Page 34 (1/1)

“I never discuss business over a phone that does not belong to me, Dallas Not that I would share inforardless of whether we are on the phone or not Would you be opposed to dinner to?” Was he serious? The man had to be delusional

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea,” I scoffed The chances of hi me kill someone seemed pretty slim This man could not be trusted

“Are you sure? I can arrange to have you picked up and flown over here You can even bring someone with you if you like” What? He wanted to send a plane to getanother fucking hostage? No way

“Charlie, be reasonable If you remember correctly, that didn’t work out so well the last time”

“I thought everything worked out perfectly I a information and it must be important for you to call me You have one free pass To use it so soon must make you pretty desperate I will help you hatever you need Bring so for you outside your office at five to I will have you home safely in less than twenty-four hours” I let out a surprised laugh with no huht words to tell hi card?

“Charlie, you’re delusional It’s not going to happen You can forget it,” I countered, sitting on the edge ofhis reaction

“Yet you re there is no other option I will see you toht” I sat with the phone toto process what he had just said Was it a deain? Before I could stophis number

“Yes, Dallas?”

“What if I don’t coainsthis ansould be different from what I suspected it would be

“Then you don’t come I want to help you, Dallas, but to do that we have to meet face-to-face The decision is yours There will be no hard feelings if you decline my offer But if ever the day comes that you want my help, you will have to coht, Dallas” There was finality in his tone that let me know that it would be inupa thousand deaths I needed someone We would have to set our differences aside for now Lindsey couldn’t help me with this I needed my sisters

We need to talk NOW!! Be at Luke’s in 20 Do not tell ANYONE!!

I hit send on thein my office a half-e sense, as I jumped in my car and sped off to Luke’s to endure the wrath I was sure would come

“What the fuck, Dallas?”

“Are you okay?” I felt a little guilty as I looked into the worried faces of Red and Maddie They were in a panic, and I had not et ht in my wrinkled skirt, and un-tucked blouse, with bare feet, a flushed face, and wide eyes I resembled someone who had just been a victim of assault, and knew I needed to confirm that was not the issue, but I couldn’t catchMaddie and Red pull ained control, and took a sip of the water Red offered before I started talking

“I’ day at work No one attacked ed in relief Maybe I should have called “I didn’t mean to scare y’all I just panicked”

“It’s okay But next tie like that followed by a you that looks like this, is a littleher hands toward my rumpled appearance

“Will do,” I said, nodding my head

“What’s going on, Dallas?” Red asked, genuine concern in her lovely hazel eyes It was good to see that she was not holding our spat froainst me “Don’t worry about earlier I’et to that later What happened?” I had to work on not being so damned transparent