Behind Closed Doors (Behind Closed Doors #1)(58)

“I’m in all the way with you, Skye, but I’m not betting against Daniel in the process.”

“I know it’s hard to think someone close to you could hurt you,” I say, the truth of those words hitting close to home. “But you have to consider it.”

He inhales deeply, standing up and walking to the window, staring out, but I don’t think he sees the Vegas skyline. I think he sees what I already have in my life. Betrayal. And it’s a bitter pill to swallow. I join him but I don’t touch him, just letting him know I’m here. I’m ready to do whatever he needs me to do, and for a full minute, silence is the only reply he gives me.

“Why a bus station?” he asks.

“Maybe someone paid her off and put her on a bus?”

He turns to face me as I do him. “Why leave the chip?”

I think about that for a few moments. “Maybe it’s leverage to get more money, and she didn’t want to have it on her?”

“Maybe.”

“What are you thinking?”

“That something smells more rotten by the minute. We’ll keep this between us, but I need to see that chip and find out if it’s real. We’ll have to go to San Francisco right after the charity event tomorrow.”

“I can fly back early and make sure I have it in hand, just for peace of mind.”

“No, I’d feel better if we retrieved it together. A few hours won’t make that much difference.”

The doorbell rings. “And that will be the food,” he says, heading in that direction.

I watch him walk away, worrying about that chip now, when a realization hits me. Oh God—my bra is in the hallway. Dashing forward, I follow him to the hallway, where he’s actually now holding my bra. I grab it from him, and we both start gathering other random garments, and for a moment our worries about blackmail disappear into shared laughter.

He heads to the door to open it and I make my way to the bedroom, dropping our clothes on the bed, along with my purse, which starts to vibrate. With no idea of who could be texting, I check the screen and find Ella’s message: I know you’re with a hot man, but he’s still a stranger. It’s been three hours. I hope that means you’re having hot sex with the hot man, but how about a reply that tells me you’re okay?

I laugh at her silliness, and reply: I’m good. Actually . . . I might not be. Or she might not be. Ella was with me when I bought that unit, and alarm bells go off in my head. What if someone connects her to all of this?

Jason returns, rolling a room service cart to the sitting area, where he moves the coffee table and positions it in front of the gray leather couch. “Dinner, or breakfast at this point, is served.” He waves at the silver-crowned plates.

“My friend who was with me when I bought the unit just texted me to check on me, Jason.”

He straightens, hands on his hips. “At this hour?”

“She’s been trying to reach me and I wasn’t answering, but that’s not the point. She wasn’t just with me when I bought the unit. She very publicly bid first, for me, and then she was in the unit with me. What if someone comes looking for me this weekend and finds her?”

“This trip has the attention fully on you, I promise.”

“Most likely, but don’t you think I need to warn her? I trust her, and I can’t let her end up hurt in some way.”

He inhales and lets it out. “You’ll scare her.”

“I’d rather scare her into staying at her boyfriend’s house than have her get surprised and hurt.”

His jaw clenches but he nods. “Warn her.”

I don’t immediately call. “Thank you,” I say. “I know you’re worried about her becoming a problem, and yet you put her safety first.” I dial Ella.

Ten minutes later, I’m on the bedroom couch next to Jason, our food untouched, as I’ve been filling Ella in on the whole situation.

“Where’s the note and chip now?” she asks.

“In my bedroom closet.”

“Oh my God,” she says. “Anyone could get it, and then your new man is screwed. I’ll go get it.”

“No,” I say, looking at Jason. “No, that isn’t safe.”

“I have my big, burly man with me. I’ll same-day air the chip to you. I just need details.”

“Ella, no. Please.”

“What’s happening?” Jason asks.

“She wants to get the chip and ship it to us.”

He reaches for the phone, and I listen as he argues with her. “Holy shit, woman,” he says at one point. “What part of ‘it’s not safe’ do you not understand?” Another five minutes later: “Wait until morning.” Another five minutes later, he hands me the phone. “She’s the most stubborn woman I’ve ever almost met.”

I press the phone to my ear. “Ella—”

“I’ll call you when I have the chip, sweetie. You be safe. And I’d say I’m sorry I bid on that damn unit, but I think you’ve got a good man on your hands.” She makes a kiss-kiss sound and hangs up.

I set the phone down to find Jason stepping onto a balcony I didn’t even know was off the bedroom. I follow him; he’s already pressing his hands on the railing, staring at the skyline, but again, I am certain he’s not seeing it.