Page 4 of Unchained

CHAPTER 3

Emberly

“Hello?” I cringe as I answer Mike’s call. It’s way too early in the day to deal with his demanding ass. Besides, isn’t he supposed to be on vacation? I thought he would be on his plane to Hawaii by now. I thought I was going to have one morning without him treating me like his personal servant girl.

“Emberly. Hey, listen. I don’t have much time because my plane’s about to board, but I need you to do me a favor.” Of course he does. The man always has ten million things he needs me to do for him. My list for while he’s away is never-ending: answer his client calls, handle all the showings, host the open houses, pick his laundry up from the cleaners, make sure his landscaper shows up to his house, get his fridge stocked with food for his return. The list of things that have nothing to do with selling real estate goes on and on. I’m beginning to think he’s confusing my job title as realtor with personal assistant.

“I need you to go check on the old Brinkley house. I’m not sure I locked the door when I left yesterday. It was raining so hard, and I was trying to get to my car so I wouldn’t get struck by lightning, so I don’t think I did.”

I’m guessing he was more concerned with his hair getting wet and his designer suit getting ruined than he was with the lightning. It doesn’t surprise me that the protection of his client’s house was nowhere on his radar. Granted, no one’s going to be stealing anything from that old dump of a place, but still. In fact, I’m surprised it even had a showing. It’s been sitting on the market for two years with not so much as a single bite. Usually, people drive by the place and their interest stops there. It’s a cool building on the inside, but it needs a lot of TLC. Not to mention the price is astronomical.

“Is your client interested?” I ask, making a note to myself to stop by that place on the way to his cleaners.

“Nah. He said it needed too much work and he would need to get it for half the price to make it worth his investment. When I get back from my trip, I’m going to have a heart-to-heart with Brinkley and tell him he needs to lower the price.”

And I’m sure Mike’s going to hear a solid no from the old man. Mr. Brinkley is set in his ways and still thinks his grandparents’ house is worth a million dollars. The mansions I showed yesterday, which were renovated to the nines, were selling for that. Even the ten-acre lot it’s sitting on isn’t valued at that.

“Got to go, Em. Just remember I won’t be accessible for fourteen hours, so if you need something, don’t bother me.” He chuckles at his joke, but I find it obnoxious. He’s the one who always needs something and texts me no less than twenty times a day. But if I need something, he’s always out to lunch, on the golf course, or in the middle of a poker game. Rarely is he ever available to answer a question for me. I’ve been on my own since I started working for him, figuring things out as I go. I think after he gets back, I may be having a heart-to-heart with him. Let him know that I’m no longer interested in being his slave.

“Don’t worry,” I tell him, keeping my voice smooth. “Everything is handled on this end. Just go and enjoy your vacation.” And please just leave me the hell alone for the next ten days. Honestly, I’ll be happy to do his grunt work just as long as I don’t have to interact with the arrogant man.

“Over and out,” he says before the line goes dead, and I’m rolling my eyes at his stupid catchphrase.

I roll over in bed and pull the blanket up over my head, trying to hide from the day. Just one more hour of sleep and then I’ll be on to all my duties, starting with the old Brinkley house.

CHAPTER 4

Trevor

“And reporting live from the prison is Jen Spector. Jen, what have you learned about the escaped convict?”

The camera goes to a blond standing outside the prison, which looks like a media circus.

“Thank you, Bryan. What we’ve learned so far is that police have confirmed that Trevor O’Malley was impersonating an officer when he made his break. Therefore, he is assumed to be wearing a stolen police uniform and does have an official badge on his person. Surveillance footage also shows that he did not leave on foot. He made his getaway in a stolen vehicle and everyone should be on the lookout for a white Toyota Camry with the license plate TTI4255. If you spot this vehicle, please contact the police immediately.” I smirk at that. Got to give Burbank a big fucking kiss for leaving me new plates in the car because now they’re all on some wild goose chase. “The search continues, and family is currently being questioned. As soon as we know more, we will report. Back to you, Bryan.”

“Are you worried?”

I close out the screen and look toward my sister. My gut twists when I see her black eye. I hadn’t noticed it in the dark last night, but it makes me want to rage my vengeance on the man who gave it to her. In time, Trevor. In time.

“Nah.” I shake my head. “The plates Burbank gave me are legit. Besides, it will be a few days before anyone even questions the Camry in the parking lot, if they even do.”

“So, how’d you get that cop to agree to help you?”

And this is one of the things I failed to mention to her during our phone conversations or in the letters I sent. Mainly, because I didn’t want anyone getting wind of the plan. When Shay and I spoke or wrote, it was in code.

“I saved his life, and he owed me a favor. So, I called it in.”

“Wow.” She shakes her head. “That’s seriously concerning on so many levels.” I suppose it is, but the corrupt system worked in my favor so I’m not going to complain. “So, what? He just staged the whole thing?”

“Yep. He knew when the new officers who weren’t familiar with me were going to be on shift, so when I made my exit in his uniform with his security card, no one thought twice to question it. He gave me his gun, the keys to his car, and left me some money, a phone, a change of clothes, and new plates.” He also left me the number to his burner phone in case I needed help down the road. But I won’t be using that while the cameras are glued to his ass.

“Wow,” she says again, her eyes even larger. “Who knew it could be that easy for a convict to escape?”

It’s not easy. Most would never have the balls to even attempt to pull it off. And most don’t have the respect of any officer on the inside. They’re too busy running their mouths and causing trouble. Me, I kept my nose down and my ears open. And the day I heard those three motherfuckers planning their attack on Burbank, I did what was needed and saved the man’s life.

“So, then your friend, Diego, is going to get us fake IDs and papers?”

“Yeah. He owes me too.” Back when we both worked for Rodriguez, I saved his ass. So, in return, he’s going to help me get my family new identities. “He used to work for Rodriguez before the monster tried to have him killed. Now, he’s off grid.” He’s also happens to be the one who showed me the truth about my boss.