Page 57 of Rescued By the Mountain Man Cowboy
“Senior marketing executive at Factor-X Marketing, Marcus Lennard, who had been missing for a week?—”
“He was?” I ask under my breath.
“Was found dead in his high-rise downtown apartment this morning.”
“Holy shit,” I gasp, covering my mouth.
The reporter on the news goes on about a drug overdose, evidence all over his apartment, and the embezzlement connected to one of his discovered bank accounts under a false name.
Madison lowers the volume. “The embezzlement part was from an anonymous tip sent with enough proof that led the cops to investigate, hence they found him dead.”
I’m shocked. “Was that…did you?”
“No,” Madison shakes her head. “That was probably whoever he worked with. My contact found who Marcus was connected to—which I’m not going to tell you. He knows a guy who’s undercover with the organization. All they know is that Marcus fucked up somehow.”
“So, who sent the box?” I ask.
“Marcus, desperate and wanting to scare you. Made it seem it was from whoever he answered to,” Madison reveals.
I sit, processing it all. They murdered Marcus and covered their tracks.
Luke squeezes my waist. “They have no knowledge of Anna,” Luke states.
“None,” Gabe answers. “Marcus must have wanted to try cleaning up his mess before telling his bosses. And with him gone…”
“But won’t they find evidence that he was watching me? Sending me mail? Who then was watching my parents?”
“My contact scrubbed all record. Marcus had a guy he used for side jobs tracking your phone’s metadata. All already taken care of,” Madison explains.
I look at each of them, hesitant to believe it could be over, just like that.
“I’m free then? I don’t have to hide anymore?” I ask.
Luke watches me carefully.
“You’re free and safe,” Gabe says.
Luke sets me off his lap and next to him on the couch. “You’re free to go back to your life in the city. Without your boss, you could even go back to work.”
Frowning, I stare at Luke. Emotions conflict in my gut.
Does he want me to leave?
I can’t imagine going back to Portland now. Even less, ever step foot in that office building again. I don’t even like working there. I don’t like my apartment.
I’m still digesting that Marcus is dead and the only connection that I had to fear is now gone.
My parents. I can finally call my parents, let them know I’m okay. I’ll never tell them what happened, of course. Mom would lose her shit.
My chest has a brick weighing down on it.
Luke stands and goes off with Gabe. Madison scoots closer and takes my hand.
I stare at our hands, feeling myself stand at life’s crossroads.
Your life being in danger changes things. Everything.
I’ve been living in limbo, waiting to find my way, my place, my happy.
