Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
She sniffs. “Okay. I’m sorry I’m such a brat.”
“No, you aren’t.” I laugh when she rolls her lips together and grins. “Get some rest, angel. I’ll see you soon.”
“Good night. Love you.”
“I love you as well.”
She hangs up, and I drag my hand down my face before shooting Simon a quick text.
Just spoke with Billie. Thank you for getting her home safely. She will not ditch you again.
When I return to the conference room, I’m met with some scowls and silence.
“Is there a problem?”
Before anyone can reply, the door bursts open, and Miller strides in, his face a mask of rage.
“You need to see this,” he says, shoving his laptop in front of me. When I scan his email, my blood runs cold.
“Where did this come from?”
“We’re tracking it now,” he says as my eyes scan.
They are photos, dozens of them, of my angel. Some from New York when we were there, others from Bitterroot Valley shortly after we got home.
But my heart stops when I get to one of her at Birdie’s recital last night.
There’s another of her working in her bookshop, smiling at a customer, also time-stamped yesterday.
“Jesus,” I mutter, and then I get to the message.
Terminate the building of the resort in Sweden. It would be a shame for this beautiful woman to get hurt.
My eyes jump up to every person on my board, and I growl.
“We’re pulling out of Sweden.”
Fiona gasps, and there are rumblings around the table.
“This isn’t up for discussion.”
“Connor, as your attorney, I’m telling you, this wouldn’t be wise.”
“I have to agree with Fiona,” Ronan says. “We’ll lose half a billion euros at this point.”
“I’m not asking! These motherfecking arseholes are threatening my future wife. Not just me. My future wife! I’m going home.”
“Sir, we have so many important matters to go through with you, especially now that you’re hardly here in the office.”
I glare at Sean. “There’s a stalker following Billie, taking photos of her, watching her so they can threaten us. So they can threaten her. I’m not there, not even on the same goddamn continent, but that arsehole is. If you think I’m staying here for one more minute, you’re insane. Pull out of the Sweden project now. I don’t care how much money we lose. We can afford it.”
“We don’t typically give in to threats like this,” Fiona says softly and holds her hand up before I can bite her head off. “But I agree in this case. It’s been a difficult project from the onset, and if it’s going to lead to threats and danger, it’s not worth it. I’ll figure it out. Go home to your girl.”
I blink at her, surprised, but she offers me a small smile.
“Go,” Ronan agrees. “We’ll handle it. If need be, I’ll go to Sweden myself.”
“We’ll go as a board,” Sean says, and the others nod in agreement.
“Thank you,” I murmur and then turn to Miller. “Call and get the plane ready. We’re leaving from here.”
“Yes, sir.” Miller nods, leading me out of the room.
“Is this the first time they’ve threatened her?” I ask as we stride to the elevator.
“Yes,” he says firmly. “There have been several threats against you, but this is the first targeting her.”
“Get Simon on the line and tell him to stick to her like goddamn glue.”
“On it.”
“Then find out who this photographer is, call Bitterroot Valley PD, and have them dealt with. I also want this goddamn extremist group dealt with. Call in our contacts with the FBI and CIA and have it ripped apart.”
“Already started on that,” he replies. “I don’t just guard your ass, you know.”
I nod, and when the elevator doors slide open, we rush to the SUV.
I need to get home.
Chapter Thirty-One
BILLIE
“Ilove this book club,” Skyla says with a contented smile after the rest of the girls leave and just the two of us are left in the store. “Everyone always reads the books, and the conversation is so much fun.”
“I agree.” I smile at her as I gather the last few items for the trash, and Skyla helps me put the chairs away. “You don’t have to stay, you know. I’m fine here.”
“I’ve missed you,” she replies, watching me with shrewd green eyes, so much like her brother’s. “I know you’re a busy woman with work and my brother, but I thought it would be nice to hang out for a minute to chat privately.”
I can’t help myself. I pull Skyla in for a tight hug. Her arms wrap around me, and she squeezes me just as tight, and it occurs to me how much I really needed a hug.
“Are you okay?” she whispers as she rubs her hand up and down my back.
“I miss him,” I reply and pull back, eyeing Simon, who’s still standing by the front door, but he’s looking at his phone. “My life has changed a lot.”