Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
However, that was all I was able to get out, because the rear door slammed open, Frank called out for the boy who went outside over ten minutes earlier, and then he growled a frustrated curse when the boy never came.
Frank called to his wife, who started shuffling herself into the family room, not sparing me a single glance, and then made her way outside, closing the front door as she went.
Minutes ticked by as Frank bellowed for the ‘boy’ to return. It was only after ten such minutes of this continuing, that he finally called out for his wife again, only for her to not respond either. Secretly, I was giggling inside. Outwardly, I was as cool as a clam as I sat with my back against the sleeping child and waited.
It didn’t take long for Frank to come barreling back in the room, waving his shotgun around. “Where’d she go?”
I looked at him and pointed towards the front door, staying silent.
“She never came back in?” He asked, eyes frantically searching the living room.
I shook my head. More than likely, the woman was now in police custody. Not that I’d be telling him that.
He figured it out though. “You got buddies out there? You call the cops bitch?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t technically lying.
“You bitch!” He said, and then raised his shotgun.
I closed my eyes, almost serenely, and waited. I knew it was going to happen. James would shoot the fucker, and I really hated seeing heads explode. Like bad. So, to block it out, I plugged my fingers into my ear, crowded the baby back behind me, and squeezed my eyes tightly shut.
I felt the boom, even though I didn’t see or hear it. Something heavy thumped hard onto the floor somewhere across the room from me, but I stayed where I was. I didn’t even open my eyes.
It wasn’t until I felt the distinct impact of the door hitting the wall that my body was leaning against before I opened my eyes. Then I quickly shut them again, my mind refusing to acknowledge what had once been Mr. Newman’s head.
Something touched my shoulder, and I opened them to find a black helmeted head in my face. I resisted the urge to slap it away, instead waiting patiently for the man to speak.
“You okay?” Helmet head asked.
I nodded.
“The baby?” Helmet head probed.
I scooted over carefully, revealing the sleeping form huddled in the corner.
“I think they gave the baby something. He hasn’t moved an inch since I got here. Pulse is strong though.” I explained.
“Medic.” Helmet head bellowed.
Just then, a commotion at the door had my eyes travelling to it, and I was relieved to know that James was finally there. True, it wasn’t as if I could see the man, per say. However, I knew that body almost as well as I knew my own. Regardless of whether I could see his skin and face or not.
“Shiloh!” James yelled as he barreled towards me.
I made to stand, and helmet head helped me up.
In the next moment, I was engulfed in James’ arms. Although it was anything but comfortable to be pressed up against his hard, unforgiving helmet, with his sniper rifle slung over his front, and the million and one tactical thingie mabobbers hanging off his belt, I hugged him back for all I was worth. Not caring in the slightest that I’d most likely be sporting bruises tomorrow.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” James groaned.
I held him even tighter before I said what I really wanted to say. “What took you so long?”
Chapter 20
Never argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.
-Life Lesson
Shiloh
Weeks passed, and within no time at all, Christmas was around the corner.
After the hostage situation at the Shady Lane Mobile Home Park and the Newman’s, James made it a point to drill home the idea of safety. Lillian herself had now mandated that for each unscheduled visit, we have the presence of a uniformed police officer to accompany us.
Now here I was, with eight days until Christmas, and I was bored.
James, Sebastian, Sam, and my dad had all made it a point to spend some time with me, but I always ended up being so freaking alone. I’d started doing Insanity in a vain effort to stay in shape, since everyone refused to let me go outside to run. Which didn’t really upset me so much as make me feel claustrophobic. I was so freaking tired of being caged up in this God forsaken house that I would go nuts.
The ringing of my phone pulled me out of my contemplations, and I answered it on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hey, Shiloh. Want to come over to Free? We’re going to play some games. Have margaritas, and then decorate the Christmas tree.” Blaine said giddily into my ear.
I pulled the phone away from my face, and readily agreed. “I love you, Blaine. Will you have my babies?”
“Yes, you just have to come over first!” She laughed. “I’ll send Elliott over in the truck. He’ll be there in fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Yes, thank you.” I said before hanging up the phone.
Looking down at myself, I decided that the bright green leggings with purple jingle bells would be festive, and decided against changing them. I covered up my black tank top with James’ old high school baseball sweatshirt and slipped my feet into my Ugg boots.
Yes, they were ugly, but they were soft and warm. The eighty-degree weather had finally decided to act like winter, and had dipped into the low twenties overnight, making it colder than a witch’s tit. Especially since James refused to turn the heater on anything above sixty five degrees.
I folded the blanket I’d been using moments before, and then grabbed my purse, and waited by the front door patiently, like a good girl.
The knock at the door came a few minutes later, and Elliott’s voice projected through the door. “You can come out, Shiloh.”
I grinned as I yanked open the door. “You can have my babies, too. Thanks for saving me.”