Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Josh’s stomach threatened to roll. “He knows she’s here?”
“I can’t be sure, but it’s a distinct possibility,” Kim agreed. “Up until now he hasn’t had a reason to hurt her. Nicole being on the run was doing what they needed it to do. But Laura has left Ted. Roman and I took her to the airport on our way back here. They will quickly figure out what she’s done.”
“Should she have protection?” His father had a serious look on his face.
Pops had gotten up and unlocked the gun case.
“I’ve already sent someone with her. Once it becomes known the authorities have the tape, there won’t be a reason to hurt her or Nicole beyond revenge. But they don’t know we have the proof yet, so I worry they might try to take out Nicole to scare Laura. They should know tomorrow, but I fear the next couple of hours because we’re so close. Laura also told me Micah disappeared from their basement two days ago, and she believes he left with a fake ID and cash,” Kim continued. “She said Ted went looking for him, so I don’t know where he is either.”
Josh had his phone in hand, dialing her number. When it went to voicemail, he groaned, a frustrated sound. “Nicole, call me when you get this.” He hung up and looked to his best friend. “You get anything from Harlow?”
“Nothing from her, but Landon told me he’s on his way to pick them up and will be back here in twenty minutes,” Grim replied.
Why wasn’t Harlow answering her phone? Josh fought to remain calm, panic threatening to overwhelm him. He tried Harlow’s number again. Nothing. “She wouldn’t simply not answer. Nic might get distracted, but Harlow’s working. She wouldn’t ignore a call from us unless something’s gone wrong.”
A million scenarios played out in his head, all of them awful.
“How can we even be sure where Nicole is?” Grim asked, his expression mirroring what Josh felt.
“You need to find her,” Kim said. “I can find Landon. He works for a firm that tracks their employees, but if he’s not with them, I don’t have any way of finding the ladies.”
Pops cleared his throat, looking pointedly at Dad. “You going to tell them, Jack?”
His father was on his feet. “I can find her.”
His father moved to the gun safe Pops had opened.
Josh followed. And prayed his father knew what he was doing and they made it on time.
Chapter Twenty
Nicole stared at the ghost in front of her. “Micah?”
He looked older, thinner. Like the years since she’d seen him last had taken any softness and left behind only the deranged predator.
Harlow had pulled a gun, a semiautomatic pistol she looked perfectly comfortable with. “Nicole, I need you to get behind me. As for you, whoever you are, don’t move a muscle.”
Unfortunately, Micah had a gun, too. He knew how to use it. Both he and his brother had been gun collectors and practiced regularly. He stood his ground. “I think you’re the one who shouldn’t move. I’m not sure what she’s told you, but Nora is my wife, and we have a few things to work through.”
Nicole realized she was blocking Harlow’s shot, but she was terrified to move. Terrified she was about to get her friend killed. “Micah, I’ll go with you if you’ll let my friend go.”
Harlow huffed behind her. “I’m not letting that happen.”
“Oh, I think you will.” Micah’s smile went reptilian. “Or my brother can eliminate you.”
Nicole gasped and turned, realizing while they’d been protecting their fronts, Ted had moved in behind them and had a gun to the back of Harlow’s head.
“My dumb bitch wife is forcing us all into this situation,” Ted said, his eyes steely. “I found out she was meeting with the blonde bimbo my parents hired. I suspect she’s trying to tell her side of the story. Once I present her with your dead body, she’ll know what can happen to her if she talks. It’s time to clean up my brother’s mess once again.”
Micah’s eyes rolled. “Sure. It’s all me.”
Nicole was sick with fear and had to shove the panic down. They were here in broad daylight, and Landon would be back soon.
Would they murder her and Harlow right here? She wasn’t sure anyone would stop them.
She wanted Josh and Grim. She wanted to be safe in their arms, away from all the proof of the mistakes she’d once made. She had to be the Nicole they’d fallen in love with, not the Nora who could barely stand up for herself. “The cops will be here soon, Micah. Won’t they be surprised. You can’t exactly pin my own murder on me.”
“Don’t have to,” Micah replied. “Once we get you back home, I’m going to bury you so deep in the woods no one will ever find you. Now you’re going to walk out of this parking lot if you don’t want me to shoot your friend there. Drop the gun, lady.”