by C. J. Thomas
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” she snapped. “Relax baby doll,” she eased back into her calm sway.
I sat all the way up and scooted my back to lean against the bed’s headrest.
“Anyways, like I was saying, learning that the firm represents Wesley Reid led me to find a solution to your problem.”
“The problem you created for me,” I reminded her.
“We can agree to disagree.” I could feel her smirk through the phone.
“And I agree that if you didn’t pay my debt off, I wouldn’t have to worry whether or not I’ll be alive a few short weeks from now.”
Kendra sighed and we both kept silent while the dust settled.
“I’m sorry.” I hung my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I didn’t mean it. Anyways, what’s your idea?”
“You need to call this number.” There was some ruffling on the other end of the line. “Got a pen?”
I jumped off the bed and headed down the hall to the kitchen. “Ready.”
Kendra spouted off a phone number.
I jotted it down. “And who is this exactly?”
“The woman who is going to help you.”
“Does she have a name?”
“I can’t have this coming back to me. If people start asking how you got connected—”
“I get it. You can’t tell me her name.” I ran fingers through my hair and stared at my own reflection in the large bay windows overlooking the city. “What am I supposed to say?”
“Ask her how to get your name on the list.”
“The list to what?”
“The list of L.A.’s highest paid escorts.”
BOOK 8
On My Knees
The Hollywood Nights Series Vol. 8
CJ Thomas
71
Nash
BY THE TIME she stepped out of her car, we were already there, waiting.
Wes turned his head, glanced, and nodded. Then, together, we walked straight toward her. “Kendra Williams,” I said casually when I knew I was within earshot.
She looked up, taking her hand out of her purse, and smiled. “I’m not happy with you, Nash.”
I grinned.
Wes raised a brow at me and chuckled. “Something you’re used to?”
I winked.
“You were supposed to call me when you heard from Alex.” She moved toward us, meeting us halfway before we all stopped somewhere in the middle of the sidewalk to chat. Kendra cast her gaze over to Wes.
“Forgive me for not introducing you two.” I angled myself between them.
“Don’t bother.” Kendra’s lips curved upward. “I know who he is.” She lifted her sunglasses high on her head as her eyes traveled the length of him. “Hi, Wesley Reid.” She batted her lashes.
Wes’s eyes hooded over as he stared, clearly enjoying the flattery from such a beautiful young woman.
After a moment, Kendra shifted her focus back to me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for work.”
I caught her at the elbow as she tried to squeeze between us. “Actually, we need to talk.”
She stared at my fingers clamped around her arm. “What’s this about?” Her brows knitted together.
Wes stepped forward and rubbed the point of his chin. “We need the money.” He smiled.
I toed an inch closer until we had her lost in our shadows. “This is serious, Kendra. Alex is in trouble.”
Her tongue slide over her top teeth. “Intimidation doesn’t work with me.”
“We just need to get the money back. That’s all.” I showed her my palms. “Then we’ll leave.”
“On second thought, I wouldn’t mind being roughed up by you two.” She smirked.
I looked at Wes. “Quit the games, Kendra. Now, tell me, where is the money,” I demanded, dropping my gaze back to her face.
“I bet you two could manhandle me pretty good.” She winked and shifted her jaw back and forth. “And I bet you’d like it, too.”
“Didn’t you hear what we said?” Wes lowered his head, closer to her face. “Your friend is in danger.” He squinted his eyes.
She dropped her sunglasses back over her eyes and shifted her weight to her opposite foot.
“Don’t make this harder than it already is.” I curled my fingers around the nape of her neck. Her body stiffened. “If you really care about Alex—”
“Listen,” she pointed her finger at me and snapped, “Alex is my best friend. I’d do anything for her.”
Wes widened his stance and closed in on her. “Then you’ll do what’s right and give us the money so we can all get on with our day.”
She hugged her purse tight to her chest, turned her head, and got lost in her own thoughts.
The sidewalk buzzed with normal morning activity. People hurried to their jobs with coffees in hand. The sweet chocolaty bitterness wafted through the air as they passed.
“Look.” Kendra met my gaze. “Alex knows I don’t have the money.”
Wes wrinkled his forehead when he glanced at me.
“It’s gone.” She raised her brows. “You happy now?”
My heart thrashed in my ears. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What do you mean, it’s gone?”
“It’s gone.” She drew out the words long and slow as if I was deaf. “And she filled me in on her situation. Don’t worry, I have that figured out, too.” She reached up and straightened Wes’s tie.
“And what did you figure out?” Wes caught her wrist and pulled her hand away from him.
She flipped her hair off her shoulder. “You see, I was trying to help her out. I didn’t realize that she’d be—” she leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper so no one else could hear, “—kidnapped.”
The crown of my head pulled straight to the sky as I looked around to make sure our conversation remained private. No one was listening. We were safe. For now.
She pulled back and looked around before continuing. “And have her life threatened.”
