this. She would do it for the fun. And that’s how Harlow used her trust fund. To keep them afloat while they did good work. She took the phone back from Miranda. “My Dom and I are going to stay for another hour or so and then we’ll leave. I’ll get everything ready and be at your place at two. Pack light and don’t tell anyone.”
Miranda wiped away a tear. “I’m going to see my mom.”
This was why she did it. This feeling that she was doing something worthwhile kept her going. She wasn’t some useless rich bitch. She had a purpose. Harlow reached for Miranda’s hand, squeezing it. “You are. You are going to be okay.”
Miranda sniffled and checked herself in the mirror. “I’ll see you soon.”
She turned and walked out.
This was the danger time. She quickly texted Ruby, who would reach out to their client and get everything in place. They would need to move quickly. Ruby would call their contact at McKay-Taggart, who would help them locate a safe house and assign a bodyguard to take Miranda and her mom there.
This was not her first rodeo.
She slid the phone back into its place and checked her hair. She let her expression go slack and peaceful. Nothing to see here, Mr. Criminal. I’m just a soft, sweet girl who likes to submit to a big, strong man. I’m not about to take down your whole criminal enterprise or anything.