Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
The bakery is my only peace. It’s the only place where I feel normal, like I might eventually be able to get my life back on track.
It’s my saving grace.
“I can’t give it up,” I whisper. “Erin, it’s the only thing that keeps me sane.”
She smiles, “I know this too, so I compromised. I know you have been wanting to learn how to bake, so, I spoke to Tatiana, and she agreed to let you work under her, out the back, baking for the three days a week that I’m not doing it.”
Tatiana is Erin’s other baker. When Erin started the bakery, she had dreams and hopes of doing all the baking herself, but quickly became so popular she had to hire extra help. Tatiana is an equally as incredible baker, and the idea of working with her excites me. I’ve been itching to be able to try my hand at baking.
“Yes,” I say, smiling. “You’re serious?”
“Of course,” Erin laughs. “I know how much you love working, I’m not going to ask you to give it up, I’m going to do one better and upgrade you, so to speak. Instead of spending your time serving out front, which I know you love, you can go out back where nobody can see you, and start learning to bake. Eventually, you’ll be able to handle a few days on your own.”
That idea, it sounds better than any idea I’ve heard in a good long while.
It’s like a dream come true.
I throw my arms around Erin’s neck and she hugs me, laughing.
“Thank you,” I say, and dammit, I mean it.
Her knowing just how much I need this, means the world to me.
“You’re welcome. But, we do need to go and talk to the police, sooner, rather than later.”
I nod.
“I have to head out for a bit, but I’ll be back later and we can binge watch Netflix,” she grins.
“Sounds great,” I say, and I mean it.
Oh, do I mean it.
Once Erin has gone, I pull out the little iPad she got me a few months ago, and I type in the name Lincoln Knight.
He runs a garage in town, a big place, shiny and new. It looks utterly spectacular in the pictures that pop up, with a big chrome sign out front that says “Rumblin’ Knights.” It also has bay after bay of garages filled with trucks and bikes. Down the end, there is another bay that has the word custom painted on, in the same chrome letters. It’s a successful business, the pictures alone tell me that.
Does Slater work there?
Curiosity burns, like an itch I just can’t quite scratch.
But that isn’t what I’m searching Lincoln for.
I’m searching, because even though Erin advises against it, I’m worried that the police simply cannot offer the protection I need.
And I’m too afraid to go directly to Slater. I wouldn’t even know what to say. Or where to start. He’d help me, something deep inside tells me he would, but I’m terrified of his intensity, so maybe I’ll go to the next best thing, maybe he can talk to Slater for me, maybe...I don’t know.
I don’t even know if this is a good idea.
I don’t even know if Lincoln will know who I am, let alone agree to talk to his brother for me, or help me, for that matter.
But I do know something.
I’m not safe.
Not even close.
And while Erin has my best interests at heart, she doesn’t know the kind of monster I’m running from.
But I do.
And I know, with every ounce of my being, that the police simply are not enough.
And there is no way, no way in hell...I’m ever going back there.
So, I guess I’m going to have to do this.
Even if it terrifies me.
Because, I’m all out of options.
~3~
THEN- SLATER
“Talked to the new girl today,” Damon says, practically fuckin’ skipping into the house after school.
“Wonderful,” I mutter, throwing a piece of ham onto some bread and taking a huge bite. I didn’t even put butter on.
I don’t have fuckin’ time.
Lincoln and I are headed out to work soon.
“Her name is Ellie,” he grins, wiggling his brows.
Finn walks in the door a few minutes later, looks at Damon and rolls his eyes. “Is he still fucking talking about Ellie?”
I nod.
“Dude,” Damon says, throwing his hands up. “Did you get a look at her? Did you hear her soft, sing song voice? I’m in love. You would be too if you got up close. She’s like an angel. I can’t look away.”
Good lord.
The man is pussy struck for the first time in his life.
I fuckin’ hope I never looked that pathetic.
“Pull yourself together,” Finn grunts. “You look like a dick.”
“We’ll see who has the last laugh when she’s dating me, Finn!”
I exhale and turn just as Lincoln enters the room, his dark eyes scan over Damon and Finn, then move to me. “Still swooning over the girl next door?”