Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I twisted. Alistair nursed a wicked gash on his index finger. “Do you have a penknife or something?”
“Hold on.” He popped open the trunk and pulled out a knife much bigger than a pen. Carefully, he sliced me free. I didn’t waste a second throwing myself in the car.
“We have to go. Everleigh sent you the address. Victor’s waiting for us. We have to save him.”
“On our way.”
He hopped in and I breathed for the first time that night. Everything would be all right. Everleigh lay in the piss-soaked dirt next to the burning remnants of her father. And Wolf didn’t know he was driving straight to his punishment. We’d save Victor, then I was coming for the rest of my guys.
Why did I think I could save Alistair by sending him away? Why did I think he needed me to save him? He refused to kill or be killed by his former friend’s daughter, but he wasn’t helpless. We were stronger together.
That’s what family is.
Alistair took off, speeding out of the forest. “I’ve kept an eye on Wolfgang.” He covered his mouth, coughing. “A close eye on him and the entire O’Rourke clan. There’s no one more paranoid than”—cough—“a spy. Whether we beat him there or not, we’re not waltzing into the place easy.” Cough, cough, cough. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got cameras all over the block that a-alert him when—”
Alistair gripped the wheel, exploding into a coughing fit.
“Are you okay? Do you need water?”
“Yea— Yeah,” he wheezed. “Under the passenger seat.”
I squeezed through the seat, reaching to grab the water bottle. I was thrown to the side when the car jerked—swerving off the road and coming to a sudden stop. “Alistair!”
“I’m sor-ry,” he hacked, bursting into another coughing fit. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I righted myself and grasped his shoulders, trying to straighten him up. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I—I don’t know—” Sweat beaded on his forehead. “Black spots... in my vision... Couldn’t see.”
Gasping, he clapped his hand over his throat.
“Dad! Your finger!”
Within minutes, the weeping appendage turned a putrid, mottled purple. Alistair reached for me—eyes red and bugging as he tried to speak.
“I’ve got backup plans for my backup plans too. When this night is over, I’ll achieve everything my father died for.”
“The ropes,” I whispered. “She booby-trapped the ropes.”
I launched forward—pulling at his collar, tilting his head back, trying to think of something. Anything! “Please, Dad, breathe. Breathe!”
Sirens broke the peace, blaring through the night.
“Listen, it’s the firefighters. They’re coming. They’ll help you!” I threw open the door. A firm hand pulled me back in. “What are you doing? I have to stop them. I have to—”
Looking into my eyes, Alistair cupped my cheek—soft and gentle as his blood mixed with my tears. “I—I...” He slumped over, head falling onto my lap.
My scream ripped through the night.
Chapter Nine
“Luna?”
A knock sounded at the door. I burrowed deeper under the covers, wishing her away.
“Luna, baby.” Mom stepped inside. I felt the bed dip. “Sweetie, what do you think about coming downstairs with me? We’ll weed Winter’s garden together.”
“No.” I barely recognized that nasally, raspy grunt as coming from me.
“You’ve been locked in this room for two weeks. Ever since we came back from the funeral. I know it’s hard right now—”
“Hard?” I didn’t bother lifting my head from under the covers. “My boyfriends are in jail. Victor’s missing. My sister committed suicide. And my dad’s dead! Yeah, I’d say it’s been pretty fucking hard.”
“Baby.” Mom rubbed my leg through the covers. “I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. If I had one wish, it’d be to take your pain away. Please, just come out for a little bit. We’ll have chocolate chip pancakes on the veranda. Maybe talk if you feel up for it. Or sit in silence if you don’t. But you have to leave this room,” she said. “It isn’t healthy to lock yourself away like this.”
I kicked away. “That’s rich coming from you.”
Quiet smothered the room.
“You’re right,” she whispered. “I did the same thing. Shutting myself in a room alone with my grief. That’s why I know it doesn’t help, Luna. Isolation and loneliness never helped anyone deal with trauma. Love and support do. The people who love you are here for you.” Tugging down the duvet, she placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “We’re here when you’re ready.”
I buried my face in the pillow, smothering a sob as she left. Yes, my mom and stepdad were here. But Winter wasn’t. Alistair wasn’t. Rafael wasn’t. Cato wasn’t. Wilder wasn’t. Lucien wasn’t. Victor wasn’t.
Everleigh went to war with my father, but it was me who lost everyone I loved.
“—not now.”
“I will speak to her.”
I raised my head, crust-covered eyes blinking at the door.
“I told you—” Mom made an effort to keep her voice down. “—she’s ready.”