Page 8 of Sinful Negotiations

Her aunt suddenly went quiet. Dead quiet on the phone meant she’d hit a nerve because they never went anywhere together. “Oh, he’s so busy. You know how hard he works. I have another call, so I’ll talk to you next week.”

Lips twitching, Tessa stared at the phone long after her aunt disconnected. It was the same as always. The woman constantly made excuses for her uncle.

Was she like that? She didn’t want to be and feared that might be where she was headed if she continued with Aidan. Business came before everyone and everything in her family. It always had. It wasn’t until she was older that she understood the lies her aunt concocted to cover for Chandler James.

The phone slid beside her leg on the couch, but she didn’t bother to pick it up. This isn’t who she wanted to be, and this isn’t why she worked so hard in college. A career was important, but she never wanted to be with a man who didn’t put her first.

Her head fell against the cushion with a sigh because hoping Aidan called or texted was self-defeating behavior.

She jumped when a knock sounded at the door. This late, there was no way she’d open it. Her gaze lifted to the deadbolt, and her lips firmed. Thank goodness she’d locked it.

When the doorknob turned, she held her breath and reached for her phone. A loud bang and she was off the couch, backing with small steps to her bedroom. With nervous fingers, she dialed 911.

“Hurry. Someone’s trying to break into my apartment,” she rattled off along with the address.

“Hide until the police arrive,” the male voice spoke from the other end. “Stay on the line though.”

Tessa scurried to her bedroom and into the bathroom. She locked the door and climbed into the shower hoping and praying it wasn’t too late. The only way in and out of this apartment was through the front door. Trapped and frightened, she clung to her phone and cursed herself for skipping out on Aidan’s offer.

Chapter 9

Aidan tossed and turned in his nephew’s room. The bed was entirely too small for his bulky frame, and too damn hard. When his cellphone dinged, he didn’t bother to look at the text. It wasn’t hisworkcell anyway. Five minutes later, his sister startled him by barging into the room. “Something wrong Jeanie?”

“There’s a problem. It’s Tessa. Someone tried to break into her apartment tonight.”

He hit the floor in a panic and yanked his phone off the charger.

“She’s okay. They have men posted at her place. The police reached her before anything happened.”

Aidan jerked his pants on. “I’ve got to get to her. Why her? It doesn’t make sense.”

“You’re too involved. Let the police do their job.”

After pulling his shirt over his head, he grabbed his keys and wallet. “I can’t. You know what this means.”

“Can’t? Are you prepared to tell her everything? Think about it for a minute before you rush off in the middle of the night. It could’ve been a common burglary attempt.”

He inhaled a deep breath, slipped his boots on, and laced them. “If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself. Her fucking uncle has put a bullseye on her back with his connections. I know it.”

“Nothing has been confirmed, and if you go in there like this, you’ll lose her and the case. Months of work, Aidan. Think about it. You don’t even know who those connections are yet. She’s safe, and she’s under protection.”

“Did they catch the perpetrator?”

“No. He or she was already gone.”

“Cameras?” Aidan asked.

“Head to toe in black with a mask. There wasn’t any way to get a positive identification.”

“They’ll be back.”

“Maybe. We don’t have enough information yet. The handler is close though.”

Aidan brushed by his sister. “My other phone is at the condo. I’ll pick it up first before joining the surveillance team.”

“I understand, but Aidan…” Jeanie touched his arm. “I know you care but think before you act. Emotions cause irreparable mistakes.”

He paused at the front door with his hand on the knob, rolling his head back and forth on his shoulders. If someone hurt her, it would be the last time they hurt anyone. Rage settled in his spirit and deadly determination. “I’ll be careful.”