Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“What?” I gasp, trying to understand what he’s saying.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, asshole.” June doesn’t miss a beat. Either she doesn't believe my brother, or she already knows.
“They hired Jackson?” I ask, wanting to be clear.
“They did,” Luka says.
“And that’s why you’re here?”
“He’s not taking you anywhere.” June tries to wiggle her way back into our conversation. “In fact, we’re leaving.” She hooks her arm through mine.
“I am not here to return you to our parents. I’m here to get you out of this mess.”
“Really?” I remove my arm from June's.
“Don’t trust him.” She grabs it back.
“I think it might be best if we get out of here, Paisley.” My brother checks his watch, touching the screen a few times. “Before Jackson gets here.”
Luka wants me to leave. To just go with him. Can I do that? Without talking to Jackson? I don’t have much of a choice to believe anything other than Jackson has been working for my parents. It makes sense. An ache forms in the center of my chest at the thought. Tears are burning in my eyes, but I hold them back. How could I have been so damn dumb and naïve?
“I told you, she’s not going anywhere with you.” June’s voice is getting louder now.
“Don’t worry, June.” My brother's eyes narrow on her. “I’m not done with you yet. I’ll be back to clean up.” He turns his gaze back toward me. “After I get you out of here. They aren’t the only ones looking for you.”
“Not done with me? Who the hell does he think he is?” June mutters. “Maybe I’m not done with you.”
“Is it Bentley?” I wrap my arms around myself. Thinking about him makes me uncomfortable. Tigger meows, sensing my distress.
"That, and there are other things that might need to be handled.”
“Bentley? The loser you’re supposed to marry?”
“I was never going to marry him,” I say defensively. “What other things?”
“Pais.” My brother holds his hand out. I can’t remember the last time he called me that. “We need to get out of here. I’ll explain more once we’re on the move.” I may not have been close to Luka growing up, but I know he would never do anything to hurt me.
“You’re not taking her.” June tries to smack his outstretched hand, but Luka manages to snag her around the wrist. He yanks her forward. Her body collides with his.
“Then you can come along for the ride.”
“Fine,” she hisses.
“Maybe I should call someone?” Dr. Baxter says, but it comes out like he is asking if he can.
“Do whatever you wish,” my brother responds, not letting go of June’s wrist. She doesn’t fight him.
“Luka!” I follow after them. “I’ll go with you. Don’t kidnap June.”
“It’s not kidnapping." He stops walking. “Stay or go?”
“Go! You’re not taking my best friend.”
“Best friend? One you’ve been lying to,” my brother responds as he starts to walk again.
“It’s not like that. I swear.” June gives me a pleading expression. I’m not sure what to think. In fact, I keep quiet as we all get into a waiting SUV. June doesn’t. “The hell are we going?”
“Fort Brígh.” My brother pulls out his phone. I’m sitting between the two of them in the back seat.
“The Army base?”
“Is there another Fort Brígh around here?” Luka answers dryly.
“Why are we going to an Army base?” June grits out between her teeth. She’s about to lose it. Her cheeks are all rosy again. I wish I could be as mad as her. I don’t know what I feel right now. All I can think about is Jackson. I don’t understand.
“It’s where my plane is.”
“Your plane!” June and I both say at the same time.
“How is your plane on an Army base?” June gapes at him. That’s what I was wondering. I’m not shocked he has a plane. Just the location of it at this moment.
“I have friends in high places.” Luka smirks.
“That so?” June smirks right back. “I don’t think you’re as smart as you think you are.”
I know that smile. June knows something. Then again, she always does.
23
JACKSON
“Maybe I should have taken him to the hospital.” Sheriff Lee scratches his beard. Bentley Bloomberg is out cold. He’ll come around.
I hadn’t hit him that hard. Little shit went down like a house of cards. I was going to see the same to be true about the rest of his life. After what we found on him, there was no going back for this fucker. I not only had him by the balls but his family name by the throat. They’ll play along real nice if they want to keep things locked up tightly.
“He’ll be fine. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.” He is also lucky Lee has him behind bars in a cell where I now can’t reach him.