Page 121 of Contract of a Billionaire

Buzz. Buzz.

I barely peeled my eyelids open.

“Empty,” I rasped. That was odd. Alessio usually woke me up before he left for work.

Buzz. Buzz.

I finally recognized the vibration. It was my cell phone. Reaching for it on the nightstand, I answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Hello?”

Oh God, it hurt to move my mouth too. Maybe last night’s activities required a lot of practice to build up strength.

A soft snort escaped me.

“Autumn?”

“Yeah?” My brain was too tired to distinguish the voice.

“Why are you snorting?” Loren! That was who the voice belonged to.

“Why are you calling so early?” I asked instead.

“Aren’t you usually an early bird?” he retorted dryly.

“I had a late night. Why are you calling?”

“I got us a flight,” he answered and I shot up into a sitting position, the sheet sliding off my body. A memory, maybe a dream, flickered. Alessio covering me up.

“When?”

“Leaving LaGuardia tonight.”

“Shit,” I muttered. “That means I’d have to leave now. I have to check flights for New York City from Montréal.”

Loren chuckled. “I already did, and I got you a ticket. You have to be at the airport in two hours. I know, you love me.”

“Two hours!” I exclaimed and jumped out of bed. I was butt naked and he expected me to be at the airport in two hours?

Goosebumps broke through my skin. Brrr.

“Get your ass to the Air Canada counter. They’ll have your boarding pass.”

I called my parents. Kol was set. Not that I gave them all the details. I got called on a job and have to fly out right away. Alessio was out but he’d come and get Kol.

I called Branka next. That conversation didn’t go so well.

“I have to get to the airport.” I got straight to business. “Can you take me please?”

I heard her yawn. “Sure thing. When?”

“Like right now.”

“Jesus, talk about notice. Where is this job taking you?”

“Afghanistan.”

“Are you fucking nuts?” she screeched. “And Alessio is okay with it?”