Nurturing Britney (Surrender Book 7) by Becca Jameson (best books to read fiction .TXT) 📗

Chapter 30

Britney

I stay very still while Davis leaves the house and listen for his SUV to pull out of the garage. As soon as I hear the garage door going back down, I race to his office.

My heart is pounding. It took every ounce of willpower I had to act nonchalant while he explained to me that he had to leave for a few hours. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. I had simply been passing his office on my way to my room when I heard him say my name.

I stopped, thinking I would go into his office, but he sounded so angry. His words came out clipped and tight with frustration. I assume he was talking to his boss, but now I realize there is a lot he hasn’t told me lately.

I reach his desk and start looking around. It takes only a moment to find a file folder filled with information about my sale. I’ve known all along he and his agency were working on this, but I can’t decide whether to kill him or thank him for leaving me mostly in the dark.

I heard what he said about protecting me. I get it. But it’s my life and this is my problem he’s dealing with. I can’t sit back and wait while some other woman is sold in my stead.

A business card falls out of the file and I flinch when I see the name on it. Gordon Shepherd. He’s the front door bouncer. Why does Davis have his card? I flip it over. His personal cell is on the back in addition to another number that says SPD next to it. Seattle Police Department.

There are notes in the file. Most of them handwritten by Davis. Gordon’s initials are on many of the pages. Is he undercover?

I need to think, and I drop down into the desk chair and tap the card on the table. I know I can reach Davis’s boss easily, but is that my best option? It seems like he would just tell me to stay put condescendingly.

I don’t have other options, so I pick up the landline and dial Gordon. I’ve known this man for a year. If he’s undercover… Jesus.

“Marcum? I thought you were on your way to the Lounge?”

I recognize Gordon’s voice and flinch at the familiarity he obviously has with Davis. He even knows his real name. “Gordon, it’s Britney.”

“Britney? Jesus, why are you calling me? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Pissed, but fine. Where are you? I want to help.”

“Not a chance. You stay right where you are. I assume you’re at Marcum’s house since that’s where you’re calling me from.”

I’m shaking as I stand. “No. I’m done hiding. I know about the other woman. I know Lazinski found someone to replace me. I won’t let that happen. Either you tell me how to help or I’m going to drive to Lazinski’s house and turn myself over to him.”

“Jesus, Britney.” His voice rises. “Are you crazy? Let us handle this. We’re trained professionals. Stay where you are.”

I shuffle through the papers on Davis’s desk and find Lazinski’s address. “I’m not bluffing, Gordon. There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to let some other woman be sold because I was too cowardly to help out. I have Lazinski’s address in my hand. I’m going to hang up now and head there.”

“No! Fuck. Britney. Just…no. Goddammit. I’ll come get you. Give me ten minutes. Do not fucking leave the house until I get there.”

“Okay, but if you’re not here in ten, I’ll be gone.” I hang up. I’m shaking as I glance down at my outfit. Fuck. I run from the room and down the hallway to Davis’s room. I race to his closet where I know he keeps all the packages that come for me. I push them aside and exhale in relief when I find my bag of clothes behind them. I yank it open and pull out jeans, a T-shirt, and a bra, grateful to see tennis shoes on the bottom. In three minutes, I’m dressed and running for my bathroom. I pull out my pigtails and gather my hair at the back of my neck in one ponytail.

It’s not until I reach the front door that I realize I have a problem. The alarm. I don’t have the foggiest idea how to disarm it or reset it. It can’t be helped. It’s just going to have to go off.

I wait for Gordon to pull up outside before I yank the front door open, slam it shut, and run toward the car. I jump into the passenger seat and buckle up before facing him. “Let’s go.”

He pulls away, but he’s frowning. I’ve never seen him outside of work. Hell, he’s rarely seen me with clothes on. This man has seen my tits more than anyone alive. The thought makes me shudder as I stuff it to the back of my head.

“Britney, I can’t let you face Lazinski. Marcum would kill me.”

“It would seem to me that you have no other viable options this morning. Someone else’s life is in danger. You don’t know the location of the exchange. And time is running out. Take me to Lazinski. Tell him you found me. Put a fucking tracking device on me or something. But for the love of God, hurry up. I’d never forgive myself if some other woman is sold because of me.”

Lazinski’s phone rings and he glances at the caller ID on the dashboard. “Fuck. It’s Marcum.”

I’m not shocked. The alarm is going off at his home.

Gordon taps a button on the steering wheel to take the call. “Marcum?”

“Where are you? My motherfucking alarm is going off, Britney isn’t answering the phone, and I’m all the way at the Sky Lounge.”

“She’s right next to me in my car.”

“What? What the fuck?” he screams.

“I’m here, Davis,” I tell him. I can hear the frustration in my voice.

“Why? What