Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
I know I’m full of a lot of emotions right now, which doesn’t help.
I try to focus on moving forward.
It’s all I can do.
The door opens just as I sit down with a coffee and pastry, and Western comes in. He’s got his phone in his hand, and he’s talking to someone. When he notices me awake, he ends the call and walks over, stopping in front of me. His eyes scan my face, and I have so many things I want to say to him, to let him know just how much his support meant to me, but nothing comes out. All I can do is stare up at him and give him a small smile.
“You’re lookin’ better.”
I nod. “I feel a little better.”
He pulls a chair out, dragging it in front of me where he sits down. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, his eyes locked onto mine. “How long did you know?”
I swallow the painful lump in my throat. “I had only just found out. I was coming to tell you when Bill got hold of me...”
He processes this.
“Did you want it?”
My bottom lip trembles, and I look down at the pastry in my hand.
“Bonnie, look at me,” Western orders, lifting my chin. “Did you want it?”
“Yes,” I croak.
His fingers release my chin and slide up the side of my face. “Then one day soon, you’ll have it. But not until you’re safe.”
What does that mean?
What does any of this mean?
I can’t process it right now.
“I want to thank you for what you did. For being there for me.”
He nods.
“Do you know what we’re going to do about Bill?” I ask, desperately needing to change the subject.
“We’re changin’ plans. I don’t want him goin’ to prison, I want him six feet under.”
Oh.
“You’re going to kill him?”
“No, the man he works for is goin’ to kill him. Bill is goin’ to fuck up in a big way, and when he does, he’ll be removed.”
I don’t understand.
“How can Bill possibly do that?”
“We have a plan, you don’t need to worry about it. All I can say is, Bill will be caught out and the whole thing will blow wide fuckin’ open.”
“He already suspects that you are onto him, if I suddenly disappear he’ll know that he has been exposed and he won’t make any mistakes.”
“Bonnie,” Western orders, leaning forward. “You gotta trust me.”
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.
The problem is...I don’t know if I do.
He might crack this wide open and have Bill removed, but all that’ll do is open things up for him and the club.
I have to ask.
I have to.
I can’t keep in inside any longer.
I open my eyes and look him dead in his. “I’m going to ask you something, and I’m begging you to be honest with me. If this,” I point between the two of us, “means anything to you at all, then you’ll tell me the truth.”
His eyes darken, a guard automatically coming up, but he nods for me to proceed.
“I got information that you’re involved with the foster kids going missing, that you’re in on it and Bill is trying to bring you down because it’s too big of a risk. I saw a photo...a photo of you with one of the boys. So, I’m going to ask you once, Western, are you selling those kids?”
His eyes don’t show a single hint of emotion. Not shock, not anger, not guilt...nothing. That’s the problem with Western, it’s incredibly hard to read him because he’s as stony faced as they come. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.
“No.”
His response is simple, straight forward, and yet leaves me with so many follow up questions.
“Then why was there a photo of you with one of the boys?”
“Wrong place. Wrong time.”
Do I trust him?
Do I give him the benefit of the doubt?
I don’t know how to tell if he’s lying or if he’s telling the truth.
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“No.”
His voice stays the same tone, his eyes never once leave mine.
I have two choices right now – the first is that I don’t believe him and I keep digging, risking my life, and the second is that I do believe him, let this go and let him finish this for us once and for all.
The second choice makes my heart feel a whole lot fuller. It means I can move on with him, create a life with him, and finally be safe again. But can I truly let the lingering thoughts in the back of my head go...the ones that are always wondering if he’s telling me the truth. I guess I have to decide if I trust him, or if I don’t. After the way he was with me the last day, I am finding it hard not to feel those floods of emotions when it comes to him once more.