Bound (The Billionaire's Muse Book 2)

by M. S. Parker

  Slanting a look at her, I echoed her response. “Huh.” I popped a bite of omelet into my mouth, chewed, swallowed, then asked, “What does that mean?”

  “It’s just a noise. Do you plan on doing anything to amuse yourself?”

  “Not really.” I wasn’t about to tell her I’d located some cleaning supplies and was already making a game plan on what I’d do once I cleaned up the dishes. I had a feeling she’d tell me it wasn’t necessary. Better to already be doing it before she realized what I was up to.

  “Well, I’m not due back at work until Monday, so I’m going to enjoy being lazy.” She made a show of an exaggerated stretch before picking up her coffee cup.

  Grateful for something inane to talk about, I asked, “Where do you work?”

  “Get ready to be surprised.” Over the rim, she gave me a rueful smile. “Piety and I both work for homeless shelters. We love it but sometimes I need a break. I dragged Piety off to Las Vegas after I finished handling a rough case. She needed to get away from her folks, but she needed a vacation too, even if she won’t admit it. Her job is rougher than mine.”

  Homeless shelters. Frowning into my coffee, I turned that puzzle over in my head. Eyeing her, I asked, “Do you enjoy it? Does she?”

  “Yes.” The smile she shot at me was dazzling. “It’s hard work, for both of us, but we love it. It’s not what our parents would have planned for us, although I will tell you, Piety’s parents definitely play up the photo ops when they get a chance. But sometimes…”

  Her voice trailed off, and she shrugged. “It’s hard. The place I’m at works with at-risk youth and runaways. We try to get them placed with…well, affluent families who are good at reaching troubled kids. The sort of people who want to make an impact on a kid’s life. It makes a difference. It’s still hard, but it helps. I see it.”

  She looked away, and I held quiet, wondering where she was going with this. She wasn’t done, I could tell that.

  “Piety, though…she’s at a shelter that specializes in helping domestic abuse victims, women trying to get away from abusers, girls who’ve run away from boyfriends…that sort of thing.”

  “Sounds like hard work,” I said softly, staring into my coffee.

  “It is. She’s good at it. Sometimes, it…hurts.”

  Tightening my hands on the cup, I thought of how she was helping me with Camry and wondered what it was doing to her, wondered how much Astra knew.

  Across from me, she sighed. “She should take more time off. But sometimes I think she doesn’t feel like she has the right.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  Astra caught sight of my scowl, and she shrugged. “It’s not logical. We were both born lucky, we’ve got so much, and others don’t have hardly anything. I don’t know if she feels like she has to balance the scales or what.”

  Was that why she was doing this? Trying to balance some sort of unseen scale?

  I didn’t know.

  “What are you doing?”

  The flabbergasted confusion in Astra’s voice told me I’d been right on base when I’d elected not to tell her about my exciting plans for the day – cleaning.

  Looking up from the table I was dusting, I cocked my head and then looked at the rag before examining the can in my hand.

  “It would appear that I’m cleaning.” I gave the table a final swipe and then moved to the bookshelves.

  “You don’t need to do that.” She sounded mystified. “We have somebody who comes in twice a month. She’ll be here next week, and we pick up our own clothes. We even wash them. We’re not totally helpless.”

  “I never thought you were,” I said, laughing under my breath.

  “Then why are you doing this?”

  She came around to stand in front of me, and I looked from the bookshelf to her. With a sigh, I met her gaze. “Because I’ve got nothing else to do. Piety isn’t here. I don’t know this city, and I really don’t feel like playing tourist – I’ve got too much on my mind. But if I just sit around and watch the fucking television, I’ll go flat out crazy.”

  Her eyes widened a little.

  “Sorry,” I said shortly, going back to the task at hand.

  “Hey, I’ve said bad words before. A lot.”

  Looking back, I saw understanding in her eyes. She smiled at me. “It’s cool,” she said softly. “I get it.”

