Stanton Box Set

“I’m telling you, she needs to be tag teamed. I know the two men I am going to set her up with too. They will make her forget her name let alone Joshua Stanton,” Abbie replies.

“Fuck off,” Cameron snaps. “Don’t even say that about Tash.”

“Yeah don’t,” Bridget whispers. “You’re gross.”

“So you are into threesomes hey Abbs?” Cameron’s voice smiles.

Adrian rolls his eyes. “Oh god. Get it off.” He snaps as his eyes shoot to Cameron in the back seat. “You never miss a chance to try and pick up, do you wanker?”

Cameron holds his hands up in the air. “How could I let that slip? I had to comment.”

I sit silently, staring out the window, lost in thought. I get the fairy tale stuff and she’s right. She’s too good for me. I need to let her go.

“Adrian, ring the pilot in the morning. We leave on Saturday.” I start the car and pull out into the traffic. The two security cars trailing us follow behind. The car falls deathly silent as I fall back into my pool of depression.

Natasha

The car trip home is silent. At least I get to sleep in my own bed tonight. I wonder where Joshua is. Is he ok? We walk up to the lift as Max carries my bag. I have my laptop, my pillow and blanket bundled in my arms.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go around to Joshua’s?” Max asks.

“No and stop asking me. You are not helping the situation,” I reply.

“I just don’t get it. You love him. Why are you letting him go?” he sighs.

“Because I’m not an idiot.” I shake my head and storm to my door. I stop dead in my tracks.

The lock has been broken and the door is ajar. Max immediately drops the bags and texts someone. My eyes widen as he ushers me back to the lift where we wait for a moment. The other guards run up the stairs and into my apartment. Max grabs me and pushes me into the lift and pulls out a gun.

What the fuck is happening now?

Chapter 10

I shuffle to the wall as Max pushes me aside. My eyes widen with fear.

“What’s going on Max?” I whisper.

“Sshh,” he answers as he listens.

“Clear,” one man says.

“Clear,” another yells.

“Max, tell me what’s going on,” I whisper again more urgently.

“Joshua has a hit man after him. He might be here,” he replies as his grip on his gun readjusts. His eyes don’t leave the door.

“What!” I shriek. “Hit man, what hit man?” My heart rate picks up as my eyes bulge.

“He was attacked just before we got to LA in what the police think is an organised hit.” My eyes widen.

I drop my head as I think … the bruises.

“Why wasn’t I told? This is total bullshit,” I whisper angrily.

“Sshh. Listen,” he says as he cranes his neck around the corner to see what is going on.

I pull my arm out of his grip. “You explain this right now.” My whispered voice rises as I start to panic.