Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 105242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
He knows my name?
He moved his hand beside her waist and turned the doorknob, backing up to give her room to come forward so the door could be opened. Elle scooted free, her body no longer warmed by his. She didn’t understand why she instantly regretted moving away, though.
When he opened the door all the way so she could exit the closet, Elle grew embarrassed with all the stares she was getting. She was sure Cassandra’s sidekicks were thinking of a thousand ways for her to die by the looks on their faces.
She headed back to her table, but before she could sit, the bell rang. Time to go, thank God.
Elle picked up her bag and darted out the door, flying out so fast she never saw the look on Nero’s face. He was completely dumbfounded.
Elle ran down the halls without being aware if she was running to Chloe or away from Nero.
Definitely to Chloe. Elle thought a second more. Yep, Chloe!
She reached Chloe’s classroom, anxious to get out of there. “You ready?”
“Yeah, you okay?” Chloe looked concerned.
“Uh, yes, why wouldn’t I be? Okay, let’s go!” Elle almost grabbed Chloe’s hand, stopping herself before she made contact. Chloe brought her hand up to her chest and looked down to the floor.
“I’m sorry, Chlo-”
“It’s okay. Let’s go.” Chloe walked past Elle and started heading for the doors.
Elle watched Chloe walk right past her. Shit.
Every now and again, Elle would forget about Chloe’s past and problems, right until she was about an inch away from touching her, and then the memories would all come back. Elle knew they not only showed up for Elle, but for Chloe, as well.
They reached the parking lot and Elle thought she had déjà vu. Times two, apparently.
The two bimbos were leaning against Nero’s car. A sick feeling grew in Elle’s stomach while she walked as fast as she could to Chloe’s car, passing Chloe and reaching her car first. She rested her hand on the door handle, desperate to get in the car.
She looked up, only seeing Nero’s back as he talked to the girls. The girls’ faces she could see, however, and she really wished she couldn’t.
When Chloe unlocked the doors, Elle threw herself in, keeping her face straight forward. There was no way she was turning her head. Elle’s sick feeling started to move up ever so slightly from her stomach.
Chloe turned the car on and started to back up. She turned the wheel and headed out of the parking lot, forcing Elle to look at something she didn’t want to see—a pair of legs in high heels entering Nero’s Cadillac. Elle knew by the shoes the one going home with Nero tonight was Bimbo Number One.
Elle touched her chest; the feeling had found its mark.
Chapter Six
Protect the Family
Elle had to regretfully go to work that night. If she wanted to stay and protect Chloe, she had to keep working. She figured if she quit working the night of the murder, well, then she might as well call the boss herself and tell him she had witnessed the whole ordeal.
All night, Elle viewed the diner and carefully looked at everyone’s faces. She needed to be sure one of the three men weren’t in the diner waiting for her. Subsequently, every time someone walked in, she looked at their faces. She did it over and over and over.
She took the coffee pot over to one of her tables to fill up the cups of the two men there. Elle had seen them before many times in the diner.
As she was filling up the blond one’s cup, he asked, “Did you hear about the someone getting shot behind the diner last night?”
This actually wasn’t the first time she had been asked; it was like the fiftieth time. Apparently, it was a thing for you to go to a place where a possible murder had taken place. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. It reminded Elle of high school. I don’t think I’ll ever get away from it.
Elle kept to the same story she had told everyone, including the cops. They, of course, had asked her a few questions since she’d closed the diner the night before.
“Yes, I found out when I got into work today.”
She saw the man take a sip from his coffee as she went to fill up the other man’s cup.
The brown-haired one asked her, “I hope you weren’t here last night while it happened?” His face showed he was asking a question, not that he was concerned. Elle started to get small chills on her arms, but she made sure to stay cool.
“I was working last night, actually. I closed the diner for the night. The cops told me I must have just missed the whole thing.” Elle made sure she said cops. Now they know I didn’t open my mouth.
The two men looked at each other for a split second, confirming what Elle had feared. They work for the boss.
He smiled. “You are one lucky girl. That would have been horrible to see something like that at your age.”
The luckiest. Elle smiled back. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I would have lost my marbles seeing something like that. Do you need anything else?”
The only reason Elle could keep calm was because they had no idea she had witnessed the whole thing. Clearly, they don’t have a problem with killing; otherwise, I would have been dead already.
“No, thanks.” They both stood up before one of them threw a couple of bills down on the table. “You be careful out there.”
Elle smiled and nodded then watched them walk out the door, letting her finally breathe again. Thank God.
Elle believed she was in the clear. For now, anyway.
* * *
He could hear the sound of his phone buzzing on his wooden desk. He picked it up without having to look at the caller ID.
“She’s smart. Came into work like nothing happened, claiming she must have missed the whole thing. Cops spoke to her already. She made it seem like they got nothing from her.”