  “Thanks.”

  I went back to work on the bookcase, acutely aware that she was still watching me.

  After another moment, she turned away. “I’m going to take care of some stuff and then order in something for lunch. How do you feel about Chinese?”

  “I feel just fine about it.” I wouldn’t have minded cooking lunch, but that would require a trip to the store, and I had no idea where one was, and Philadelphia was a monster of a city, completely different from what I was used to.

  I half-expected her to disappear back into her room, but Astra set herself up on the couch, laptop perched across her thighs, a pair of glasses on the tip of her nose. She focused on the screen with single-minded determination, and after a while, I forgot she was there.

  Nearly two hours passed before she interrupted me.

  “Chicken or pork? Sweet and sour? Kung pao? What’s your poison, Kaleb?”

  “Huh?” I threw the rag into the bathroom and swiped my arm across my forehead. I’d thrown myself into the cleaning with more intensity than it really needed, thanks to a text from Camry a half an hour ago.

  What’s going on, Kaleb? Where are you? Are you going to help me? I’m sorry I behaved that way. I do want to leave Stefano and come with you home.

  I hadn’t answered her back.

  I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

  I was…tired.

  I’d come here to help, and then when I finally talked to her, she acted like I was just there to be a pain in her skinny, underfed backside.

  “Kaleb?” Astra’s voice was soft.

  “Sweet and sour chicken,” I said, bending back over the bathtub. “That will do.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “No worries, Astra.” No fucking worries.

  She left me alone, and I scrubbed at the already gleaming bathtub as if I could scrub all the misery out of me.

  It was nearly ten when the door opened.

  Astra flashed me a bright smile and bounded up from her chair.

  The remnants of pizza still sat on the coffee table, and I stared at the box for a long moment before standing and cleaning it all up.

  Piety’s soft voice behind me didn’t even have me turning around. “I’m sorry I left you alone so long.”

  “No worries. It’s not like I need a babysitter.” I glanced at her as I carried the box into the kitchen. “There are two slices left if you’re hungry.”

  “No. I…ah…grabbed something while I was out.” She slid her hands into her back pockets and looked around. “What did you do all day? Astra show you the city?”

  “No. I’m afraid I’m not much up for playing tourist with everything going on.” I placed the two remaining slices on a plate and wrapped them, then put them in the fridge next to the leftover Chinese from lunch. Once that was done, I tore the box down and placed it near the trash to dispose of in the morning. While she watched, I cleaned up from the late dinner.

  “Seems like you figured out where everything is,” she said, giving me a smile. I think she tried to keep it light, but it just looked strained.

  “Yeah.”

  I waited, wondering if she’d say anything else, offer me…anything. She said I should come back here while we figured out what to do, but so far, she’d spent the past two days out of the loft, hardly talking to me. I was running out of ways to tell myself that I’d figure something out on my own.

  Piety toyed with the braided belt on her dress, but I abruptly said, “I’m tired.”

  Heading past her, I paused just long enough to kiss her cheek, then went straight into the guest bedroom where I’d ori
ginally planned to sleep, closing the door behind me.

  I heard voices just a few minutes later, low and soft, but I didn’t try to listen to what Astra and Piety might be discussing.

  I was…tired.

  Tired and feeling empty and just about out of hope.

  A sleepless night led to me sleeping past ten, and when I woke up, the loft was empty.

  A note was under a cup next to the coffee pot – apparently, they at least knew I needed coffee to function.

  Kaleb,

  Astra and I need to see to some business details.

  We will be gone for a while.

  I plan to be back in time for dinner, though.

  Don’t make plans.

  She signed it with a P inside a heart.

  I reached for the piece of paper and crumpled it in my fist.

  “What kind of fucking plans am I supposed to make?”

  Unless there was somebody on Craigslist looking for a kidney or something, I was shit out of options, and I needed to figure something out fast.

