Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
My stomach drops, and a cold sweat falls down the back of my neck. How? How the fuck did they find them? Vince stands before I have a chance to react, and then I feel Maxim’s hand grab my arm to keep me from getting out of the chair. His grip is tight, and I want to shake it off, but I have to stay calm.
“I like your offer. I’ll think about it on the way home.” Jackson stands from the table and the two of them go to leave. But before they walk out the door, Vince turns back to smile at me again. “I’ll be in touch.”
As soon as the door closes behind them, I jump out of my chair so fast that it topples over behind me.
“Fuck!” I scream across the empty diner and kick my fallen chair.
Maxim grabs my shoulders, and I focus on him. “I think I know how we can get her back.”
Chapter Fifteen
KELLY
Marco reaches over and grabs my hand. He mouths the word sorry to me, and I shake my head. This isn't his fault, and that’s the last thing I would ever want him to think. It’s my job to take care of him, and so far I’m not doing so great. This was my mistake. I never should have left Luke’s.
He’ll come for us, I mouth back to Marco and squeeze his hand in reassurance.
He nods, already having so much trust in Luke. He will come, but I wonder where that will leave things. I broke his trust right when it could have been the beginning of something between us. This will ruin any chance we might have had. That is if I don’t get him killed in the process. I fight back tears, not wanting to upset Marco further.
Marco presses his lips together hard, and I can tell he’s still worried. I’m the one that always gets our father’s wrath, so he knows the punishment will fall on me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a female or because I resemble my mother. Either way, there was never a time that I was Daddy’s little girl.
“Boss wants us to head to the house,” Grant tells Stoker while tapping away on his phone. I wonder if he’s seeing double. I peek over at the tiny woman who is toying with the end of her braid. You’d think we were on some leisurely drive.
“No shit,” Stoker mutters, clearly still pissed off.
Grant pulls the sun visor down to inspect the gash on his head. I get a good look at his injury in the mirror, and I’m not upset that there’s blood dripping from it and a knot is forming.
“Little bitch is going to get it.” He slaps the sun visor closed, and I swallow hard.
I’m afraid of what they’re going to do to her, but she doesn’t seem fazed. Either that or she’s very good at hiding it. What kind of life would one live to have that level of calm?
“It’s a lesson, you dipshit. She never should have gotten the drop on you.” Stoker reaches over and pops Grant in the back of the head. “You could have gotten us both killed.”
“You think I could have killed you both?” She perks up, sounding chipper at the compliment.
Stoker glances back her way but doesn’t respond.
“You’re strange,” Marco says, and I can tell he’s keeping a close eye on her. Who knows what she might do next?
“Thanks.” She gives him a big smile, letting those dimples show, and then winks.
“What’s your name?” he whispers to her.
She leans close to tell him. “Rue.”
“Shut the fuck up back there,” Stoker barks, and Rue rolls her eyes.
The SUV falls silent, and with every mile that takes us closer to my father’s, the dread in my stomach grows. I remind myself that no matter what, my father’s bruises fade, but my night with Luke will last a lifetime.
“So who is this boss guy?” Rue inquires. I guess she’s not from around here.
“I’ll gag you,” Stoker barks, and no one has time to answer her before we’re pulling up to my father’s building.
“Kel,” Marco whispers, nodding to where my father’s car is pulling up too.
Both Grant and Stoker get out to open the doors for us, and I get out first. My eyes lock with my father’s, and I see Jackson is right behind him. Lovely. When my father smirks, it catches me off guard.
“Welcome home,” he says and then motions for us to go into the building.
Why is he in a good mood? My heart sinks because this can’t be good. Did he do something to Luke?
“Watch the hands,” Rue yelps as Grant pulls her onto the sidewalk. My father stops walking, making us all pause.
“And what do we have here?” His eyes roam up and down Rue’s body. I don’t know my father’s type, but Rue is petite and extra girly. Barbra on the first floor is the opposite in every way.