Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“He was. Thanks to you and Lemon, I got to reconnect with him.” I shook my head, emotion clogging my throat. “I missed out on the last fifteen years.”
“Your father was so proud of you.” Lemon reached out and put her hand over mine and Rocket’s. “You got to be with him these last few weeks. You got to introduce me to him. Evelyn and Luke and Aneshya got to have you in their lives. All of them love you, Knox.”
I snorted. “Never pegged you as the mushy type, Lemon. I can’t wait to tell Falcon. He’s gonna eat this shit up.”
She scowled, but the corner of her lips tugged up. “I take it back. You are a dumbass.”
Rocket chuckled, squeezing my hand tightly once before letting go. “You have a cage and a trailer here?”
“Yes. I used the trailer to move furniture here right after the fire.” I shrugged. “I intended to bring everyone back to the compound. I was just trying to get Dad to agree to come with us. His only objection was leaving Danny alone.”
“A father is a father,” Rocket said. “He knew you could take care of yourself and Evelyn and her kids. Danny had no one other than your dad.”
“Knox?” I turned to see Evelyn standing on the porch just outside the door. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, honey. At least, it will be.” I climbed the three steps up to the porch and pulled her into my arms. “Would you mind going back inside? I’ll have some things to discuss with you and the kids in a minute.”
“That’s Danny,” she said, not answering my question. “Is he dead?” She looked up at me, her eyes wide but not accusing.
“No.”
“Why is he on the ground, bleeding?” Again, she didn’t sound accusing or suspicious, just curious.
I sighed. I didn’t want to tell her what I suspected. The facts were much cleaner. If my suspicions proved right, I’d figure out a way to tell her then. “Honey, I don’t know the particulars, but we’re gonna find out.”
“Don’t believe anything these people say, Evie.” Danny had shaken off the blows to the head and was now trying to get Evelyn’s attention. He yelled his order to her, and Evelyn’s gaze found him. “I came here for you. I was afraid you’d been hurt. You might think Denver cares about you, but he doesn’t care about anyone. He left us without a backward glance. You don’t think he’ll do that to you and the kids too? Me and Dad are immediate family. Do you honestly think he’ll stay with you when he wouldn’t stay with us?”
“Why would you think I’d been hurt?” Evelyn didn’t show any emotion, her face blank. I could see the truth in her eyes, though. She knew something was up, she just didn’t know what.
“Because there were gunshots. People heard.”
“There aren’t any neighbors around. No one called the police, or if they did, they didn’t show up. It’s only been a few minutes since it happened. How’d you know about this so quickly?” Yeah. She was thinking the same thing I was.
“I’m the father of your children. We’ve been together for thirteen years! That has to count for something.”
“I thought it did.” Her voice was soft, and I felt her tremble where she leaned into me. “You’ve been with your wife for fifteen years. At least, that’s how long you’ve been married. I assume you’ve actually been together longer. Does that mean something to you too?”
“It’s over between me and Jordan. I told her I love you and my children.”
Evelyn studied him for several seconds, then shook her head. “You’re lying, Danny.”
“Evelyn.” Danny gave her a look like he thought she was confused. “You don’t know these people. Not really. We have a long history together. I know we have some issues to work through, but we’ve been together a long time. You know me.”
“Yeah, Danny. I know you. That’s the whole problem.” Evelyn lifted her head to me. “I trust you, Knox. Whatever you tell me, I’ll believe.”
“Will you come with me back to the Grim Road compound? It’s a secret place, and we’ll have to figure out some things for the kids, but we’re already working on a system of homeschooling.”
“We can’t leave?”
“I’ll explain it all to you, and I’ll admit it’s still a fluid situation, but there is a reason Grim Road is secret. The same reason I let my family believe I was dead. You won’t be prisoners, but there are some rules you’ll need to follow about coming and going. Will you trust me?”
“I trusted your father more than any other person in my life. He made it abundantly clear he wanted you and me together. Whatever I have to do to honor his last wishes, I’ll do as long as you promise you’ll make sure my kids are safe and have everything they need.”