Wes shuffled his feet and shot me an uncertain glance—his worst fears were coming true. Even I was scared for Alex; we had to do something.
“If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have paid off her debt.” Kendra tipped her head back. “No need to worry. The money is all gone, yes.” She wagged her finger.
I swallowed the rock in my throat.
“But, like I said, I have found Alex the perfect solution to paying it all back. Every last penny.” She leaned a shoulder into our inner circle and winked at me. “This will be over before you know it.”
I stood straight up, twisted my spine, and glanced over my shoulder to hide the heavy sigh I’d just let escape.
“Care to share what exactly she’ll be doing to earn back the lost money?” Wes tilted his head to the side.
“Escorting.” She nodded and looked between us, searching for any immediate reactions we might have. There were none. Both Wes and I knew better than to lose face. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really can’t be late for work.”
This time we didn’t stop her when she pushed past us.
Wes shoved his hands into his pockets as we both turned on a heel to watch Kendra enter the building behind us. “There’s only one escorting agency in town that could pay that kind of money.”
“What do we do now?”
Wes tilted his chin up and stared me directly in the eye. “You can’t let her go through with it. Not if it’s with who I think it is.”
My chest tightened. Of course I couldn’t let her go through with it. It didn’t matter who he thought she’d be working for. There was an easier way. A way that didn’t involve having to share my woman with others.
“You have to stop her,” Wes said firmly. “Before she digs her own grave.”
72
Alex
DOZENS of important papers laid scattered across the table.
Nash left me in charge; said it would be a good way to take my mind off things and get back to focus
ing on what I was here for in the first place—getting my hands dirty in the industry I wanted to have a career in.
And, in theory, it sounded like a good idea—until I actually arrived and stepped foot inside the studio.
Then everything changed.
“We have the passports prepared and ready to go,” I heard Val hiss on the other side of the room before I tuned her, and everyone else, out.
I should have been fired up for being here, for working alongside the Assistant Production Coordinator. But my mind was elsewhere. With my life in the gutter and on the edge of collapse. Even with Nash allowing me to take on such a huge responsibility, I couldn’t get Kendra’s suggestion off my mind.
“And what about accommodation. Did you manage to secure that, Alex?”
I knew it was what I had to do. I didn’t have another option. With no choice, there was no other way for me to raise that kind of money in such a short amount of time. Not one that I had available to me, at least. If Kendra was right—about making as much money as she thought I would—then I could get this behind me and get on with my life in no time.
Now, if only I wasn’t so scared of the unknown.
“Alex?” The Assistant Production Coordinator stared at me. “Are you with us?”
“Um, yes.” When I blinked, I saw everyone staring directly at me. I sprang up and sat ramrod straight in my chair. “I’m sorry, what was the question?”
Val offered up a knowing smile that I wanted to smack off her smug face. If only I had it in me, I’d do it. I barred my teeth and clenched my hand into a fist.
The Coordinator pushed back from the table, stood, and tossed the stack of papers down. I watched the pile filter apart and helicopter to the table until they landed soft and safe, directly in front of me.
Heat shot up my neck and spread across my cheeks as he bore his angry eyes into me. I held my breath until he bellowed, “Just leave.”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “But I’m here.”
He shook his head. “Don’t waste my time any more than you already have.”
I felt like a noose was wrapped around my neck, and when I saw the look on Val’s haughty face, the rope tightened and I gasped for air. This can’t be happening.
“Out!” He pointed toward the door.
Tears swelled behind my eyes and threatened to spill. I refused to cry here, with the entire room silent and shifting uncomfortably in their seats, wondering who would be next.
I closed my notebook, gathered my things, packed up and hurried out of the conference room.
I blew it.
Everything I’d worked so hard to accomplish: now gone.
I fucking blew it.
My vision tunneled as I marched down the hall and through the back corridors. I didn’t know where to go. I was supposed to be here, doing my job, making a name for myself in the industry I loved. Yet, somehow, the walls kept falling down wherever I turned.
“Alex,” a familiar voice called out from somewhere behind me.
I turned to find Professor Fields strutting my way. My chest rose heavily, and when he saw my forehead tie itself into a knot, he started jogging. “Alex, are you okay?” He took me into his arms.
“Yeah.” My voice cracked against his chest.
He held me tight and all I wanted to do was cry. But I forced my mind to go someplace else and I managed to keep it together.
“What are you doing here?” I took a step back and he unraveled his arms from around me but kept one hand clamped around my shoulder for safe keeping.
“Alex.” He squeezed my shoulder and craned his neck to my level. “I talked to Nash.”
A drip of sweat fell down my spine before stopping at the small of my back. His tone was far more intense than what I was used to. There was a hint of concern that had my mind racing with what he might know. Ted had done so much for me—including getting me this internship—and was the last person I wanted to disappoint.
“I’m surprised to see you.” He dropped his gaze and blinked rapidly.
My thoughts froze.
I didn’t know what he was referring to. It could be anything.
