My lips twisted. “Okay, but aren’t bookkeepers full time? He’s probably looking for a forty-hour-a-week employee.”
He paused. “You’re right, but there are perks to being the silent partner’s daughter.”
“Wait a minute, I thought you said it was an employee—”
“I did, but I’m an investor in this business, and until he repays my investment I think of this man as an employee. Bottom line, something’s wrong, and I don’t know if you can find anything out or not. But, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone else looking at the books.”
“Couldn’t you just insist on an audit?” I asked.
He sighed. “Yes, but I’m leaving that as a last resort. Maybe I’m getting softer the older I get, but I’m trying to give Ryan the benefit of the doubt.”
“All right. Maybe this will work better if he doesn’t know who I am?”
He chuckled. “Not too many people with the last name ‘Daughtry,’ honey.”
I smiled. “Yes, but I could use Mom’s maiden name.”
“Hmm. You’re right, but I’d rather be honest from the jump. Any chance you can get a resume in by tomorrow evening?”
“You get me the email address, I should be able to do it tonight.”
“Thank you, honey. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad. Talk to you later.”
As soon as I finished my dinner, I booted up my computer and sent a freshly-polished resume to the email address Dad provided. My bra poked me in my side and I realized I hadn’t changed clothes since I came home. How that happened, I had no idea, but getting my bra off took priority.
The doorbell chimed after I put on my pajamas. Looking through the peephole, I saw my ex-boyfriend who I hadn’t spoken to in almost two years. With a sigh, I opened the door.
“Asher, I don’t know—”
It was all I got out before he put his hand to my belly in a vicious way, and he shoved into my apartment, slamming the door behind him.
The hand in my belly heaved and I stumbled backward into the breakfast bar.
“What the hell?” I yelled.
“You finally did it, you slut. Droolin’ after him like all the other bitches. Only took you two years, but you finally sucked that prick’s cock.”
My brows furrowed and I shook my head.
“Do not play dumb with me, Cassie. I saw him leave here this morning.”
“Gabe?” I blurted the question.
“‘Gabe?’” he mimicked, setting his voice three octaves higher.
Things went south with Asher not long after I became friends with Gabe. Whether it was the new friendship, or just me finally noticing it, but Asher displayed extreme jealousy if I spent any time with men. Even guys I tutored while doing my job at the time, as Professor Wood’s teaching assistant. Once it became clear Asher had issues, I confronted him, and he denied it. Needless to say, things deteriorated more and I broke up with him not long after. It had been ugly, but I hadn’t seen him since then.
His words registered fully and my eyes narrowed. “What were you doing here before seven in the morning?” I demanded.
He snorted. “For being so damn book-smart, you’re awfully stupid, Cassandra. I live across the fucking hall.”
What? I shook my head because that was weird. Creepy-weird, since the only guy I ever saw come out of the unit across the hall was a middle-aged man named Stan.
“Stan lives there, not—”
My words were cut off by Asher backhanding me. I staggered to the side. Pain radiated from my cheekbone, but I ignored it. He stopped me from sidling around the breakfast bar when he grabbed my bicep and shoved me toward the couch. His free hand took hold of my other arm, and I screamed for all I was worth.
His right hand let go. He backhanded me again, shutting me up.
“Quiet, you selfish bitch.”
“She’s not a bitch, and the cops are on their way, asshole,” Kaylee said from the front door, her phone to her ear.
And I hadn’t thought this could get any worse.
“Kaylee, go!” I yelled.
She looked at me like I was crazy, but then she raised her other hand, which held a small pistol.
Asher pushed me toward the couch and moved to charge Kaylee, but the distinct click of a safety stopped him.
“Oh, no, creeper. I knew something wasn’t right about you. Anytime I left, you seemed to be leaving your unit too. And even though I didn’t like your vibe, something seemed familiar, too. I never could put my finger on it, but when a girl grows up in a cop family she learns many things. One, listen to her gut. Two, respect of guns. And three, stay vigilant. So, don’t think I won’t take out your knee.”
“Hard to hit a moving target, bitch,” Asher said, and took a step toward her.
She fired and Asher jumped. My ears rang like I’d stood next to the speakers at a rock concert.
Proving she knew a thing or two about firearms, Kaylee hollered, “That was your only warning shot, asswipe. Purposefully missed your big toe. You move again, it’s your knee.”
Moments later, two police officers filled our foyer with their weapons drawn. I could barely hear what was being said, but Kaylee slowly turned and lowered her weapon. I could see she was speaking with a female officer, but the ringing in my ears wasn’t letting up.
By the time the officers had escorted Asher out of the apartment and Kaylee and I had both given our statements to the officers, the microwave clock showed the time as quarter to eight.
I looked at my roommate. “How is it not even eight o’clock yet? It feels like five hours have gone by.”
Kaylee shot a sympathetic smile my way. “My uncle says, if time flies when you’re having fun, it drips like molasses when bad shit hits the fan. You need to ice your cheek before the bruising gets worse.”
I moved to the kitchen for an ice pack. “When did you start carrying a weapon? And why didn’t you tell me you had a concealed
