Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“I want to believe you,” she said, her voice tremulous.
“Don’t be a fool.” His father hissed the words. “You have one weakness. I didn’t invest years in you to watch you blow it over a boy. Can’t you see this is all your fault? You spend all your time thinking about this idiot. You couldn’t see that the woman you were trying to recruit was bait, Julia. Your brother sent her out as bait, and you took it.”
“Hey, let her go, Jules.” Drake used his sister’s name from childhood. “Let her go and you can walk away.”
“I’ll go with you,” Kyle promised.
“Who is she?” Julia asked. “She’s not who I thought she was.”
“I think she’s Lev’s girl,” his father said, still hiding behind the column. “I saw her a couple of times when I met with him. Lev showed me pictures of her. The idiot. Are you trying to get revenge… I don’t remember your name.”
“It’s Taylor, and I don’t care about revenge. I want justice.” Taylor was still, and he knew she was going to try something any minute.
“You’re a naïve moron then.” His father’s voice sounded over the fight that was going on in the hall. “Julia, we’re going to the helo now. Take the girl with you. It’s obvious Drake has feelings for her. We’ll deal with the fallout later.”
He couldn’t let that happen. “I won’t allow you to take her.”
“I think Kyle should come with us.” Julia ignored him completely, her eyes never leaving Kyle. It was so obvious his father was right. Kyle could make Julia forget everything, and the minute he had the chance, Kyle would take her out.
“I want to.” Kyle’s voice had gone soothing. “I told you. I’ve been thinking about us.”
Taylor chose that moment to drop, putting her entire weight on the arm Julia had around her neck.
The gun went off, and Drake’s whole soul threatened to crack as Taylor slid to the ground, but not before he saw blood.
His father stepped out and fired Kyle’s way as Drake tried to get to Taylor. He pushed aside a chair and knew someone was coming in the door, but nothing mattered except getting to Taylor.
“No!” Julia screamed and she was shooting, but he didn’t know if she was coming for him or someone else.
His heart was beating so loud he would have sworn he could hear it.
“Dad?” Julia’s voice had gone gentle. “Daddy?”
She’d shot their father in the back. His dad had fallen forward, and his blood stained the marble all around him.
Drake got to Taylor, who was on the fine carpet, blood matting her hair. He dragged her into his arms as he caught sight of John running back to the bedroom. He’d thrown Julia over his shoulder and was running.
“Fuck.” Kyle stumbled over, his hand at his side. “Fucker got me twice. I can’t keep up with them.” He touched his earpiece. “They’re going to the roof. They’ve got a helicopter waiting. Try to catch them. And we’re going to need a bus. We’ve got two gunshot wounds, and the senator was drugged.”
“I’m fine.” Taylor’s eyes came open and she sat straight up, her hand going to her ear. She was yelling. “I can’t hear. I think my eardrum burst.”
He had her wrapped in his arms in a second, no thought to going after his sister. She didn’t matter. With any luck Nick and Damon would catch her. “Baby, are you okay?”
Taylor’s vivid eyes stared up at him, her head nodding. “I think so. She killed your dad. I can’t believe she killed your dad. He shot Kyle and Julia lost it. She looked completely crazy, like utterly disconnected from reality.”
“Yeah, all the girls adore me.” Kyle sat back against the big leather love seat. “I hate getting shot, and I have two fucking bullets in me. My mom is going to be pissed.”
“Is your mom okay?” Taylor looked over to where his mom was starting to stir again.
“Don?” She called out for a dead man.
Taylor managed to get to her feet. “Go check on your mom.”
He followed, standing. His heart threatened to seize.
“Drake, I know he betrayed you, but you have to know I…” Taylor began.
He didn’t need her to say a thing. He dragged her close. “You would never betray me. You’re mine and I’m yours, and we’re out of this, Taylor. We’re out of the lying part at least.”
There would be no made-up stories. No more covering.
He had to tell his mom everything this time.
He kissed Taylor and then got to his knees beside his mom. She looked weary and confused.
“Drake? What are you doing here? What happened?” She frowned. “I thought I saw Julia, but she had a different face. What happened to my baby? Your father won’t tell me, but I know he knows. I think he had a hand in it.”