Blood Price (The Blankenships Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

didn’t have to worry about the details that the rest of the world had to consider, like making meals or grocery shopping or picking out their own clothing. Or paying rent, for that matter. It would be easy to be resentful of the differences between her life and Alex’s, she thought to herself. It would be easy to regret the choices she was making now, and let them come between the two of them. Because what did she really have to offer him that he couldn’t find in a dozen other women? Two dozen. All of whom would look better in society, and be more accustomed to this life, and who wouldn’t irritate the housekeeper by trying to wash her own dishes.
     
    She pushed away the gloomy thoughts, telling herself that they were just part of the nightmare he’d woken her from, and followed him down to the car. Once they’d settled, he rolled up the screen that separated them from David, and glanced at her. “If it’s private,” he said, “I’m happy to put in headphones or something.”
     
    “No, it’s fine,” she said, as she tapped in Helen’s phone number.
     
    Helen answered on the third ring, her voice muzzy. “Luv, you’re amazing, but if this isn’t due to either a spectacular breakup or a wedding proposal, I reserve the right to hang up on you.”
     
    “Neither, but don’t hang up,” Zoey replied quickly. She knew Helen well enough to know the woman wasn’t kidding. “I need your help.”
     
    “Give me a second,” Helen said, and the phone made a soft sound, like fabric brushing over the mic. There was a long wait, a sound of water running, and then Helen was back, sounding marginally more awake. “What can I do for you at one in the fucking morning?”
     
    “The cops have the drive,” Zoey said, quickly. She felt Alex’s eyes focused on her, and kept herself from looking at him. “I know they’ve accessed it, because they tried to question us about our connection to it. Alex’s lawyers stopped them, and we’re safe, but—”
     
    “But you need to know what’s on the drive. Because of the kids.”
     
    “Exactly.”
     
    There was a long pause, and then Helen said, “You know I can’t help you with that. My career would be at stake if I accidentally exposed my sources within the police department.”
     
    “I know,” Zoey said. “And I certainly wouldn’t ask you to do anything to jeopardize your career. I just needed you to know what had happened, after we talked the other day.”
     
    “Thanks for keeping me in the loop,” Helen said. “How’re things with your man? You make up with him?”
     
    Zoey felt her cheeks flush bright red. “Yeah, you could say that.”
     
    “Excellent,” Helen said. “I’m going back to bed. Lunch tomorrow so you can tell me all about how he bent you over the foot board?”
     
    “More like I bent him,” she said, and she felt Alex’s gaze on her grow more heated. She fought back the smile that wanted to creep onto her lips. “And I can’t. We’re going to London.”
     
    “Oy oy,” Helen laughed, her accent as sharp as Zoey had ever heard it, “Me old stompin grounds. Tell the boys and girls that Hellion says ta.”
     
    “Will do, sha,” Zoey said, and they disconnected.
     
    “She can’t help?” Alex asked.
     
    “What? Of course she will.” She rolled her eyes at him and grinned.
     
    Alex studied her for a moment, and then smiled himself. “Clever.” He reached out a hand to her. She took it, and let him pull her into his embrace, tucking her under his arm. She had to scooch down a little to fit, but having their heights so close worked out well when they were in bed, so she had found that she didn’t mind. “Question for you,” Alex said, his hand reaching down to tug at the waistband of her jeans. “Did you pick these, or did Sophia?”
     
    “Sophia, I guess,” Zoey said. “They were what was laid out, and you seemed like you were in a rush, so I didn’t want to go digging around. I’m honestly not sure