My entire body locks with tension. She thinks she loves me?
“Walking away from you wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be and not just because you moved in next to me. My heart was involved; it is involved.”
“So is mine. I’m all in, Delanie.” My lungs burn waiting for her to say something, but instead, she gets up, pacing the floor in front of the couch.
“You can’t snap your fingers and magically have everything your way. I don’t have a problem with our current arrangement but I need time.”
Jumping to my feet, I grab her hands in mine. “Okay, I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.” If it weren’t for the fact that I need to leave tonight, I wouldn’t have pushed for the next step so soon. I’m ready but deep down, I knew she wasn’t. “Just promise you’ll keep your eyes and ears open. I don’t trust Bosa, and the last time I left town…”
She draws in a deep breath while the hard expression she was wearing fizzles away. “I don’t trust him either.”
My heart lurches and all I want is to pull her into my arms. “Promise me you’ll pay more attention to your surroundings than you have in the past?”
Before she has the chance to respond, I pull her into my arms pressing her chest to mine. The heat from her body soaks into mine.
“Let’s take life one step at a time and not make decisions out of fear.”
“Bosa or not, I want nothing more than to share a home with you.”
She pulls back, looking up at me with an eyebrow raised. “Go to New York and don’t worry about me. When you get back, we’ll sit down and have a serious discussion about our living arrangements.”
I fight the urge to pump my fist in the air. My greatest fear—losing her—takes a sudden back seat to the high I feel knowing she’s willing to consider something more than we have.
“I love you,” I say before placing a quick kiss to the top of her nose. “And when I get back, we’re going to talk.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Delanie
My eyes glance toward my office door when I hear it open. “Delanie, I’d like you to meet Jeff.” Lynn waves her hand to a man close to my age, standing next to her. “Jeff’s in charge of the TV crew. If you have any problems or concerns, he’s your man.”
Jeff’s face breaks out in a smirk on his way to my desk. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Charles.”
With a bald head and arms covered in tattoos, he’s definitely attractive. “Likewise.”
“Jeff said he had a few questions for you, so I’ll let you two be.” Lynn winks then closes the door on her way out of my office.
“You have questions for me?”
He squares his shoulders like he’s preparing for battle. “Yes. Just a few.” Without prompting, he takes a seat in the chair across my desk.
“A quick Google search shows you’re the daughter of Brock Charles?”
My back straightens. “Yes?”
“And you were weeks from marrying Carter Bosa before you called off your wedding and moved to LA? Which was earlier this summer?”
“Why are you asking me about my personal life?”
Lynn didn’t act like she knew who my father, or ex for that matter, was when she hired me.
He rubs his finger across his upper lip staring at me like he’s trying to decide how to answer when he says, “Google can be a reporter’s best friend; however, it’s not always accurate, so I figured I’d ask you directly.”
I rub my hands over the back of my neck. “Why do you care who my father or ex is?”
With a shake of his head, he rolls his eyes. “I’m directing a reality TV show. Drama is at the heart of any good show, and you, Ms. Charles, appear to have that in spades.”
My stomach takes a dive, leaving me feeling nauseous. I didn’t think I’d skate by completely free of any TV time but I didn’t think my life—or personal life—would play any part in my job.
“Sorry to disappoint you. My personal life is about as boring as watching the snowfall in the middle of winter.”
Excitement lights in his eyes. “To a beach bum, snow can be quite exciting.”
Drawing in a sharp breath, I do my best to shut him down. “Jeff? That’s your name, correct?”
The light in his eyes slightly dims. “Yes.”
“Well, let me just mention my dad is an extremely private man and when he gets bent out of shape, he’s not someone I’d want to mess with. Are you understanding me?”
His smirk returns. “I understand what you’re saying.” He stands up, extends his hand across my desk. When my hand slides into his, he grips mine and says, “But this is Hollywood, and that means nothing is off limits.”
Ignoring his hand, I cross mine over my chest. “Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.” An awkward silence falls before he finally turns on his heels and leaves me alone in my suddenly small office.
With my head falling into my hands, I’m suddenly wondering what in the hell I got myself involved in.
When Kase left—almost a week ago—he made it sound like he wouldn’t be gone long. But one day turned into two, then three, and now six days later, he’s still in New York. I’ve met Brenna several times for drinks and I’ve done whatever I could to avoid Jeff and his stupid TV crew. I even bucked up and called my dad and told him the mess I’ve involved myself in. I was expecting him to be mad, but he was surprisingly relaxed about the idea of having his dirty—or clean for that matter—laundry made public.
Even avoiding Jeff, I’ve stayed at work much longer than Lynn was expecting, because the idea of coming home to an empty apartment doesn’t hold much appeal.
I haven’t seen him but before yesterday, I’ve spoken to Kase practically nonstop until sixteen hours ago, which was the last time he texted me. He said he’d be home soon, which sent my heart soaring. I miss him like crazy. Walking over to his side of the apartment, knowing he won’t be home anytime soon, leaves me feeling lost and alone. I knew before he left that I loved him, but if there was any doubt, it’s gone now.
Pulling my car into the parking lot, I’m moving on autopilot when I spot Kase’s car.
