Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

"Nita? Nita, are you still there?" Effie called into her phone several times, but Nita's voice never came back.

Her grandmother looked over, concern creasing her face. "Effie, what's wrong?"

"Nita dropped her phone-I'm going to look for her, see what happened," Effie replied, grabbing her jacket.

Her grandmother cautioned, "Be careful. If anything feels off, get out of there right away."

Effie chuckled as she pulled on her shoes. "So you're telling me to act like a scared little turtle and hide if there's trouble?"

Her grandmother shot her a look, lips twitching at the corners. "Better to be called a coward than to end up hurt. Nothing is more important than your life."

"Fair point. After all these years under your influence, I must've inherited your survivor's instincts. I'm all about self-preservation," Effie teased.

Her grandmother couldn't help but laugh, giving Effie a playful nudge. "You and that smart mouth of yours."

Effie grinned and called back, “I'll be back before you know it, Grandma." "Alright, take care."

door clicked shut, her grandmother's smile faded. She fumbled for her glasses,

the road long

a glimpse of movement in the mirror and tensed—until Vinson rolled down his window, flashing a wide, reassuring grin.

and greeted her, "Hey Effie, fancy running into you out here! Where are you

didn't bother with pleasantries. "You two aren't fooling anyone. What

"We're just following orders. Lyman told us to keep an

Nita. As soon as I find

the smile from Vinson's face. "She got herself mixed up in

was out looking

a manager

worked up? Do you have a thing for her

me

"Get your mind out of the

If something happens to her,

smirked. "Shouldn't you be happy to have someone so