Chapter 33
chapter Thirty-three
Over
Tiffany
Everything finally feels back to normal. It’s been two weeks since the day Nico told me he’d dealt with the guy that was trying to hurt me.
It felt good not to have to look over my shoulder as much. I’m still not traveling or going anywhere without Jake, but at least I didn’t have to worry about getting pepper sprayed.
My husband informed me that we weren’t in the clear fully because we still needed to find the Horseman. From my understanding, Nico has some specialist going through Roc’s and some hotel guys’ phones trying to see if the Horsman contacted them and left a number. So far, no luck.
“How is it looking?” I ask my husband.
Today was the last walk-through of Basille North River. The repairs have been done, the place is set to have its grand opening tomorrow. Right now, Nico is walking the property one final time to make sure everything is perfect.
“It looks like I had the best interior designer in the world.”
I laugh but I won’t lie as if his words didn’t make me feel good. I loved how proud of my work he always is.
“Yeah, well, seems to me you should do something special for your interior designer.”
“Oh yeah?” The way his voice drops has my panties ready to disintegrate. “What would you suggest?”
You would think I should be tired of this man’s dick. Since the night of the awards ceremony, Nico and I have been on each other like rabbits. The only time we took a break was when he was missing those two days, but trust me, we made up for that.
“Maybe you should surprise her at her office, bend her over her brand-new desk and fuck her until she screams.”
His deep chuckle sends goose pimples over my skin. “You and I both know you’re playing with fire, Mrs. Basille. Don’t make me show up at your office.”
I bite into my bottom lip and kick my feet like a schoolgirl with a crush. He was calling my bluff. We both know I’m just talking shit. These offices are not soundproof, and I wasn’t trying to lose my job because I got dicked down by my husband in the building.
I laugh, leaning back in the chair. “Fine, then buy her some of that banana pudding cheesecake she likes from Salv’s spot.”
Nico’s hearty laugh comes through the phone. In the background, I can hear Stephanie, his assistant, calling his name.
“I have to go, Angel. I’ll see you tonight. Have fun at your lunch. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up the phone. The moment I did, I got a text from Lauren letting me know she was headed to the restaurant.
I haven’t spoken to Ezra since the dinner incident.
His sister called me the very next day and apologized on his behalf.
She told me she gave him a good scolding for his behavior.
Apparently, Ezra didn’t tell her what happened to his hand.
He said it was an accident. I don’t know what Julian said to him that night that convinced him to keep his mouth shut.
One good thing that came out of the ordeal is that Lauren and I have actually grown closer in the last few weeks. She truly does have an eye for design.
I quickly sent her a text to let her know I was on my way out the door. Placing my phone on my desk, I grab my bag off the chair.
“Hey, Tiffany,” Emily, one of the design assistants, stops at my door. “Do you have a few minutes? I need your opinion on something.”
“Sure, I can help.”
She smiles warmly. “Good, I’m in meeting room C.”
Grabbing my bag, I head out of my office following the junior assistant.
It took me seven minutes to help the girl find the program she was looking for before I could head out. Jake opens my back door as I climb into the SUV.
In no time, we are on the road headed to the restaurant I’m meeting Lauren at. Placing my design books back in my bag, I go to grab my phone to check in on Noah and Ms. Rose when I realize I left it at the office.
“Crap,” I say out loud.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asks, looking through the rearview mirror at me.
“I left my phone on my desk.”
He shakes his head. “Want me to turn around?”
“No. It’s okay. I’m six minutes from the restaurant, and I’m already a little behind. You think you can go back and grab it after you drop me off?”
Immediately, I can tell he’s uncomfortable with that suggestion. The way his face pinches up tells me he doesn’t like the idea.
“That’s okay.” I wave him off. “I can be without a phone for an hour. Just let my husband know so he won’t be looking for me.”
He shakes his head. “Hold on.” He presses a few buttons on the steering wheel, and then the sound of a ringing phone fills the car.
“Yo,” a male’s voice says through the speaker.
“I got Boss Lady. I need you to go back to the office and get her phone.”
“It should be on my desk,” I shout to Cyrus.
There is silence on the other end. “You sure you want me to turn around?”
Jake chuckles. “Yeah, I got her.”
“Alright, turning around now,” Cyrus says, and then the line goes dead.
“I guess having two of you guys following me comes in handy for something.”
Jake grins at me through the mirror. “I knew we’d grow on you. Boss man was right.”
I’m at the point where I don’t argue with anything Nico does anymore. If it ever comes down to my safety vs my comfort, Nico will always go with safety.
“Please, that man is—” my words are cut off when a large truck runs into the side of us.
I have only a second to scream before the SUV flips through the air like a spinning top. When it comes down again, the breath is knocked out of me. My head slams against the glass window, and blinding pain shoots through my skull.
The truck lands upside down. The pungent smell of gasoline permeates the air. My hearing is going in and out, and so is my vision.
I focus on the front of the car. It takes a moment for the blurriness to wear off, but I spot Jake. His body is hanging loosely upside down. There is blood dripping down onto the roof of the car from somewhere.
“Jake?” I call his name, but it comes out in a whisper. I’m finding it difficult to keep my eyes open.
My head feels as if there is a jackhammer going to town in my brain.
“Jake,” I try to call out again.
Suddenly, my door is yanked open. I try to catch sight of the person pulling me out of the car, but my vision is getting worse by the second.
Strong arms lift me from the back seat. The moment they do, I want to scream out from the pain in my leg. I want to look down and see what could cause that type of hurt, but I can’t get my head to listen to the command.
“Jake,” I weakly call out to my bodyguard.
“Shh, Tiffany. It will all be over soon.” The voice sounds familiar, but before I can put a name to it, everything goes black.