Flinging my car door open, I practically jump out rushing to my apartment door. After digging through my purse, I find my keys and have my door open within seconds. “You’re home!” I call out dropping my purse to the floor turning toward his apartment but I come up short when I discover the wall is back in place.
What in the hell?
I glance at the island in my kitchen, but the key card is gone. We’ve eaten take-out more than we’ve fixed food, but the key to the wall has remained in the same place since the day Kase opened it.
With a large dose of doubt and uncertainty rushing through me, I make my way back outside and over to Kase’s apartment where I loudly knock three times. After minutes pass and he doesn’t come to the door, I pull out my phone and dial his number. My heart surges when I hear the phone ring. “Kase?”
Knocking again, I shout, “Answer the door.”
I glance at my phone then back to the door when it opens just a crack. His dark eyes greet me through the slit in the door. “Hey babe, I’m a little busy right now. Why don’t you give me about an…hour…or two? Maybe you can see if Brenna is free and go out for a drink?”
Blinking several times, I do my best to process his comment.
Give him an hour or two? Kase… My Kase wants to be in the same room as me from the second I get home but today…no… Something’s not right.
With a bright smile, I say, “Yeah, sure.” But instead, I stick my foot in the door keeping him from closing it. “I just need to use the bathroom. I’ll be quick.”
His eyes flash with fear. “No, I…clogged my toilet up earlier. You’ll need to use yours.”
The old me, the one who stood by and allowed her boyfriend to sleep with anyone and everyone, would have politely agreed, no questions asked. But that girl is dead and buried.
With my foot still in the doorway, I rush forward and insi
de his apartment. Expecting to find Anna—I’m hit with a sense of relief when my eyes scan the room finding it empty.
“When did you get back?”
When my gaze returns to his, he sucks in a deep breath. With his shoulders tense, his voice takes on a grave tone, “I just got in a few hours ago. If I’m being honest, I’m not feeling too well and I don’t want to worry about getting you sick.”
He’s lying…again.
An awkward tension falls between us. “Well… I guess I’ll just use the restroom then I’ll be out of your way.”
When my hand reaches out to the bathroom door, he shouts, “No don’t.”
The door flings open, slamming into the wall. Before I have the chance to process what’s happening, Paula is standing in front of me with a gun pointed at my head.
“Well, what do we have here?”
At work, Paula always had her hair pulled up into a perfect bun but tonight, her long black hair is down and looks like she hasn’t washed it in days.
Kase extends his hand. “Babe, come here.”
“No! Don’t move.”
The breath I’m trying to suck into my lungs gets caught in my throat, leaving me speechless.
With the gun waving around in her hand, Paula looks at Kase. “Now, where were we? Oh…” She smirks. “We were discussing how much money you owe us.”
When Paula tilts her head back and laughs, Kase’s arm darts for mine where he shoves me behind him.
“You have screwed us out of millions of dollars.”
“No, the only thing I did was stop you from stealing even more money from me.”
With my hand shaking, I grip his shirt, tucking my face into his back.
“You shut his company down and made it where no one would do business with us.”
“Instead of pointing that gun at me, you should be pointing it at Bosa.”
Paula laughs without an ounce of humor. “Our plan was perfect and it would have stayed that way if you hadn’t started fucking that tramp.”
Kase straightens. “Delanie has nothing to do with this. You aligned yourself with the wrong person. I was on a mission to take Bosa down for my own personal reasons.”
“Our plan was perfect,” she screams. My legs feel weak and limber.
Kase steps backward moving me closer to the door. “If you leave now, no one ever has to know about this.”
“I want what’s owed to me!”
I flinch at the tone of her voice. She’s not only angry, she’s livid and holding a gun.
“Tell me what Bosa promised you and I’ll double it.”
Her tone turns manic. “You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not. Tell me what you want, and I’ll make sure it happens.”
“And what do you get in return?”
Kase’s hand finds mine. “You’ll put that gun away and walk out of here. And I’ll know the person I love more than life itself is safe. That’s what I’ll get.”
Her breathes come out in pants. “Do you think I’m stupid? The second I walk through that door, you’re going to call the cops.”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m not, and you want to know why? Because the woman I love was screwed over by Bosa. He’s the worst type of scum there is. He tells women what they want to hear and then he doesn’t think twice about screwing them over, so I understand why you’re angry.”
I tilt my head to the side only to find her still pointing the gun straight at Kase.
“No! You’re the one who’s screwing people over.” Her voice is packed with anger while her eyes are mixed with a heavy dose of fear.
“Put the gun down, and we’ll—”
A loud noise echoes through the room seconds before Kase falls to the floor in front of me.
“Oh my God. I…I…I didn’t mean to.”
Blinking several times, I process the fact that Kase is lying at my feet in a pool of blood. “You shot him?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
Ignoring her, I drop to my knees. “Kase? God, can you hear me?”
A groan rattles from his throat, but he doesn’t open his eyes or answer me. I glance through the room looking for my purse, or more importantly, my phone, when I remember I left it at my apartment. The door opens and closes. When I look up Paula is gone but that’s when I spot Kase’s phone lying on the coffee table. “I’ll be right back.”
