Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
The moment I saw Maven, my heart felt like it loosened in my chest.
I knew this day was going to be tough for her. I semi-hated myself for taking her advice and going to work. She’d assured me that she would be fine, but the paleness of her face, and the way her eyes were rimmed with red, let me know she was anything but.
I walked into the room, not sparing anyone a glance, and went straight to Maven.
She shot out of her chair upon seeing me, throwing her arms around my shoulders.
I picked her up and walked right out of the room with her.
Since I didn’t know the ins and outs of the station yet, I took her into the next room over, which also happened to be a conference room, though on a much larger scale.
I kicked the door closed with a foot, then slid down to the floor with her still in my arms.
Her silent tears started to leak down the length of my neck, under my shirt, and into my body armor.
I didn’t care.
“Shhh,” I whispered. “You’re okay.”
She sniffled against my neck and whispered, “They never stopped searching for me. That’s why they died. They were in a different country because they were following leads that their private investigator fed them.”
I squeezed her tighter and said, “You were loved, baby.”
She shivered. “I don’t even know who they are.”
I reached down and smoothed her hair back from her face, urging her to look at me.
She did, her eyes watery with tears.
Just the sight sent a pang of anger into my heart.
Goddamn Brock Austin.
I hoped he rotted in hell for what he’d done.
“You have siblings,” I whispered.
She sniffled. “I do.”
“And you have Dorsey,” I continued. “And Athena. And me.”
She shuddered.
“I don’t want to condone what he did to you. I fucking hate him for it. I’d take away this part of your life if I could. But I can’t regret getting you in the end.”
Her lips wobbled. “Will you come with me to meet them?”
I was already nodding. “Of course I will.”
“They’re on a plane now with Dorsey,” she whispered. “I messaged Dorsey, and she went over there and broke the news to my family about me. Dorsey also told me that she’s moving there. How unreal is that? She met a guy and she really likes him, and since she has nothing left here, she’s going to stay.”
I flashed her a grin. “Looks like you two move fast. I kept you, too.”
She let out a watery laugh. “I am moving into my apartment this weekend, remember? You can only keep me for a few more days.”
“We’ll see,” I teased. “We’ll see.”
She threw herself back into my arms, squeezing my neck tight.
After a few long minutes she said, “You’re kind of uncomfortable with all the equipment on.”
My lips turned up at the edges. “I guess I could’ve taken everything off. But I was a little bit desperate to get to you.”
She pressed a kiss to my neck, and I had to fight the need that swelled inside my body at the chaste move.
“They sent a couple of FBI agents to DPD today,” she whispered. “They were supposed to be there about forty-minutes ago.”
That was news to me.
But it might’ve explained the hundreds of texts I could feel coming in on my phone while I’d been assisting with that last traffic stop.
Since none of them had been Maven or my parents, I hadn’t checked them afterward.
Now I kind of wished I had.
“Hold on,” I said as I pulled my phone out. “I got a ton of messages a while ago.”
Keying up the first few texts, I saw that a lot of videos had started coming my way.
A couple from SWAT team members. Even more from people I’d worked with and formed a relationship with over the years.
The one I clicked on, though, was the one from Assman.
The video showed him right outside the chief’s office.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Chief Austin bellowed.
“You are being arrested for the kidnapping of Marina Semyonov,” one of the FBI agents said. “Or, better known to you now as Maven Brumfield.”
There were a ton of gasps from multiple people that could be heard, but not seen.
“That’s preposterous!” Chief Austin snarled. “I didn’t kidnap my own child!”
“DNA tests have proven she’s not yours. She’s the little girl who went missing from Gatlinburg, Tennessee while on vacation with her family,” the other FBI agent said. “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and…”
I flicked the video off, and inwardly laughed at just how red the chief’s face had gotten.
“Wow,” she breathed. “I don’t even know what to say.”
Another text came through on top of the others. This one from an unknown number.
Unknown Number:
you’re going to fucking die.
“Ten bucks says that’s Scott,” she grumbled.