Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
I’m smart enough to know which choice is the best.
“I’ve come this far, haven’t I?” I murmur. “Considering none of you include me as part of the family, I’d say I’ve shown my loyalty more than the others.”
He doesn’t say anything to that. Why would he? He knows it’s the truth. He knows that I’m the outcast, the person who they don’t see as family, just a pain in the ass who they have to keep around so I don’t cause a scene.
I’m that child.
“This is different, I need to know that no matter what, you’re on our side.”
I turn, dropping my hand. “I’m on your side, Dad.”
My voice is genuine, but oh, it’s not.
It’s so far from it.
Still, it’s all he needs.
“I need you to plant something on those bikers.”
My heart feels like it comes to a complete halt. I try not to register any shock, but I can’t honestly say that’s what I thought was coming. I considered maybe he wanted me to cover for him, or tell the police I was with him the night Constance went missing, something like that, but plant something.
No.
I didn’t suspect that.
“What do you mean plant something?”
“I need you to put something in their clubhouse, somewhere they can’t easily find it but the police can. I need something to disappear and they’re the perfect way to do it. Bunch of criminals, it’ll all make sense to the cops. You just have to put it there, and that’s the end of it.”
“What exactly am I planting that you’re trying so hard to hide?”
His jaw tightens. “It’s none of your concern what it is.”
“I’m putting it there, Dad.”
“It’ll be sealed, you don’t open it. You just put it in their possession. You do not get caught. You wear gloves. You do not tell a single soul. We clear?”
I swallow.
He thinks I’m not going to open it? He’s wrong.
I will find out what he’s planting, and I’ll find out what he’s done.
“When?” I ask, my voice tight.
“As soon as you possibly can. It’s urgent.”
“What if I get caught?”
He leans in close. “You’re not going to. If you do, as far as I’m concerned, it’s on you.”
God.
This man is my father.
My flesh and blood.
But that’s how he’d treat me if it came down to it.
“Well, it’s nice to know you’re so full of love,” I mutter.
“This isn’t about love.”
“Of course it isn’t, you wouldn’t know the meaning of the word. Fine, Father, whatever. Can you leave now so I can get dressed for the ball where we are going to look like one big, happy, fake family?”
He turns and leaves without another word.
He has no feelings toward me.
No love.
No emotion.
My father is cold, and each day he proves it more and more.
I run my hands down my face, exhaling a few times, before finishing up getting ready. I don’t want to go tonight, but I’m going to, because I need them to think they’ve got me where they want me.
My phone rings, and I glance down to see Remy’s number flashing on the display. He hasn’t called me since the night I left Wildflowers. I figured we were done and dusted.
I pick it up. “Yeah?”
“I need a favor.”
“You and everyone else.” I sigh. “What can I help you with, sir?”
He chuckles. “See you haven’t lost your sarcasm.”
“I was born with it. Are you going to tell me or should I start guessing? Your girlfriend has crabs but you don’t know where she got it from because she’s bald as a badger. Am I warm?”
He grunts. “Don’t have a woman, and fuck me, you’re creative. No, I need somethin’ else.”
“What does this something else involve? If it’s murder, I can’t help you. I’ve had my fill of bodies and I can’t afford anymore.”
He laughs. “Fuck. No. No murder. I need to find out somethin’ about your dad.”
God.
Of course he does.
“Oh, because I’m his daughter I should just hand over information?”
“It’s not goin’ to hurt you in any way, Gabriella. You can’t stand him. I just want to know one thing.”
“And what would that one thing be?”
“If he has a client by the name of Howard Ernest.”
“Never heard of him.”
“I’m sure you haven’t, doesn’t mean Daddy Dearest hasn’t. Can you find out?”
“How?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know, go through his filing cabinet.”
I sigh. “God. Fine, I’ll look, but on one condition?”
“My dick is always available for you, babe.”
I grunt. “Jesus, not that. I need you to do something for me, too.”
“What would that be?”
“I need you to find out as much as you can about Constance Hayes.”
He goes silent. “Who?”
“She went missing over a year ago, she was, ah, a friend of mine. Nobody ever shared what really happened to her. She has never been found. I figured you know people, people who might know things. I would like to know what happened to her, or at least, have an idea.”