The considered being Mrs. Winters for a minute longer makes me sick. I can’t fake anymore.

“Presley.” He clears his throat. “The assertion you gave to the police doesn’t match the witnesses’ statements or the proof we have now. I’d prefer to know in the event you’d care to revise your account of the occasions that transpired early this morning.”

There are witnesses? I assume there’d must be, however the very last thing I keep in mind earlier than waking up in an ambulance is using the elevator all the way down to my constructing’s foyer.

“Am I being charged with one thing?”

I wouldn’t put it previous Sebastian to make use of his connections to shift the blame to me someway.

He shakes his head. “By no means. However I wish to guarantee the correct individual pays for his or her crimes, and I can’t try this with out your assist.”

I launch a sigh. “Look, Mr. Simmons—”

“Derek,” he says with a smile that’s undoubtedly charmed many ladies out of their panties. “It’s solely truthful.”

“Derek.” I blow out a breath. “Like I instructed the primary officer who got here right here, a person broke into my residence and attacked me. No, I can’t provide you with extra particulars about his look as a result of all of the lights had been off since I used to be asleep on the time. By some means, I managed to combat him off and get away. The very last thing I keep in mind is using within the elevator towards the foyer ground. I’ve nothing else to say.”

“What do you sometimes put on to mattress at evening, Presley?”

I startle on the sudden change in subject.

“Pajamas, like most individuals. What does that must do with something?”

He offers me a figuring out look. “Based on the safety footage, you had been carrying slacks and a shirt while you had been discovered, which, as you’ve acknowledged, is just not your regular bedtime apparel. Are you telling me you took the time to vary your clothes earlier than leaving your residence and fleeing the perpetrator?”

Crap. This man is simply too observant for my liking. I glare at him once more, however I don’t suppose it’s as efficient as I’d like with just one eye.

“I fell asleep on the sofa whereas I used to be ready for my husband to return. I hadn’t become my pajamas but.”

Derek frowns. “You reside in a extremely safe constructing. Nobody can entry the penthouse with no keycard to your non-public elevator. The doorman confirmed your husband got here house round midnight however left once more roughly one hour later. Safety footage reveals you stumbling out of the elevator shortly after that, proper earlier than you collapsed onto the foyer ground. Look. I recognize how delicate this example is, contemplating your husband’s… affect. I really don’t need to stress you after every little thing you’ve been by way of, however I can’t forestall this from occurring once more in the event you don’t inform me the reality.”

Yeah, proper. Like I’m going to belief something this man has to say. For all I do know, Sebastian put him as much as this.

I clench my jaw however forcibly loosen up when a taking pictures ache jogs my memory what number of hits it took earlier. “I’m telling the reality. I’ve nothing else to say.”

“The place was your husband going at one within the morning?”

“I do not know. Not that it’s any of what you are promoting, however we had a combat, and Sebastian stormed out. Now, you probably have any extra questions for me, I feel I ought to have my lawyer current as this dialog appears to have taken a flip into an interrogation.”

He releases a harsh exhale as he reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket once more. He produces a enterprise card and extends it in my route. As I eye it warily, making no try to seize it, he says, “You’ve got choices, Presley. I’ve zero loyalty to your husband, and I may also help. Don’t let him get away with this. Name me while you’re prepared to speak.”

With that, he stands up, locations the cardboard on my bedside desk, and leaves the room. When he’s out of sight, I choose up the oblong cardstock.

Derek Simmons

Particular Agent

917-555-0156

On the backside, there’s an handle to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Civic Heart workplace. What the heck? Why would the FBI be inquisitive about a case like this? I set the cardboard down and permit my eyes to float closed, keen the throbbing in my head to go away. The physician provided me some prescription painkillers, however I declined. These issues make my head fuzzy, and that’s the very last thing I want proper now as a result of my head is already spinning. It most likely doesn’t assist that I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours.

“Knock, knock.” I blink quickly because the nurse who’s been taking good care of me enters my room. Huh. I have to’ve dozed off for a bit. “I’ve excellent news! As quickly as I get that IV out, you’re all set to go house. Your husband simply arrived, and—”

“May I’ve a second alone with my spouse, please?”

My complete physique stiffens on the sound of his voice. Rattling it. I knew it wouldn’t be troublesome for him to search out out which hospital I used to be in contemplating the police involvement, however I had hoped I’d have extra time. I take a sip of water from the cup the nurse gave me earlier and set it again on the bedside desk, this time, immediately over Agent Simmons’ enterprise card. I’m fairly positive Sebastian would truly kill me if he thought I ratted him out. Hell, he may do it anyway if current occasions are any indication.

“Oh… after all,” the nurse stutters. “I’ll provide you with two a couple of minutes. You should’ve been so nervous.”

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