“Fine. He’s such a good boy,” Mom begrudgingly admits. “You’ll be lucky if you get him back,” she warns me. “All this time is making me grow quite attached to him.
I roll my eyes. It’s great she loves that little dog as much as I do, but it’s been three days, not three years.
“I’m sorry if I’m being overprotective, Katie. I’m just worried about you.”
“I’m fine. Really,” I assure her.
I feel guilty for feeling annoyed. I know her heart is in the right place, but I’d just love to have a normal conversation that doesn’t lead back to how much I neglect her.
“I’m just helping Lily out,” I say. “Are we still on for dinner Monday night?” I add, knowing that will cheer her up.
“Of course,” Mom says. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Okay, I’ll text you tomorrow.”
I put my phone down, an odd feeling of discontentment filling me. This time tomorrow, I’ll be back home. I should be looking forward to it but being back there means this thing with Adam will be over. I’ll go back to school and work, and … well, that’s it. That’s my life. That’s all I do.
I push the thoughts out of my mind, because they’re not going to help me relax and that’s what I desperately need right now.
I get a towel and peel off my clothes, then I scoop them up and sit them on the edge of the bath, ready to throw them in when I’m done. If that doesn’t wash them, then nothing will. I have nothing else to wear, which I guess doesn’t matter, because Adam isn’t going to let me leave this room, anyway.
I step into the tub and lower myself down into the water, sighing as the warmth hits my skin. I smile and close my eyes, savoring the feeling of the water immersing my body. I finally feel relaxed. I lie back, letting my body float against the soft hum of the jets.
Oh God, this is amazing.
It’s such a huge tub that you could fit six other people in here and still have room to stretch out. I lie there, relaxed, until I’m too relaxed. I struggle to keep my eyes open. When I wake up with a start, just as my head slips under the water, I know it’s time to get out.
Wrapping the towel around me, I wander back into the room and hang my clothes over a chair near the heater. They’ll take forever to dry, but it’s not like I’m going anywhere. I walk over to the closet and yank it open, relieved to see a thick, fluffy robe hanging there, waiting for me. I throw it on and tighten the sash around my waist, then I grab the room service menu off the desk and walk back over to the bed. My stomach growls as I read through it. I’m starving. Probably because I haven’t eaten today.
I call through to room service and order way too much. I figure Adam will eat what I don’t eat. While I wait, I text Darcy.
Me: Killed each other yet?
Darcy: Seriously, don’t even joke about it.
I call her, because I feel bad that she’s there, while I’m here.
“Hey,” I say when she answers. “I couldn’t tell what was sarcasm, and what wasn’t.”
“Trust me, by this point, everything is sarcasm.” She sighs. “No, it’s not that bad. She’s just so whiny,” she hisses. “The only thing I hate more than whine is cheese. But, we’re fine,” she assures me. “If you forget the fact that your cousin is a basket case and we haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“What? Why haven’t you eaten?” I ask.
“I’m out of cash and Lily hasn’t left the bedroom … There was some shit in the freezer. If I’m dead in a few days, ask Adam what that fucking thing in the red tub was. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or hated it.”
“Darcy.” I laugh. “How about I order you something?”
“I’d love you forever,” she sighs. “Pizza would be good.”
“You just said you hate cheese,” I laugh.
“Cheese on pizza doesn’t count. Shit. Gotta go. Psycho Lily is awake.”
I laugh. “I’m sorry it’s that bad.”
“It would be fine, if she wasn’t such a fucking fruitcake,” she mutters. “And she’s so sneaky. She tried to lock me in the bathroom, so she could escape, yesterday. I’ve barely slept because I don’t trust her.” She sighs. “Just hurry up and get this sorted. Please.”
“I will,” I promise her.
“Fuck. I better go before she loses her friggin’ mind—not that she ever had it in the first place.” Darcy sighs. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t go anywhere. Just don’t keep me locked up here for any longer than necessary.”
“I’ll get you out soon,” I promise her.
I Google for a pizza place near them and order them a pie. That should keep her happy and it’s the least I can do. She’s such a good friend. Right from the start, she’s had my back. I knew that she was trying to get me alone with Adam, but even that I’m grateful for. If it had backfired, I’d have killed her, but without her not always so subtle pushes, I wouldn’t have … I stop.
Wouldn’t have what? Forgiven him?
Or realized the feelings I had for him hadn’t completely died away?
I’m still pondering that when someone knocks on the door. I get to my feet and walk over, checking through the peephole before I open it, just to make sure I’m not about to be ambushed. I shake my head. Paranoid much?
“Room service.” The attendant smiles at me when I open the door. I stand back, letting him wheel the trolley in, salivating the moment the aroma hits my senses.
“Thank you,” I say, scribbling my name along the bottom of the invoice.
Then I freeze, because written under guest name is Frederick Raseski.
Frederick.
I hand the form back to the attendant and smile stiffly at him. My heart pounds as he walks out, closing the door behind him. I stand there, frozen to the spot. I run my hand through my hair, trying so hard to come up with an explanation, but there’s nothing. He lied to me. It’s that simple. He’s pretending to be someone he’s not.
