Everything He Promises (Bookkeeper for the Billionaire #5)(6)
Author: Thalia Frost

“Get some more rest. I won’t bother you again, but I do want to hear all about Rock Weldon whenever you feel like it.” Julie winked.

I kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks so much. This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

“I know you’ve got my back, too, cuz.”

She hugged me and left me to the silence.

* * * *

My cell phone rang an hour later as I was drifting into a fitful sleep.

“Hello?” Too late I realized I should have just left it.

“Lacey? What the hell are you doing? Where are you?”

Rock.

I started to respond then bit my lip, tears springing to my eyes.

“Lacey? I want to come to you. Has someone threatened you?” Rock’s voice was hard yet tender, and I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t.

I won’t have him die on my account.

I hung up the phone, sobbing. It rang again, and I turned it off.

Please don’t find me. I want you to live, company or no company. At least you’ll be alive if I don’t stay in the picture.

I got up then, unable to sleep anymore. Parting the curtains, I gazed out the window. A shadowy figure stood there, under a streetlight. I imagined I saw a mask.

“Lucifer.” Icy hands gripped my heart, and I was frozen in fear for a moment.

The man didn’t move, and I backed away from the window slowly. When I went back a few minutes later, my breath coming in shallow gulps, no one was there.

* * * *

“So you’re just going to hang out here?” Julie glanced at me where I sat at the kitchen table. She had Joey in hand, ready to go.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

“If you want me to skip—”

“No. Don’t. You and Joey have fun at the playdate.”

“We will. Be back in a few hours with some lunch.” Julie grinned.

“Thanks. See you then.”

Tom had left for work hours before and wouldn’t be back until late. I tried to hide my jumpiness with a plastered-on smile as my cousin and little Joey left. I watched her Land Rover pull out of the driveway. An emptiness filled me, along with fear.

I padded into the large den, admiring the bookshelves. Pulling down a volume of L. M. Montgomery—Anne of Green Gables seemed nice and safe—I sat on the couch and read. The happy story kept thoughts of Rock at bay for a while.

Until someone knocked on the door.

“Dammit.” I sat there, frozen.

“Delivery for Ms. Rawlings.”

That would be Julie.

I bit my lip, torn. Standing quietly, I craned my neck to see the kitchen door. Just as I’d decided whoever was there had left—package be damned—the door exploded inward.

* * * *

I screamed and ran for the stairs, not stopping to think. I made it to my bedroom as the voices of a couple men came to me. Pushing the door shut, I locked it and pulled the old fashioned chain. Scrambling for my cell phone, I pressed it on, praying. To put another door between me and whoever was in the house—Lucifer was my guess, whoever that was—I ran into the adjoining bathroom. Luckily, it only had the one entrance, from my room.

I dialed 911 with shaking hands and whispered into the phone. I waited to hear voices as I did so.

“We’re on the way,” the dispatcher said.

Just then, the phone trilled. I gasped. It was Rock.

“Hello?”

“Lacey. I’m nearing your cousin’s house. I’ll be there in three minutes. You’re coming with me when I get there.”

Happiness flooded me at his words even as reason warred with the sentiment.

“No. You can’t. Someone just broke into the house. It’s not safe. Please don’t come. The police are on the way.” My lip trembled. “I won’t lose you, Rock. You almost died when you were shot.”

“I’m coming, and no one’s going to stop me.”

The phone clicked in my ear as the bedroom door opened with a crack of wood.

“Come out, Lacey. We’re done with games.”

The man who called himself Lucifer stood there, but it was clear to me who he was now. He didn’t bother to disguise his voice. I gripped the sink, knowing he would have the bathroom door open in seconds.

John Weldon.

What I’d feared was true. My heart ached for Rock, even as it skipped in fear for my own life.

“Lacey, this door won’t keep me from you.” John laughed.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, hoping to stall for time. Only a minute had passed since Rock had hung up. I had no idea who else might be with John either.

“You know why. I went to jail for murder. I’ve waited all this time, and Rock has never repaid me. I’m sick of hoping, Lacey. I decided to take what’s mine. I was going to skip out of the company and fall off the map, but Rock checked his own books for once, and I knew it was over. He wouldn’t stop until he found out what was going on. I couldn’t have that. So, he’ll die instead, and I’ll keep the money I’ve stolen. And I’ll run the company one day. I’m good at covering my tracks—usually. Money buys that ability.” He laughed, a craven sound.

“You won’t get away with it.” My voice shook, sounding like a squeak.

“Oh but I will.” The door splintered, and I cowered in a corner, wishing I were braver. Scanning the room for a weapon, my gaze fell on a fancy pewter plunger.

It’s better than nothing.

I grabbed it and waited, hoping beyond hope that Rock was on his way.

Please God. Keep him safe even if I don’t make it.

“Time to say your last—”

John Weldon’s words were interrupted with a shot. A groan came from another man as another shot rang out.

I sank to the bathroom floor in stunned silence.

“Lacey. It’s me. You’re safe now.  Let’s go.”

Rock.

I forced the door open past the bodies and ran into his arms. “Go where?”

“The police are already here. We’re going to talk with them and go to California.” Rock kissed my forehead, and I thought I might faint from the unreality.

“You…you killed John?” I was shaking so hard I had to cling to him even tighter. I still couldn’t believe he was real.

“Of course. When I saw what was going on, what other choice did I have? John wouldn’t have given me any other out if he’d seen me. I managed to sneak up on him.”

Sirens blared outside. I jumped.

“Let’s go. I’ll talk you through it. I don’t anticipate much hassle from them. All I have to do is turn over the books and show them what was going on—that John was stealing from me.” Rock brushed my hair back from my forehead, and I gripped his hand as we walked downstairs.

“Thank you. I love you,” I whispered, surprising myself with my bravery.