Double Vision (Unknown Identities #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that chair, it would be years before she lived this down. They'd call her gullible, treat her like an imbecile. Scold her for not finding a way to verify the situation.
    Embarrassing as it would be, Selena knew she preferred that scenario over the idea that Renata was suffering.
    When the lock gave, Selena slipped inside and leaned back against the doo r to catch her breath before the alarm system started beeping at her. But it never started. "Great. You forgot to arm it." A smart woman would turn back now and call in the police or her family for back up and to hell with consequences.
    If it had just been her life or livelihood on the line, she might have done just that. But Galloway was right. She wasn't ready to risk Renata's life by taking that chance.
    The bastard held all the cards in this game.
    " We are going to discuss your taste in men when this is over," Selena whispered into the dark.
    It really didn't matter how or when Renata had met up with Galloway. Now Selena was on the hook now and one specific Rolex was the toll.
    She thought of the doorman and the concierge at the desk, both of whom knew her by name and knew she had a key. If anything went wrong between here and her showroom with that Rolex, she'd be lucky if she wasn't pacing the perimeter of a holding cell on Christmas morning.
    Whether in Italy or the States, the Vaccaro family did holidays big with church, food, and more togetherness than most people could tolerate. Uncle Torry headed up the American branch of the family tree and she could just picture his face if he had to bail her out of jail. On Christmas.
    It would be comical – if this had been something as simple as a hypothetical situation.
    "Think positive." Renata was out of town and Selena was keeping an eye on things. It was a solid story, the one she would stick with no matter what happened.
    A nd a friend keeping an eye on things wouldn't skulk about in the dark, she thought, reaching for the light switch. No point in trying to hide her presence. Not after coming in the front door and chatting up the doorman. Hell, she'd visited often enough her prints were probably all over the place. Maybe that would work in her favor.
    She flipped the switch on the panel, but n othing happened. In the dark, she swiped her sweaty palm on her jeans and tried again, flipping the switch off and back on again.
    Great. Well, who was she to argue with Fate? The lights had been on in the lobby. The elevator had power. Selena sighed. Renata probably forgot to pay the bill before she jetted off to Madrid.
    No big deal. Selena knew her way around the apartment. Because Renata was in the middle of redecorating, the windows were open, and the lights of nearby buildings filtered in, painting the room in a soft light full of shadows.
    A tall narrow Christmas tree stood in the corner between the windows. Selena shivered. They'd decorated it two weeks ago, killing a bottle of wine in the process. Before Madrid changed Renata's plans. Selena swallowed. Before Galloway stormed in making crazy accusations about break ups and expensive jewelry.
    Unlit, the tree looked eerie now, a lmost menacing. Holidays were meant to be festive and happy.
    "And too many will be ruined if you don't hurry it up," she whispered, thinking of Renata's immediate family and all of the extended family here and abroad who would mourn her.
    This whole mess boiled down to choosing the lesser of two evils.
    His voice, full of blatant menace this morning, echoed in her mind as she moved down the dark hall toward the bedroom.
    She couldn't imagine why one watch mattered so much to him. Jeremy Galloway had walked into her showroom with Renata almost six months ago in a classic, hand-tailored suit oozing polish, charm, and wealth. Hard as she tried, she could not remember him wearing a Rolex.
    As a couple they looked perfect together, but so many men looked better next to Renata's style and sensual beauty. From Selena's perspective, the new relationship