I shake my head, angry. I knew that guy the other day called him Frederick, but he laughed and made me feel like an idiot. I wrap the robe tightly around my body. I wish I hadn’t washed my clothes now, because any moment now, he’ll be back. My interrogation isn’t going to be half as effective if I’m wearing a fluffy white bathrobe.
I lift the cover off the plate and gag, the thought of eating making me want to be sick. I put the cover back on, then walk away, too anxious to do anything other than pace the room and wait. Even sitting down feels too hard. I look up as the door opens. My body tenses when he walks in.
“Hey.” He smiles. “Something smells good.”
As soon as he sees my expression, his smile vanishes.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head and laugh. When he steps toward me, I jump back. I can’t handle him touching me right now, because all I can think about is the fact that he lied to me.
“Don’t touch me,” I growl.
He frowns, like he’s confused at where the anger in my voice is coming from.
“What's wrong, Katie? Did something happen?” he asks.
“Why don’t you tell me, Frederick?” I glare at him. “Before you make up another bullshit lie, I saw the name.”
I nod at the room service tray. He glances at it and sighs.
“Or are you going to try and tell me this is your friend’s brother’s room?”
“Fuck,” he whispers.
He walks over to the bed and sits down, then he leans forward, clasping his hands together as he bows his head. The way he’s acting, I’m pretty sure he didn’t intend on me ever finding out the truth, which only fuels my anger.
“Katie, listen to me—”
“No,” I snap, jumping to my feet. “You listen to me. All you’ve done is feed me one lie after another. How do I know you’re not the bad guy in all of this? How do I know—”
“Katie—”
“No.” I close my eyes and shake my head. “I’m done with you, Adam. I’m going over to g
et Lily and Darcy, then we’re getting the hell out of here.”
“Not before you hear me out.” He stands up, blocking my way. His gaze travels down over my body. “And are you planning on getting dressed?”
Shit. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.
“And why should I listen to anything you have to tell me?”
“Because I’m a cop,” he says, his eyes burning into mine.
I laugh. “A cop?”
I stare at him and step back, his words sinking in.
That’s ridiculous … isn’t it?
“You’re a cop?” I repeat, my voice flat.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t think that was something worth mentioning?” I ask, glaring at him.
“It was something I couldn’t mention,” he corrects, frowning at me. “I’m undercover. I’ve been undercover in the same operation for nearly three years, as Frederick Raseski.”
“Alberto?” I guess.
He nods. “They didn’t have enough on him to make charges stick.”
“So, that’s your job? To put him away?”
“More or less.”
I stand up and walk around the room. I can’t believe this.
“I wanted to tell you,” he murmurs. “There were so many times over the last couple of days where I wanted to tell you everything, but I didn’t want to put you, or anyone else, in danger.”
“Is Lily in danger?” I ask. He doesn’t answer. “That’s why you needed to keep her away from the wedding? Because you were worried about her?”
“I was worried about all of you,” he replies.
“You were afraid we’d call you Adam?” I realize. This isn’t about Lily ruining the wedding at all. It’s about his cover being blown. “You said Alberto wanted Lily gone. Does he even know about her?”
“No.” he pauses. “Well, yes, but he didn’t then.”
“Does Julian know?”
“About Lily?”
“About everything.”
He hesitates for a second. “No. He thinks I’m in witness protection.”
I walk over to the window and stare out. This is so much to take in. I’m not sure how I feel. I’m upset that he lied to me, and while I get that he had a valid reason, I still don’t like it. He walks up behind me, but I turn around and walk over to the bed before he can touch me. I need to think, but I can’t do that with him in my face.
“I can go. If you want some space…”
“Yes. No.” I frown, not sure what I want. “Maybe. I don’t know. Don’t leave, but just don’t talk to me. Leave me alone. Go over there.”
He stares at me, his lips twitching into the smallest of smiles. I frown, because I want nothing more than to wipe it off his face. I know I’m not making sense, but he doesn’t have to find it so funny.
“You’re giving me some serious mixed signals,” he comments.
“You should consider yourself lucky that’s all I’m giving you,” I snap.
“Yeah, I heard those rumors too.”
I glare at him. “Now is probably not the time to be making jokes.”
“Right.” He winces. “I’ve always sucked at timing.”
“Were you ever planning on telling me?” I ask him.
“When this was all over and we …”
“You knew where we stood?” I supply.
He shrugs. “Come on, Katie. It’s not like I didn’t have a good reason for keeping this from you. The less people who know, the safer everyone is.”
“Fine, but I hate that you didn’t tell me.”
“And I hate that I couldn’t tell you.”
Can I be angry at him for wanting to keep me safe? Well, I can, but is it fair?
Sighing, I lift my hips off the mattress and climb under the covers. I roll onto my side, so I don’t have to look at him. The silence grows between as he sits there, and I lie here, both lost in our own thoughts. Well, I am, at least. For all I know, he’s sitting over there, dreaming about tacos.