  Head pounding, I started the coffee pot.

  It hadn’t even managed to get me my first miserable cup when somebody knocked on the door.

  Frowning, I walked over and looked through the security hole. Nobody had called up, and security here was tight – I’d already seen that. So whoever it was must be somebody the building security knew. Unless that somebody knew how to get in undetected.

  I didn’t know him, but what did that mean? I could count how many people I really knew in this city on one hand and have fingers left over.

  Eying the distinguished looking man, I felt an immediate rush of dread and distaste fill me.

  “Can I help you?” I asked through the door.

  “Mr. Hastings? Hello, my name is Stuart Rushmore. I’m a friend of Piety’s. I was wondering if you had a few moments.”

  As I studied him through the small Judas hole, he smoothed his tie down and beamed a brilliant smile directly at me, clearly aware I was watching him – or maybe he just liked to smile.

  “A few moments for what?” I asked.

  “Well, to be blunt, Mr. Hastings, I’m here to help you. If you could allow me in…?”

  “How about you give me some insight as to who you are first?” For all I knew he could be working for Stefano. Not likely, but still…

  “As I said, I’m a friend of Piety’s. To be more direct, I’m a friend of your in-laws.”

  Oh, shit. Dread dropped down on me like a leaden weight, and I wanted to tell him to get the fuck out. But instead, I unlocked the door and studied the man in front of me for a long moment.

  He did the same.

  He probably found me wanting. He looked expensive, in a lightweight summer suit and a tie the same shade of green as his eyes.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said after a few moments.

  Before he could hold out his hand, I turned away. “Something tells me I’ll need coffee for this. Bourbon, too, but it’s kind of early for that.”

  He followed me inside. “I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee myself. But relax…I don’t have anything hard to tell you. It will make your life so much easier, in fact.”

  I stared at the check.

  “What’s the catch?” I asked flatly.

  “Not much of a catch, really.”

  The moment I’d seen Stuart Rushmore standing at the door, I decided he would be an arrogant piece of work. I was right.

  He was also a prick.

  He smiled at me like we were friends, leaned forward, and gave me that we’re cool look as we talked and did all sorts of things that would have irritated me even if I’d liked him. But I’d disliked him from the get-go, so it made it even worse.

  “You just need to end this farce of a marriage. My clients know it’s not real. You know it’s not real. Why keep it up?” Elbows resting on his knees, he gestured with one hand and shook his head. “This was just some stunt Piety pulled to upset her parents. She got her way. She wanted attention, and she got it. They’ll talk. You’ll get the money you clearly need–”

  “Clearly?” I asked, keeping my voice calm through a sheer act of will.

  “Both Mr. Van Allan and I know what a desperate man looks like,” he said, his voice almost kind. “Perhaps if you hadn’t involved his daughter, he would have been more open to helping. As it is, you’re lucky he’s willing to make this offer.”

  He put the check down, then a folder.

  “Take the check. Sign the annulment agreement. Leave the city. Everybody gets what they want.”

  The numbers on the check staggered me.

  It would take care of what Stefano wanted. Get him to let Camry go.

  It would be more than enough, even some to start a new life back home. Open the surf shop I’ve always dreamed about.

  All I had to do was leave.

  “How do I know he won’t cancel the check the moment I leave?”

  “I’m going to the bank with you.” He smiled benignly. “Then to the airport. I’ve already secured you a seat back to Las Vegas. But this is a very limited time offer.”

  22

  Piety

  “Kaleb!”

  I felt awful about how I’d left him alone in a strange city for the past two days, but I had news that was well…promising. Not one-hundred percent good, but definitely heading in that direction.

  And I could tell him now. I hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up, and I hadn’t wanted him coming along until I knew more about what I needed to do.

  Now that I had answers, though, it was different.

  Very different.

  The dinner I’d planned to be a distraction could now be something even more…almost a celebration.

  Things were going to work out.

  I knew it.