Was it that he already knew I’d blown it with the Assistant Production Coordinator? Or was it that he knew about the money and that I’d been kidnapped? I couldn’t know for sure, and I wasn’t about to jump to any conclusions, fearful of exposing the dark truth that was now mine to own.
“It’s me.” I curtsied, trying to disguise my stammering heart.
His mouth slackened. “The way Nash sounded on the phone,” he paused to meet my gaze, “it sounded like he didn’t know where you were.” He stroked his chin with his fingers.
The kidnapping.
I gulped. “I’m here.” I shrugged and faked my best smile.
“That’s good.” He smiled and lifted his hand up to cup my face. “It makes me happy to know that you’re okay.” His thumb brushed strokes across my cheek. “Alex.” His voice was the deepest I’d ever heard it as he moved close to my ear and whispered a secret about Nash.
My eyes grew wide and my body shivered.
I didn’t want to believe him.
It couldn’t be true.
He needed to stop talking.
I didn’t want to hear any more.
Nash wasn’t what he said he was.
I peeled Professor Fields’s hand away from my face before things really went too far. I didn’t like the feeling I got from him, and that was a first. He was someone who always made me feel right at home. Now I wasn’t sure who to believe, or who to side with—him or Nash?
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” My breath hitched.
“You know what I think of you, don’t you?”
I bit the inside of my cheek.
“I can’t let him do it.”
“Let who do what?” My toes tapped the concrete floor.
He cocked his head to the side and I watched his eyes sparkle like they were in love. “If he ruins another promising career—” He lifted his arm and smoothed his hand down my arm.
My body went numb to his touch. “Professor.” This time I let my hand come to rest on his arm. “I promise, you’ll be the first person I come to,” I paused to inhale a deep, reassuring breath, “if I’m ever feeling unsafe or uncertain.”
His gaze softened.
“But I’m not.” I dropped my hand and started to tiptoe backwards. “And believe me when I tell you, I already have someone I can trust with my life. I’ll be all right.”
73
Nash
MY FIST CURLED and tightened into a ball just before I hit the wall.
The moment I saw him talking with Alex, I knew that he could somehow be involved in all this bullshit.
I puffed out my chest, tipped my chin in the air, and took a running start as I leaped toward him.
The more I thought about Ted calling me when Alex was gone—kidnapped—the more my suspicions about him grew.
This was supposed to be Alex’s morning. Her time to shine and seize the day. Yet it was like he knew I wasn’t planning to be at the studio and swooped in for the steal.
But the real question was, why wasn’t she in the meeting with the rest of the team?
“Alex.” I wrapped my fingers around the inside of her upper arm and pinched down on the soft flesh, causing her to wince.
She gasped, realized it was me, and reached out for help.
Ted couldn’t believe his eyes. He gave me an incredulous stare and I leaned forward and said in a voice low enough for only him to hear, “I think you better leave.”
He stuffed his hands inside his slacks. “Alex. You know where to find me.”
Alex barely nodded but I caught the movement.
“And remember what I said.”
“Leave. Now,” I growled.
Together, Alex and I watched as Ted turned his back and walked away.
“What the fuck was that about?” I spun Alex around by her shoulders.
“No
thing.” She turned her face away and gazed at the ground.
There was definitely something going on.
The air stunk of it.
And I didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
“How did things go this morning?” I pulled her chin up to meet my eyes. “Are the arrangements for Mexico all set?”
Her eyes hooded and glossed over. “No.”
My brows raised, along with the temperature of the air.
It was important the arrangements were made. We were set to leave next week to film in Mexico. The studio couldn’t afford a simple task to be so royally fucked because of an intern’s blunder. It was up to me to fix this. And fast.
“It didn’t go well.” She shook her shoulders out of my grip and narrowed her eyes. “I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Nash, my mind isn’t on the job.” Her voice quivered.
I could see she was about to break down. “Let’s go to my office.” I linked our fingers and took her by the hand. “We can talk there.”
Her feet padded lightly on the floor behind me as we walked the hallway and rounded a couple corners before stepping inside my office where I closed the door. Not a second later, I had her in my arms, slamming my lips over hers.
Her tongue swooshed over mine and the taste of her had me rock solid. “Baby.” I took her face between my hands. “Tell me what’s going on.”
A tear welled in the corner of her eye before spilling down her cheek. “It’s everything. I’m breaking down, Nash. I’m worried.” She shook. “And really fucking scared.”
I cupped the back of her head with my hand and pulled her in tight to my chest. Squeezing her up against me and holding her in my arms was the only way I knew to prove that she was safe with me.
She wedged her hands beneath the hem of my shirt and smoothed her palms up and over my abs and around to my back.
But I also knew that winning her trust—her complete trust—wasn’t going to be easy. I’d already failed her once before. And who knows what kind of seeds Ted was planting inside her head. “Everything is going to be all right, baby. We’re going to get through this.” I could feel her heart pound against my chest.
“I spent some of the money when I knew it wasn’t mine to spend.” She took a step back. Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace.