He clears his throat. I stiffen, because why do I get the feeling he’s about to drop another bomb?
“There’s something else,” he admits.
I laugh. I knew it. “What is it?”
“They’re pulling me out.”
“Pulling you out?” I repeat, rolling over to face him. “What does that even mean?”
“They’ve stopped the assignment. As of next week, I’ll be off Alberto’s case.”
“And then what? You just go on your merry way?”
“Not exactly.” He sighs and sits forward, his eyes staring into mine. “If Alberto is free, then I can’t just up and leave. You don’t just leave.”
“So, what, then?” I ask, not understanding what he’s trying to say.
“Witness protection? I’m not sure, but if Alberto finds out I was undercover …”
He looks down, his words lingering in the air. They don’t need completion, because we both know where that sentence was headed.
Fuck.
I roll back over, my stomach churning. I don’t know what to say to him, so I don’t say anything. How can anyone live like that, always looking over their back?
He sits there for a while, then I hear him stand up.
“I’ll be back soon. I better go and meet Julian, before he comes looking for me.”
I cringe when I hear the knock on the door.
Too late.
Chapter Sixteen
Adam
I open the door. Sure enough, it’s Julian.
“It must be really important, since you were supposed to come see me half hour ago—” he stops, his eyes widening. “Katie?”
Fuck.
“What the hell is Katie Harris doing in your hotel room?” he asks, turning his frown back to me. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“Come in. I’ll explain.” I usher him inside and close the door.
I look at Katie, sitting on the bed in the hotel bathrobe, and I cringe. It looks so much worse than it is, or rather, worse than it needs to be. My heart thumps as he glares at me, waiting for an explanation. The only problem is, how do I tell him?
“Fre … Adam, why is Katie sitting on your bed, in a bathrobe?” he asks, keeping his voice even.
“There’s an explanation,” I begin. “I promise.”
He shrugs and sits down. “Then let’s hear it.”
“It’s a long story,” I warn.
“It always is,” he mutters. “Just tell me Lily isn’t here?”
I glance at Katie. Julian’s eyes widen. He curses, then he laughs and shakes his head.
“Fuck,” he growls. “Why is she here? The wedding? Oh God.”
“She’s not going to do anything,” I promise him.
“Where is she?” he asks.
“My apartment.”
“Fuck.” Julian frowns. “I’m pretty sure Alberto is suspicious. If Alberto realizes my ex-girlfriend is here …” He laughs uneasily. “God, I don’t even want to think about that.”
“What makes you think he’s suspicious?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Nothing, it’s just a feeling. It’s probably nothing.” He sighs and stands up. “I need Lily out of Vegas, Adam. She can’t be here.”
“I know,” I promise him. “I’ll take care of it.”
“How are you going to do that and still be here for the wedding?” He shakes his head. “If there is a wedding.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing,” he mutters.
I sigh. “Then we need to get to the apartment. Now.”
I frown at Katie when she stands up.
“What?” she asks.
I raise my eyebrows. “You’re wearing that?”
She flushes when she realizes she’s still in her bathrobe.
“Give me a minute.” She walks over to her clothes and snatches them up, then disappears into the bathroom.
“Are they even dry?” I call out after her.
“Dr
y enough.”
“Are you coming?”
We’ve just pulled up outside the apartment complex. Julian shakes his head. I frown at him, not in the mood for any games.
“Why not?”
“Because I just saw Alberto and Louis walk in there.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. What are they doing at my apartment complex, at almost midnight? “They do know. I just can’t figure out how.”
“Does it matter?” Julian snaps. “I can’t go in there. Hell, you can’t go in there, either.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I growl. “Stay here. Both of you.”
“What are you doing?” Katie asks when I open the door, her eyes full of fear.
“Just trust me,” I say.
I go in via the back entrance, taking the stairs up to the fourth floor. I walk out from the stairwell, breathing hard, just in time to see Alberto and Louis walking toward my apartment.
They’re too deep in conversation to notice me and their voices are too low for me to make out what they’re saying. I watch as they walk in the direction of the room where the girls are. They stop in front of my apartment. My heart pounds.
“Alberto,” I announce. They both turn around as I walk toward them, a wide smile on my face. “What are you two doing here?”
I shake my head, like seeing them is a happy surprise. You’d think we’d run into each other in the store, instead of outside my apartment, at nearly midnight, where I’m hiding his future son in law’s ex-girlfriend.
“Frederick,” Alberto says, glancing at Louis. “Fancy running into you here.”
“Outside my apartment?” I query. “What are the odds. I’m just here to feed my fish. Why are you here?” I add, praying neither Darcy or Lily raise their voices.
If I have any chance of getting the girls out of here unnoticed, I can’t give Alberto any reason to want to hang around.
“You have fish?” Louis frowns at me.
“Two of them,” I confirm. “I had three, but as it turns out, Gerald isn’t too fond of other males.”
“You didn’t say what you were doing here?” I remind them.
I keep my tone light and curious, but what I get in return is a cool stare.
Don't Go There (Awkward Love Book 5) Page 14