The Dirty Series 2(147)

He’s strength in the face of ridiculous rumors, a wife who died, an Italian crime boss who tried and failed to put him behind bars.

And damn it if I’m going to lose him over this stupid website.

I pull the laptop back onto my lap and log in.

There’s housekeeping I need to do before I pull the trigger on this.

I’m going to shut down Rainflower Blue at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, come hell or high water, and I’m never going to look back.

I’m only going to look forward.

The next decision comes to me in a flash of inspiration.

Even if Ace doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, I need to make a plan.

I need to get out of New York City.

I’ve been here for too long, submerged in the endless river of rumors that flows along the streets, and I need to start over somewhere new. It won’t be enough to simply shut down the website.

I’ll set up something with the realtor as soon as I can formulate this note to my subscribers and figure out just how much cash I’ll need for refunds for the rest of this month’s subscription fees.

My heart beats faster in my chest. Starting over somewhere new. Somewhere new, Ace by my side….

…or not.





Chapter Forty-Four





Ace



No.

No, I’m not fucking sure that it’s over.

In fact, I’m not sure I did the right thing by walking out on Carolyn at all.

She didn’t have a real chance to explain herself, and after the conversation with Eli, I’m beginning to think this entire venture grew out of a real desire to do something for the good of other people. I’ve seen the way she treats her employees at the boutique. I’ve seen the way she treats her neighbors.

Can I blame her for making a profit off of it?

My own father has admitted to making a few shady investments early on in his career.

Nobody is fucking spotless.

And the truth is, Carolyn fits me.

Body and soul, as goddamn pathetic as that sounds.

I cannot lose her over this.

The thought is so powerful it feels like I’m having a heart attack.

I can’t.

I absolutely cannot lose her over some stupid website.

Who the fuck cares if all of New York is talking about me? I certainly haven’t been any worse off for it. Elisa’s father doesn’t have the reach to torture me in New York, which was my main concern when I left Italy. If he wanted to make my life miserable, he’d have done it by now.

I’m free of that.

And if Carolyn made some extra money by hosting a website, who the hell am I to judge her?

I have to find her.

I stand up from behind my desk so abruptly that I crash into the keyboard tray, then reflexively shove it back under the desk. It sticks and I have to jam it in.

“Damn it.”

My secretary, Cecily, whom I share with several of the others in this unit, pokes her head in the door. “Mr. Kingsley? Is everything all right?”

“I don’t have time to send an email.”

Her forehead wrinkles. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kingsley, I—”

I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not going to be in for the rest of the afternoon. Or the morning.” I want to be decisive, striding out of here with a fucking purpose, and I’m losing my damn mind over the possibility that it’s already too late.

I have to get to her now.

“Mr. Kingsley? What can I do for you?”

Even Cecily seems to think I’m cracking up. Maybe I am.

“I need you to cancel the meetings. Any meetings that I have today. Reschedule them for next week. All of my commitments are in the calendar. And I’m going to need an away message.”

“Of course, Mr. Kingsley. Is there anything else?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

She nods, stepping back out into the hall.

I take my phone off the surface of the desk and send a hasty text to Noah, who responds with his characteristic On the way, boss. The car will be at the curb when I get downstairs.

“Mr. Kingsley?” Cecily is back at the door, rapping gently at the doorframe.

“Yes?”

She has a little smile on her face, and it makes me wonder how much the secretaries here just know.

“Whatever you’re doing…good luck.”

I’m sure as hell going to need it.



Noah shuts the door behind me after I slide into the backseat of the Bentley, scrolling through my phone even though all I can think of to do is text Carolyn.

And I don’t want to text her.

Even in my most desperate hour, I don’t want to start with a pathetic text message begging her for her current location so I can throw myself at her feet.

Not literally.

Maybe fucking literally, if that’s what it takes.

Noah pulls his own door shut behind him and turns around, throwing his arm over the back of the seat.