  “Kaleb!”

  There was no answer, though, and my voice almost seemed to echo back in that odd way a place had when it was empty.

  Not just because somebody wasn’t there, but when they were…gone.

  “Hey, PS.” Astra came rushing in after me, all smiles. She wagged her eyebrows. “Are you two heading out?”

  Turning back to the empty apartment, I lifted a hand. “It looks like he’s already gone.”

  Astra looked at me, confused. “What? I thought you told him you wanted to go out to dinner?”

  “I did. I wrote it in the note I left him.” Then I frowned. Maybe he hadn’t seen it.

  But when I checked, it was gone.

  I turned around and saw Astra dumping her purse in the chair. “Maybe he just got hungry and went to the store. It’s not like we keep a bunch of stuff on hand.” She kicked her shoes off and groaned. “Those shoes are adorable but murderous.”

  “Maybe. But wouldn’t he have left a note?”

  Turning back to the empty loft, I looked around, searching for some clue as to where he might have gone, but I didn’t see anything.

  “He probably wasn’t planning on being gone long. You’ve been out late the past two nights, so he probably figures he has time.” She shrugged and leaned back, rotating her feet at the ankle and glaring at the discarded shoes. “You know, you did a good thing, helping him. Maybe he can stop being so…serious. He doesn’t seem to enjoy life much.”

  I’d filled Astra in on some of the details – some, not all – earlier because I needed her help.

  “Yeah, I hope so,” I said absently as I wandered around the main room of the loft. Something was missing. I couldn’t figure out what it was.

  I walked into the room he used last night and then walk back out. The bed was made, but I’d already figured out he was a neat freak. Astra told me how he’d spent half the day yesterday cleaning. It wasn’t that either of us were particularly messy. Both of us wanted a clean space, so we’d learned how to pick up after ourselves between professional visits.

  But the place was now spotless. There wasn’t even a speck of dust to indicate people even lived here. I went into my room and looked ar
ound, lingering in the door, searching for whatever it was that was tugging at the back of my mind.

  Something’s missing…something’s missing…

  Not even a speck of dust, I thought.

  Nothing to indicate anybody even lived here…

  “Shit,” I whispered. Spinning on my heel, I rushed back into the guest bedroom, coming to a stop in the doorway as I looked around.

  For some reason, it felt like somebody had punched a hole in my chest and ripped out my heart. “It’s not here,” I said. I could hear the panic in my voice, and it didn’t make sense.

  Astra stared at me, confused. “What’s not here?”

  “His suitcase,” I said. “His suitcase isn’t here. Neither is his jacket. He left in hanging on the hook by the door. It’s not here.”

  “Why would he need a jacket?” she asked. “It’s the middle of summer.”

  “It’s not in Australia. It’s winter. He probably wasn’t thinking when he started packing for the trip!”

  I rushed back into the bedroom and flung open the door, hoping I would see the jacket or his suitcase hiding in a corner, but it wasn’t there. “He’s gone, Astra.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.” She offered me a smile, but it was hesitant and uncertain. She came to stand in the doorway where I had been just a few moments ago, watching as I went through the bedroom searching for some sign of him. It wasn’t like I’d find his suitcase, or him, hiding in one of the drawers. But I was desperate and not feeling particularly logical.

  As I came striding toward the doorway, she stepped out of the way and trailed after me as I continued my mad search of the loft.

  It didn’t take long. There was no sign of him, and worse, not even a note. “Why did he leave?” I asked. I wasn’t asking her, I was asking myself, trying to figure out some sort of answer. Did he think I wasn’t going to help him?

  And how could he leave? He had to do something for Camry, and he was nearly out of options. But…hell. I didn’t know what to think. Covering my face with my hands, I emptied my mind and tried to calm my thoughts, desperate to think everything through.

  “Maybe he thought it was something he should handle on his own,” she said gently. “It sounds like he’s been doing everything on his own for a long time.”