Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“There’s a plaza across the street,” she said. “I’ll go up and say hi, then I’ll leave you two alone. Give you some privacy. I should be able to find a nice gift for him in one of the shops.”
“Thanks, Paris. Thanks for driving me and thanks for... everything. You’ve been such a good friend to me.”
She let out a gusty sigh. “There goes that girl crush. Keep it in your pants, de Souza, we’re about to see your boyfriend.”
A few days ago, I would’ve laughed. I wasn’t that person anymore.
As it was, I tried for a smile. It was gone as quickly as it spread across my face.
“Yeah, I know,” she said, side-hugging me. Understanding passed between us, nearly tugging a real smile to my lips. She truly was a good friend.
“He’s on the third floor. Room 312. I hope he is awake and recovering,” I said. “It’s not the same without his Roan-ness around.”
She laughed. We made it to the elevator, stepping inside. “I know exactly what you mean. He can be such a dick, but you still can’t help but like him.”
“Something about someone who is so unapologetically themselves. No masks. No games. No faking. He’s just Roan.”
“Huh. I never thought of it like that, but you’re right.” The elevator dinged on our floor. “I guess you can’t say that about many people. Roan lets the world see all of him—good and bad. Maybe we’re the dicks for always walking around pretending.”
I inclined my head. People like Zoey and Cavendish would’ve saved the world a lot of trouble if they revealed their evil and got locked up in a facility where they belonged.
Roan’s room loomed ahead of us. We went in, interrupting a conversation between Legend and Josephine Banks.
“Rainey. Paris.” Dean Banks stood and hugged both of us. Over her shoulder, I locked eyes with an alert and watchful Roan. “Thank you for coming.”
“Is now a good time to visit?” Paris asked.
“Of course it is. The doctor says he’ll be here for a few more days, but look at him.” Josephine went over and smooched her son’s cheek. “He’s getting stronger every day.”
“Hey, Roan,” I said.
“De Souza.” His voice was little more than a thin rasp. The third in our Legend-Roan-Me sandwich looked like a limp and battered piece of lettuce. Faded bruises covered every part of him I could see. His chest and head were bandaged, and the pillows held him up more than he held himself. But he was awake, and watching me with piercing eyes.
Legend told him everything.
“I thought there’d be security on the door,” I spoke up, just for something to say.
“I sent them to grab a bite to eat,” Josephine explained. “We’re here. No one’s getting to my boy.”
“I’m so spoiled,” Roan said, that ever-present smirk hanging on his lips. “They’ve got the nurses giving me sponge baths with gold-flecked soap. Carrying me to tests on a cushioned litter.”
“They call that a gurney.”
The smirk widened. “Yeah, it’s still her.”
I broke his gaze, knowing what he meant.
Paris claimed Legend’s seat. I hung back while they talked. Suddenly, everything I came there to say went out of my head.
Legend moved to my side. His shoulder brushed mine leaning against the wall. “What happened with Cairo’s dad?” he asked under his breath.
“Did you talk to him?”
“He’s not answering his phone.”
I flicked to Josephine. I didn’t let my voice carry. “Sheriff Sharpe was taken. We found a black letter on his doorstep last night. They said they’re keeping him until the Bedlam Boys get rid of Ellis and Foundry for good. The letter was signed by Dante.”
The lines around his mouth hardened. “How? When?”
“We don’t know. It was two a.m. before we gave up waiting. We didn’t see anyone deliver the letter, but Davidson works with him. It would’ve been all too easy to invite the sheriff for some after-work beers and then...”
Legend nodded, following my thoughts to the natural conclusion. “Where did Cairo go after?”
I just shook my head.
“This isn’t good. They’ve got us running around, chasing after shadows. And those shadows are giving us orders like we fucking work for them.”
“The letter mentioned that. They took the sheriff so you’d get over your hang-ups about taking orders. They won’t give him up unless we do what they say.”
“Do you care?”
“No,” I said flatly. I didn’t pause to think about it. “They can do whatever the hell they want with Sheriff Jack Sharpe. But I would care if they don’t stop there. I believed I didn’t have anyone left to care about, but... Rainey... made friends.
“Frankie, Paris, you guys. You were there for me while I was lost. I’ll do what it takes to drive Foundry out, because Ellis has it coming anyway. He’s behind AgriProspects and what Clein did to Gran. While we’re bringing him down, we’ll take the others from my old group down with him.”