Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Sonia closed the doors as quietly as possible. “Someone’s here,” she whispered. “I don’t think it’s Kai. Whatever you do, stay in this room. You’re on the upper floor and protected here. I’m going to take a look around.” She pulled out her cell phone. “I programmed Bastien’s number into my cell when he left his card the other day. I’m texting him to step on it, that there’s possible trouble.”
“How do you know? I didn’t hear anything.”
“I have excellent hearing, and I’m used to living here in the swamp. I know every noise possible. Just hang in here. I’ll be right back.”
Molly caught her arm. “Blake is sick. He’ll look charming and sweet, but if it’s him, he’s really mean.”
She was willing to face mean for her friend. She also knew Kai would be there any minute and she had Joshua. She texted him as well. Possible trouble. Can you come? Might have weapons. She would never have done that if it had been Sasha or his father. In that moment, she made up her mind, Joshua wasn’t getting anywhere near the mob. She could see the stark terror on Molly’s face and guilt in her eyes that Sonia might be facing Blake instead of her. She wasn’t going to feel the same way. She was never going to put Joshua in harm’s way. His bodyguards had to go after this. If Sasha or his father killed either man, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
“I have to go check the house. It’s locked, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t get in. I’m just going to check. You stay here and wait for me.”
“Do you have a gun?”
“Yes.” She said it firmly. “I’m giving you my Glock. Have you used one?” She’d practiced until she was a very good shot.
“You might need it.” Molly sank down onto the bed, the gun in her lap.
Sonia also could use a knife, and she pushed her favorite down into her boot. Without looking at Molly, she hurried out of the room, using her lightest step, knowing the house creaked. Certain floorboards would give her away if she stepped on them, so she was careful to avoid them.
She crept down the stairs, wishing it was dark out. The lighting in the house was dim, but she could see everything easily, which meant so could an intruder. When she moved to the archway leading to the great room, she saw a man seated in her best armchair. High back, wide seat and low, padded arms, the chair had been on sale. Even with the sale, it had been pricey, but she’d fallen in love.
She stepped into the room. “That’s my chair you’re sitting in.”
The man turned his head to look at her, but he didn’t get up. He wore a suit like he was born in it. He could easily have stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. His hair was short without one strand out of place. His shoes gleamed, Italian leather if she wasn’t mistaken. He looked her up and down, his face a mask of utter contempt.
She wasn’t tall and beautiful like Molly. That was his preference. He wanted his woman to be fashionably thin. She wasn’t and never would be. She knew he wanted her to feel small and ugly and ashamed. He was handsome and knew it.
“I’d like you to leave my house. I’ve called the police.”
“That won’t do you any good,” Blake Garritson said. “It’s best if you call Molly down before there’s trouble.”
“There’s already trouble.” Sonia stepped out of the archway and moved to her left, putting her back to the wall. She doubted if anyone could sneak up behind her, but she didn’t want to give them the opportunity.
Gatita, make certain to listen for anyone on the stairs. Tell me when you know Joshua or Kai is here.
There are five more of them. They are outside the house. One is trying to climb the tree outside in the back.
Her heart jumped. Of course a human could climb those trees. The trees were big and sturdy, the branches wide to accommodate a leopard.
I could kill this one.
Then humans would hunt you forever. If necessary that’s what we’ll do, but only if we have no other choice.
She waited, locking eyes with the intruder. He sat in her chair as if he owned the place. She knew he thought it shabby. He would have razed the house, torn it to the ground. He would never see the beauty of the old architecture.
“I don’t understand Molly’s choice of friends. She has such poor taste,” he said, shaking his head slowly as if he really were puzzled. “Fat, ugly women living in falling-down old mansions, pretending to be women of means. She’s sunken to new lows.”
She didn’t even wince. She might not be beautiful, but she wasn’t fat or ugly. She knew that. She was attractive enough that everywhere she went, men sat up and took notice. His opinion wasn’t going to make her sit down and cry. She did, however, need to stall him.