Finding his phone locked, I race back to my apartment, dig my phone out of my purse, dialing 911 while racing back to his apartment.
“911, what is your emergency?”
My voice cracks with fear. “My…boyfriend’s been shot.”
Brenna places her hand over mine and squeezes. “He’s going to be alright. Just…keep thinking positive thoughts.”
Covered in blood, I hopped into the ambulance with Kase. After arriving at the hospital, he was taken straight into surgery, where every hour on the nose, someone comes out and tells me they’ll send someone out to talk to me soon. Five hours of waiting, and I’m ready to punch the next person who walks through the doors.
“I can’t figure out how Carter knows Paula, let alone the fact that they were working together.”
“That sounds a little more than coincidental if you ask me.”
“Kase arranged me to accept my job which means he probably arranged who I was working for. Again, I seem to have more questions than answers.”
With my eyes glued to the wooden set of doors, I miss the sliding glass doors leading outside open.
“Delanie? Are you okay?”
My gaze moves to the right where I find Dalton standing a foot from me with a sense of panic running through his eyes.
“I’m fine,” is all I manage to say.
“Are you bleeding?”
I glance down at my bloodstained shirt than back to him. “No. This is Kase’s blood, not mine. Paula… She shot him.”
Taking a step my direction, his foot falters at my comment.
“Did you know she was stealing money or clients or something and feeding that information to my ex?”
He blinks several times. “Wait. What?”
“You heard me.” A sudden rush of anger slams into me and staring at Dalton, he appears to be the perfect target. “Are you working with her. Was that a part of your little game? Keep me busy and distracted while she helps my ex create the perfect business then thanks to your help, he’d swoop back in and win me back?” I step his direction, jabbing my finger into his chest. “Great plan until Kase took notice of me, huh?”
Shaking his head, he grabs my hand. “No, Delanie. It wasn’t like that, I swear. At least, I wasn’t knowingly playing a role. Paula and I… We were off again on again outside of work, but I had no clue that she was connected to you in anyway.”
Brenna places her arm over my shoulders. “The doctor just came out.”
I whip around to find an older balding man wearing green scrubs. “Ms. Charles?”
“That’s me.”
With a weary smile, he shakes my hand and motions with his head for me to follow him. With both Brenna and Dalton in tow, we pass the wooden doors and into a private waiting room.
“We removed a bullet from Mr. Cole’s lower abdomen. He was extremely lucky. The bullet only grazed his liver. After removing it, we repaired the damage to his liver, and I ordered a blood transfusion. If things continue to progress this smoothly, I expect he’ll be going home in the next day or two.”
“He’s going to be okay?”
With a simple nod, he says, “It looks that way. He’s being moved to room 8212. I’ll have a nurse come and get you once he settled.”
Words won’t form. Instead my eyes water. I was preparing myself for the worst, I was preparing to lose my soulmate. Brenna reaches around me, shaking the doctor’s hand. “Thank you.”
Gasping for a breath of air, I turn to Brenna. “He’s going to be alright.”
“Damn right he is.”
Spinning around on my feet, I expect to see Dal
ton, but he’s nowhere to be seen. “Where did he go?”
Brenna’s forehead scrunches. “I don’t know.”
“He’s probably off to tell his girlfriend her plan backfired and she didn’t kill Kase. I can’t believe I ever trusted either of them.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It seems like, at some point in time, everyone in your life was out for themselves. Myself included.”
“No,” I groan, pulling her into my arms. “You were always my friend. Our friendship just took an unexpected detour, but we’re finally back on track.”
Squeezing me as tight as she can, the smile in her voice is easy to hear when she whispers, “I love you.”
Kase
A chill settles around me. My body feels heavy, and when I attempt to lift my arm, nothing happens. Soft silky fingers stroke slightly across the stubble on my cheek. “Kase? Can you hear me?”
The warmth of Delanie’s voice soaks through my skin like a hot summer day. Forcing my eyes to open, I’m greeted by bright blue eyes, ones that are currently filled with worry. “Are you okay? Do you want me to call the nurse?”
Coughing through the dryness in my throat, I manage to say, “I’m good. Especially now that I know you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. I wasn’t the one who was shot.”
She studies me pensively. Her gaze moves from my face to the end of the bed and back. “I can’t believe she shot you.”
“What happened to Paula?”
Her eyes widen. “She took off. I came to the hospital with you so I have no idea if the police caught her.”
I’ve known for weeks that Paula was the one passing inside information to Bosa but instead of turning her in, I set out to ruin not only her career but to make sure she never forgot who she tried to fuck over. I knew she was a heartless bitch but I didn’t know she was batshit crazy. I arrived home less than ten minutes before Delanie knocked on my door. I barely managed to get the wall back in place convincing Paula we’d leave, head to my bank where I’d miraculously remove millions of dollars from my account, and then she’d ride off in the sunset never to be heard from again. The plan was going as smooth as possible until she heard the knock on the door. Then it was like a switch flipped, and I was clearly no longer in control of the situation.
Kase Of Deception Page 24