Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Part of me did. Part of me wanted to kill everyone who’d been involved in kidnapping Owen and trying to kill us. But I also wanted to know when and where in my timeline this cause and effect had happened. When had this all been plotted and why?
“Don’t send a team. Dante and I will go.”
“That’s not a terrifying prospect for me at all,” Darius said flatly. He loved us both, and beyond his husband, Efrem, and his oldest friend, Duncan Stiel, we were all the family he had in the world. “And really, Jared, you’re still not completely recovered, and the doctor told you that your days of being in the field are over.”
“I know, but let’s be honest—I’m not going to let anyone else go,” I assured him. “I can’t. I won’t.”
Darius glanced at Dante who shrugged. “Has arguing with him ever worked?”
After a moment, Darius gave in because he knew me just as well as Dante did.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” I told Darius. “You know that.”
“I do know that. I’ll be in touch.”
Darius was gone a moment later.
“If he gets us coordinates tomorrow, when should we go?” I asked Dante.
“Depends on where we have to fly to. It’s doubtful that whoever this is, they’re here in Thailand. If we’re right about the connection to Ronan, then we’ll probably be going to Hong Kong.”
“That’s like a six-, seven-hour flight from here, so hopefully we’ll get what we need in the morning, be there at night, and then find the person responsible.”
“And kill them? Capture them? What’s your plan, Jared?”
“I don’t think I’ll know until I face whoever it is.”
“That’s fair,” Dante said, then smiled at me. “So, what’s happening with you and Owen?”
“How did you know anything was—”
“He’s been haunting this house for three weeks, waiting for you to be well enough so he can finally profess his love. Not that this should come as a surprise to you, but knowing you, I’m sure it did.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Dante just squinted at me.
“Christ,” I groaned. “You know he’s only thirty-two. He has his whole life spread out in front of him, and he wants to—”
“Spend it with you. Yes, I know.”
“And?” I snapped at him.
“And I say let him.” He shrugged. “You deserve to be happy too.”
“At his expense?”
He scoffed. “You’re an idiot.”
“Dante—”
“He’s not a child, Jared. He’s all grown up.”
“Yes, but he’ll end up being my nursemaid someday.” Just the thought of him taking care of me in my dotage was horrifying.
“No. With everything that’s happened to your body? Gimme a break. If you make it past seventy, it’ll be a miracle.”
I sat there, staring at him.
“What? I told Noah the same thing,” he informed me irritably. “When I die, he can pick someone who’s much less trouble, more normal, steady.”
“And he said?”
“The important part is not what he said, or how many breakable things were thrown at my head, but that we have a plan.”
“Did he get you?”
“With his aim?” Dante shook his head.
I smiled at him.
“For the love of God, Jared, let yourself find some peace. Let Ronan and Sara go. That whole thing was never on you. That entire mess had shit to do with you and everything to do with Owen’s fucked-up father.”
“Oh,” a voice said behind us.
We both turned to see Owen, showered and shaved, his wet hair combed back from his forehead, standing there in ripped jeans and a Nirvana T-shirt.
“I would love to hear this story.”
“Is it okay if we join?” Jing asked, standing in the doorway that led from the house to the deck. Arden was with her, both of them waiting.
I looked at Owen.
“We’re all family,” Owen said, lifting his arm to encompass everyone. “I think we should all hear it.”
Jing rushed over to slip under Owen’s arm, and Arden took a seat on a deck chair close to Dante. Both of them had been fussing over Owen and keeping an eye on him. All the vigilance was exhausting, and if I was tired, they had to be as well.
“I think,” Dante announced, standing up, “that I’m going to make you guys some food while Jared tells the story. Why don’t we all go to the kitchen.”
Great plan.
And as Dante cooked, I relayed what happened.
The night after my talk with Ronan, I was on my way to the condo from the embassy, where I’d gone with Darius, when my phone rang. The number wasn’t one I recognized, but only a select few had my personal cell number, so I answered.
“Jared!” Sara gasped on the other end. “Thank God you picked up.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m…I’m in a safe house in the Western District, near Sai Ying Pun station. I came here last night with Owen after Ronan told me everything.”
“Okay,” I said, not wanting her to have to recap anything for me. I’d thrown up when I got back to my hotel the night before. I didn’t need to revisit the whole thing.