Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“I’ll duck. Now go.”
She shudders as she grips the wheel and presses on the gas. I duck and though I’m playing this bad girl role, my heart thunders in my chest as she goes over the hump that takes us onto the main road, right where I know a Sheriff is parked. If they see me, I’m doomed. If she makes even the slightest gesture that someone is in the car with her, I’m dead and I won’t be able to save Shavonne. I eye her through the gaps of the seat, and she’s focused, hands ten and two like I instructed.
She starts to turn the wheel, but someone beeps their car horn. Blue and white lights flash, and my heart sinks to my stomach.
FIFTY-TWO
JOLENE
“Shit.” I look through the rearview mirror and watch as Sheriff Burnell walks my way. Her hand is at her waist, close to her firearm, and she comes toward my side of the car. “They’re coming to my window,” I whisper. I feel the car shift a bit as Brynn adjusts herself lower. The windows of my BMW are tinted, so Burnell shouldn’t be able to see Brynn in her dark clothing on the floor unless she aims a flashlight back there.
Officer Burnell stops at my window, wearing a cordial smile. “First Lady, just want to check in. The governor told me you wouldn’t be leaving until the morning to head to Charlotte for the rally. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah! Everything’s fine.” I try and keep my voice steady, but it comes out overly chipper.
Officer Burnell gives me a funny look. “You’re sweating a bit. You sure you’re okay?”
“Oh, I was on the treadmill before coming out.”
“Ah. I see.” Burnell eyes me, then glances at the back window. My heartbeat accelerates, even more so when I feel the hardness of Brynn’s gun pushing into my right side.
“Can I tell you the truth, Sheriff Burnell?” I ask.
“Please. Call me Stacey,” Burnell says, her attention on me again.
“Right. Well the truth is I’m sneaking away to my best friends’ house for a few drinks, Stacey. This weekend’s rally will be a big one and I’m a little nervous for Dom. A few drinks will do me some good. I’ll most likely crash at her place for the night, though, so no need to wait up.”
Stacey smiles at that. “Oh, I hear that, Mrs. Baker. I can imagine times like these are stressful, especially with it being so close to voting day.”
“They sure are.”
The gun eases off my side.
“Well, I’ll keep my eye on the house, make sure it goes undisturbed.”
“Thank you so much, Stacey. Your services truly mean a lot.”
Stacey bobs her head with pressed lips and steps away from the car. When she turns, I drive off, refusing to give her another inch.
It isn’t until I’m on the freeway that I hear Brynn sigh. She climbs over the middle console and sits in the passenger seat. Her gun is still pointed at me, but not as firmly.
“You didn’t snitch,” she says.
I blink a few times. “You have to save your friend.”
“Yeah, but my friend involves your husband.”
I let her words marinate in the silence.
“Look, whatever Dominic did for you to have to come to these circumstances is clearly not okay. I just want you to know that I had nothing to do with his plans. He’s been out of control for quite some time and you aren’t the only person who wants to teach him a lesson.”
Brynn sniffs, sitting further back in the leather seat. “You really have no clue about that night? Nothing at all?”
I shake my head.
“He’s never even brought up my name to you?”
My head shakes again.
“Figures,” she mutters, looking through the windshield. If I’m not mistaken, her eyes are glistening. My chest tightens as I look away.
FIFTY-THREE
BRYNN
My leg bounces in front of me as I keep the gun pointed at Jolene. I feel a migraine coming on, and they’ve been coming more frequently. My doctor informed me that I was prone to migraines. With head trauma like mine, it was typical.
I grab my backpack from the backseat and unzip the front pouch.
“What are you doing?” Jolene asks, panicking.
“Just keep driving,” I mumble, retrieving the orange pill bottle from the pocket. I remove the lid, dumping a hydrocodone into my palm. I swallow it dry then pick up my gun again as Jolene keeps her hands wrapped around the steering wheel.
Her phone rings and I spot the name Samuel on the screen. I eye her as she lifts a hand to decline the call. When she’s settled again, she blows a breath and says, “I’ll get back to him later.”
The car is silent again. The soothing sound of wind rushing past the vehicle and the pitter-patter of rain allows me to relax for a moment.