Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Definitely the old soul out of all of us,” Marcus replied with a wry grin.
I couldn’t help but smile a little. I loved all the little unique things about them. Their hobbies. Their interests. Their pasts.
“It’s amazing,” I said as I continued to admire the comforting, dated space.
Silence lingered in the attic for a few seconds before Marcus spoke.
“If you need anything, just let us know,” Marcus told me.
Ti nodded and took my hand, guiding me to sit on the edge of the bed. He stood in front of me, peering down at me with even more intense eyes than usual. His eyebrows furrowed as he thought to himself.
“Do you think you personally know the person coming after you and Chloe?” he asked.
I swallowed hard as I shrugged, wishing I knew a definite answer.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” I said. “But he wears a mask and black clothes. I can’t make out any features.”
“What are you thinking, Ti?” Marcus asked as he walked over to his friend.
Ti crossed his arms and shook his head.
“I just want to get to the bottom of this. I don’t think this is some random stalker. This is something… darker,” he murmured.
Tears started filling my eyes because I believed that he was right. We were really in trouble, and I felt so helpless because I couldn’t protect my daughter myself like I wished I could.
“I’m really scared,” I admitted.
Ti moved forward and crouched in front of me, placing his hands on my knees as he gazed up at me.
“Don’t be. I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” he promised me. They were all smart in their own ways, but Ti was sharp. “I used to dig around for information to hurt other people for money. Before I knew it, I was being charged for white collar crime and being yet another criminal that came out of the foster care system. I don’t want to be that person anymore. I’m going to do what I do best to help instead.”
His genuine honesty touched me, prompting me to nod and press my forehead against his.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling Marcus sit down next to me.
We sat there for a while, thinking quietly to ourselves as we grasped the direness and danger of this situation. This was unlike anything we had ever been through before, and all I hoped was that we made it out on the other side in one piece.
Chapter 15
Ti
The full moon glowed up in the dark sky above me as I walked toward a cement tunnel under a quiet bridge, only hearing the faint thuds of my black boots against the gravel beneath my feet.
I didn’t expect to call in a favor from someone from my past, but I was a better man now. And I wanted to make sure I could keep Madison and Chloe safe.
As I entered the tunnel, which was full of dust, stray leaves, and random puddles, I saw a shadow appear at the other end, making me pause as the dark features became familiar ones. Relaxing my shoulders, I approached the tall, lean man that used to be my friend in crime. We hadn’t spoken since I’d been arrested, but I could trust him for this.
“Nick,” I greeted him with a quick handshake.
“Ti. Thought I’d never hear from you again,” Nick said as he tilted his head at me. He had cut his curly, dark hair, his skinny build tucked away in a black trench coat.
“Me either,” I replied honestly. “Did you find what I was asking about?”
Nick nodded as he tucked his hands in his pockets, looking up and down the tunnel before turning back to me. Over the past week, I had been doing a lot of digging and research, waking up early and staying up late to do a deep dive in Madison’s past and anyone who she ever had problems with. I kept her in the loop the entire time, wanting her to know that I was doing everything in my power to keep her and her daughter safe.
“I looked into that ex-boyfriend of hers. You’re right that he’s up to something,” Nick told me, making my jaw tighten. “He’s planning to run for city councilor.”
My eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Seriously? He’s about to run a campaign?” I asked, making sure I heard him right. The tricky bastard!
Nick smirked a little and nodded.
“Oh, yeah. I got some info on some of the ads they’re preparing to publish, and he’s painting himself as the typical patriotic family man,” he replied.
“Family man… that son of a bitch. He’s trying to get Chloe back to make him look better!” I bit out, heated anger etching up my neck to my face. I knew that something dark and twisted was going on, but I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect that Chloe was going to be used as a pawn.