Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“They have Harper. Justin.” There were deep sobs in her voice, but she was holding them back. “Claudia will probably rip them apart, but Harper. Not Harper.”
“I know.” I moved in, my hands closing around her arms. I just needed to touch her, but I made a point not to make her feel like I was closing her in. I was learning or it was cementing she had an issue with that. “But I gotta go do what you’ve been getting all those warnings about me, with what we do. I need you safe, and baby, how your head is, you would not be safe with me.”
She let out a growl. “Goddammit, Shane.”
“I know.” I motioned to Granddad. “He’s going to stay with you while we go.” To him, I said, “I’d be worried about the both of you here. We got guys in Frisco. I’d feel better if the both of you were there.”
Granddad tightened his mouth, taking in his place, the big ring of smoke rising up from his place. “Yeah. There ain’t much more I can do right now. Fire and police will probably be heading here, and to tell you the truth, I’ve got no interest in being here when they are. I feel a certain way about police.”
It was decided. “Granddad, pack a bag. You got five minutes. I’ll have you drive the truck, you and Kali.”
He took off limping back to his place, wiping his face again with his shirt.
Roadie yelled, “Got ’em! We know where they are.”
Thank Christ.
I shared a look with Boise before saying, “We need guys on them now, watching, following.”
“I’ll do it.”
I gave him a nod and he took off, going for his bike.
Kali motioned for the truck. “I’m going to wait here.”
I went over, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Means a lot, you being okay with going with Granddad.”
She glared up at me. “Don’t get comfortable. It’s cause I got a damn concussion.”
I grinned, needing a taste of my woman. She was like heaven, just like always.
“I’d expect nothing less.”
We rolled out five minutes later.
38
KALI
I tried calling Aly later that day.
Shane took off as soon as we got to this place. It was The Bonfire bar in Frisco, where I’d first been scared just to stop at. Needed to take that back because here I was, getting comfortable like this was going to be a temporary home. I shuddered at that thought, hoping it wouldn’t happen. I’d go crazy, but who knew how long Shane would be gone.
We were put in a back bedroom. Shane said to let anyone know who might ask that I was his old lady. I gave him a look, but I knew what that meant and knew it’d keep anyone off my back.
As soon as we got here, I lay down, but now I was restless.
Shane was out there.
Aly was… I had no clue. She wouldn’t take my call.
Justin. Harper. God. I held off on another shudder because they had to be okay. Had to be. If they weren’t… I couldn’t finish that thought.
And Claudia. I mean, I was more scared for the kidnappers in her case.
“Hey.”
I’d wandered outside to the street, and went down a little to sit on a bench. This place was a ghost town, or just about, and they had four prospects guarding the front door. I thought going thirty yards away would be okay. Shelly thought the same. She was coming my way. Dressed in long sleeves, she had the ends pulled down over her hands and stepped up from where the front of The Bonfire switched to the front of this store. It was a small diner, but it was closed. They had better upkeep. The benches in front of The Bonfire were nonexistent. It looked like what an old watering shed might look like in an old western movie, with low bearing shafts on top and posts out front as if in the old days they’d tie their horses to them. All that was missing was the actual watering tubs for the horses. There was none of that here. The place behind me was all windows. No awnings overlooking. No posts. Nothing. Just a couple benches and now I had company as Shelly sat down beside me.
She added, “See you got pulled in for the second round, huh?” She glanced to my phone. “You making a call? They usually try to keep that down to a minimum.”
“It’s to my friend. I think she’s on lockdown like me so I thought she might be okay. Besides,” I motioned to the bar thirty yards away. “The bad guys know about this place.”
“That’s true.” She laughed, but the sound was half empty.
I texted Aly instead.
Me: Hey, it’s Kali. I got a new phone… and now realizing you probably did too.