Resist (18 page)

“Hello?” I answered in a low voice.

“Ms. Janssen? It’s Detective Laurie Hudson. Remember me?” she said in her strong New York accent

“How could I forget? I suppose there’s a reason why you’re calling me?” I said and tried to keep my voice neutral but I could hear the frost enter before I was fully aware.

“Yes, I am. It turns out Brigitte Lang died from a hot dose,” she said, pausing for emphasis. “You can tell your boyfriend that we won’t need him back just yet but he should keep a suitcase packed.”

“I’m sorry? A hot dose?”

“You know? Drugs? When someone is given an overdose? Problem is she didn’t administer it from where the needle mark is located. Someone else gave it to her . . . while she was passed out. She already had a lot of drugs in her system . . . more than enough marijuana and cocaine along with ecstasy to have killed the average person. Then someone tried to send her into the other direction . . . you know, a kind of do-it-yourself adrenaline kit. Only they gave her heroin instead. She died from the heroin . . .”

“Okay. Blaine and I hadn’t seen her since earlier that day though. So why are you badgering me or my boyfriend, Detective?”

“I’m not badgering you because of Blaine, honey. I know you’re close to the other one too. Zed. He spoke of you in a very flattering tone, my dear. You let him know if we have him in the window when she died and he has no alibi, he should pack a bag and head back here.”

“Fine. I’ll let him know.”

“Have a good evening, Ms. Janssen.”

“You too, Ms. Hudson.” I ended the call and paced back and forth.

I could have called Blaine but I wouldn’t ruin his evening too.

“Everything all right, darlin’? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Chardonnay said in a deep Mancunian accent.

I hadn’t realized she’d entered the kitchen while Zola had left.

“I’m fine but thanks for asking.” I smiled and grabbed the extra bottle of Cristal as we walked into the living room and sat down next to one another.

Soon, Sasha cracked a joke and had me laughing again. My phone pinged, alerting me to a text message and I grabbed it. After I typed in my code on my phone, I clicked on the text symbol and read:

Unidentified Caller: How well do you know your lover?

My smile disappeared. Was this a fucking joke? Hijinks from Detective Hudson?

The message, so utterly cryptic, had yet again enforced the feeling not only did someone wish me harm but now, I was in the line of sight of someone who could not only hurt me but Blaine and everyone else I was connected to. The thought sent chills down my spine.

Although I didn’t want to, I stood. “Excuse me, ladies. Carry on, I just have to make a quick phone call.”

“Take your time, chica!” Zola exclaimed.

I lifted the phone and voice dialed Blaine as soon as I walked outside and closed the French doors to the balcony area.

“Babe, what’s going on? Are ‘the bitches’ driving you crazy yet?” he questioned good-naturedly.

“No. Everything is fine,” I replied quickly. “Listen, um . . . when you get home, we have to talk.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m scared, Blaine. Not of anything you’ve done but . . . we need to discuss preemptive measures.”

“No, we don’t. I got a call from Detective Hudson too. What she’s doing is borderline harassment. First thing in the morning, I’m calling Mom and Dad and then I will also be calling the family attorney. I didn’t want to involve him but since everyone is playing so dirty, looks like we’ll have to fight fire with fire.”

“Okay. Love you and enjoy your evening.”

“Love you, too. Bye.”

Holy crap!

In the middle of my crisis, why was the only issue on my mind the fact the man whom I desired so much had admitted to loving me?

Maybe because I knew we were going to have to prepare for problems that would have nothing at all to do with the state of our relationship. This wasn’t the end to the tragedies the Pascal-Baasch family continued to suffer. We were in for a whole new round of violence and bloodshed.

Unfortunately with me being so close to Blaine, I was right in the middle of it and whoever was doing this knew they had me game, set, match.

The next move I made would be mine alone; I refused to go anywhere so if they wanted me, they would have to go through Blaine and that terrified me more than I could ever express.

Vie & Blaine’s story continues in

Tempt (Break Her #2)

Premiering December of 2014

About The Author

Blanche Hardin is a pseudonym for an international best selling author of romance and erotica sold under contemporary, suspense, paranormal and New Adult.

Her books focus on the darker side of love, lust, sex and romance. She lives in the Southwest with her children.

Keep up to date with Ms. Hardin’s work the following ways:

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