Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He did and she didn’t waste any time taking care of the dogs. While she cleaned one side, she allowed those dogs to run around her. Then they went back and she did the same to the other side. Once all was clean and the dogs had some running time, she fixed them some food and kenneled them all back up again. Ensuring all was secure, she made sure they had enough water then left leaving them to eat with one light on and some music.
Argo waited until she got all bundled up before he leisurely rose and stretched. “Yeah, yeah,” she sniped. “Show off. I don’t have a coat like you, so I need layers. Lots and lots of layers.” She zipped up her heavy coat and turned up the hood, the fur surrounding her face. “I look and feel like a mummy. Okay, let’s go, Argo.” She sneered at the ease in which he moved by her. “You bundle up until you feel like a pig in a blanket and let’s see how fast you move. Or is that like a bloated tick. I’m not sure, either way, this is my downside to winter, right here.”
Together, they stepped out into the night.
* * *
αβ
* * *
John didn’t like this. It was too quiet. Sure, the storm had ended, at least the wind, it still snowed but even that quiet was too quiet. Something wasn’t right and he hated he couldn’t put his finger on it. Glancing over his shoulder from where he stood at the window, he could barely make out the prone figure of the woman whose bed he just left. Leena had come into his life at the point where he wasn’t sure he had a life left but now he wanted to make sure he did. Wanted to be with her.
Sure, part of him wondered if it wasn’t gratitude for being rescued by her, but the more time he spent with her, the less sure he was that was his reason. There was something about her that called to him. Something she struck within him no one else had ever come close to touching.
And while he hated putting any civilian in harm’s way, she was different. It bothered him on a whole other level to acknowledge he’d put her in danger from the family he’d infiltrated.
He sighed and ran a hand over the growth on his face. She may seem confident those men would have left, he wasn’t sure about that. They would be after him to make an example of him to the rest of the people they worked with. To show what happened to those who betrayed the family.
“If I could just figure out who sold me out.”
He didn’t want to think about what could happen to his brother or mother if the one who’d exposed him knew of his family. Hell, of course they did, if they had his real name they could just look him up.
Rubbing his temples, he tried to recall if they’d called him by his real name. He couldn’t remember but then a lot of the time he’d been held there was a blur. Except for the pain, that much he could remember with startling clarity. The cigarettes put out on his skin, the jumper cables, the electrodes, the knives and other varied sharp objects.
A shuddering breath left him, and he turned from the window and sank down the wall to the floor. A warm body settled next to him and he sank his fingers into the plush coat. “Pax,” he whispered to the room. The young male put his head on his lap.
“I have to figure this out. I can’t be the one responsible for your owner’s death. She’s come to mean far too much for that.” And he’d only known her for a few days. Okay, a bit longer, but he was out for a good chunk of that and wasn’t counting it as actual time that he’d gotten to know her.
“I hope you guys are as good as she thinks you are.”
A shadow passed the light coming in from the hall where she had her nightlight plugged in, she’d been leaving it on since she had to take care of him and said she’d just left it on so he could see without tripping over the dogs. John looked up to see the other three dogs looking at him.
“I get it, you’re better.”
Argo walked off but the others lingered. After a few moments, John got to his feet and made his way to her office. He pulled up the stuff they’d compiled so far, and he stared at the maps, still unable to figure out where he’d been held.
Closing his eyes, he tried to conjure up any tiny detail he could use but drew a blank. All he could see clearly were disturbing images of him killing people. Not even hesitating. He cracked his knuckles and refused to back away.