Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I hope so, too.”
She shakes her head, then pulls in a breath. “Go on home and try to enjoy your evening.”
I won’t be enjoying my evening. In fact, I will most likely spend the rest of the night until Levi gets home pacing the apartment, but I don’t want to stay around the school any longer than I have to.
“Have a good night, Mrs. Thompson,” I say as I head to the door with my stuff, saying a silent prayer as I put on my coat that Levi is able to find Tamara’s mother alive and well.
Hearing my cell phone ring, I drop the book I’ve been reading to my lap and pick the phone up quickly. “Levi?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, glancing at the clock, seeing that it is already after two in the morning.
“Yeah, just wanted to tell you to go to sleep.”
“How did you know I wasn’t asleep when you called?” I smile, rubbing the top of Muffin’s head when she drops onto my lap on top of the book resting there.
“Were you?”
“Well, no.” I sigh. I hate when he’s working late at night, and after today it’s even worse.
“You need to sleep, baby.”
“I know,” I agree, but it’s hard to find sleep when he’s not in bed with me. “Have you found anything out?”
“Nothing yet. What are you wearing?”
“Your shirt.”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he mutters, “My girl misses me.”
“Yes, I do, so please be safe and come home soon.”
“I will, baby. I’ve got one more stop, then I’ll be home. We sleeping at mine?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there soon. Go to sleep, gorgeous.”
“Night, Levi,” I murmur, then drop my cell to the bedside table and put my book away before flipping off my light. I lie there awake for another hour until he finally gets home and crawls into bed with me.
Chapter 13
PLAIN OL’ IN LOVE
FAWN
Waking to the smell of coffee, I roll to my stomach, lift my head toward the clock, and frown when I see it’s only seven. Levi always sleeps late on the weekends, and last night—just like the three nights before—he didn’t get in until after midnight, so I know he must be tired. Doing a stretch, I roll out of bed and grab my dad’s old flannel shirt from the back of the door. Slipping it on over my tank top and sleep boxers, I head for the bathroom and clean up, then make my way back through the bedroom and open the door. Levi is sitting on his couch, shirtless, wearing a pair of sleep pants with his laptop open in front of him on the coffee table.
“Morning, baby.” He grins as I crawl into his lap and cuddle against his chest.
“Morning.” I press my lips against his neck, then turn to see what he’s doing on his computer, but he minimized whatever he was looking at. “You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep,” he says as his fingers run over the top of my bare thigh, causing a tingle to slide through me.
“Have you gotten any new leads?” I ask the same question I’ve been asking him every day for the last few days.
“Nothing new.”
“That’s not good. Have you guys been able to question Juan?” I lean back to see his face.
“He’s MIA and no one’s talking. I have a couple informants that are checking into things, but I’m not sure they will be able to find anything more than I can.”
“Do you think that maybe Tamara’s mother is on drugs or something?” I ask hopefully. I know that wouldn’t be good, but it would be better than her being dead.
“There is always a possibility that she could be b—”
“What?” I cut him off when he breaks off and his body gets tight with tension under mine.
“What I’m about to tell you stays between us, do you understand that?” he asks quietly but firmly. I know I won’t like what he tells me very much.
“Yes.” I nod, and he adjusts me until I’m straddling him, then takes my face between his large palms.
“Juan is my main suspect in the murders of two other women. Both were from his stable. Both were known to be in relationships with him prior to their deaths.” Swallowing down the sudden bile that rises to the back of my throat, I close my eyes. “I’m not saying that’s what happened to Tamara’s mother, but with her missing and his history, it’s likely that she could be one of his victims.
“My poor girl,” I whisper, and he brushes a soft kiss over my lips.
“Don’t give up hope,” he demands, running the pads of his thumbs along the underside of my jaw. “She may turn up—she may be hiding from him. All we know right now is that she’s missing.”
“I know,” I agree as a sinking feeling fills the pit of my stomach. I don’t know how Tamara will deal with the loss of her mother if she doesn’t turn up. I can’t imagine having to go through something like that at her age. I just pray she’s strong enough to get through whatever happens.