Echo (Bleeding Hearts #1)(26)

“I wanted to ask if there was anything bothering you,” I said. “Or if I’m overstaying my welcome.”

Hurt flashed through her eyes and she shook her head. “Of course not, Brighton. I love having you here. This apartment is too big for me anyway, so I’d like it if you’d consider staying here. There’s no need for you to find your own place unless you really want to.”

“Of course I’d like to stay,” I said. “But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing anything to upset you. You’ve seemed a little off lately.”

“Oh.” She pouted her lips. “It’s nothing to do with you, I swear. Just work stuff.”

“Does it have anything to do with Ryland?”

She jerked her eyes towards mine in surprise. “Why would you ask that?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I noticed he calls you a lot outside of work.”

Nicole let out a shaky laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing like that. We just have a ton of projects we’re working on at the moment.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Well, I better get going.”

Nicole gave me a weak smile before I walked out the door. Time to see what I was made of.





Chapter Eleven



When I stepped into the hotel room, I had to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. A strange man sat at the table, his hands folded across his lap as he read from a newspaper. I had no idea who he was, but when he glanced at me, I knew he wasn’t my blackmailer. He was older, with fuzzy wisps of white hair and a wiry frame. He had to have been in his sixties, and judging by his pale blue eyes, he was no threat to me.

“Sorry to scare you, Miss Valentine.” He stood up and smoothed out his black suit. “My name is Ted, and I’m here to drive you.”

“Drive me where?”

“My boss informed me that you are to stay the weekend with him.” He crinkled his brows together. “He said it was already arranged between you two, and you would understand.”

“Oh.”

Of course I understood what he meant. Either I went with this strange man to an unknown destination, or Brayden’s evidence would disappear.

This was our agreement, but the thought of being somewhere else out of my control was a bit daunting. At least in the hotel, I could scream if I needed to. But at the end of the day, what choice did I have? If I wanted to see Brayden released, this is what I had to do. I’d spent the entire day trying to figure out how to gain my blackmailer’s trust, and I wasn’t about to back down now.

“Alright,” I relented. “I guess I’m ready then.”

I walked towards the door, and Ted followed, rushing to open it for me. We stepped into the elevator and silence engulfed us. I caught him giving me a curious look, and I shifted uncomfortably. I wondered how often he did this sort of thing for his employer, or what exactly he knew of our agreement.

He was all business as he escorted me through the parking garage to a shiny black car. Belatedly, I tried to get a glimpse at the license plate but Ted caught me. He opened the door and cleared his throat, holding out a simple black blindfold in his hand.

“My employer said you understood this is required as well.”

Ted looked more uncomfortable with the idea than I was as I reached out and took the material. If only I’d had the courage to look into my blackmailer’s eyes that first day, I wouldn’t have to keep up these childish pretenses. I wanted to know who this man was. I wanted to know everything about him. And I wasn’t entirely sure anymore if it was because of what he was doing, or the warring feelings inside of me.

I sat down on the soft leather seat and buckled myself in before placing the fabric over my eyes. Only once it was secured did Ted begin to drive.

It was stupid, but the temptation to pry information out of him was too strong. Ted looked harmless, but would he tell on me if I said something I wasn’t supposed to?

I took a chance and hoped for the best.

“So you know about the game then?” I asked.

Ted didn’t reply right away. He cleared his throat and answered me in a soft voice.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’m not certain I know what you’re talking about.”

“Your employer,” I clarified. “You’re aware of our agreement?”

“I’m really not supposed to be talking to you…” he said. “He requested that I didn’t. I’m sorry, ma’am.”

A hollow laugh echoed from my chest as I sank back against the seat and crossed my arms. So much for that idea.

The car filled with silence again, and I thought that was going to be the end of it. So I was surprised when Ted spoke again a few minutes later.

“I don’t know about my employer’s proclivities,” he stated. “Nor do I want to. I’ve known him since he was a boy, and I trust his judgement in all matters. He’s a good man.”

His words were defensive, which showed me he cared for my blackmailer. It was an unexpected development, and I wasn’t quite sure how to handle it.

I tapped my finger against my thigh while we drove, wishing we’d get there soon. But Ted wasn’t done yet. For someone who wasn’t supposed to talk to me, he had a lot to say.

“He seems different lately,” he noted. “I think he likes you very much. It’s nice to see him smiling again.”