Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
He had begun his modeling career early when he’d been “discovered,” and in those shoots he hadn’t smiled. They hadn’t wanted him to smile and he hadn’t felt like it. He’d been living two lives. One on the street and one in the world of cameras and high-powered men and woman who’d looked at him as a commodity and nothing more. He doubted if they’d even known his name. The money had put him through college, so he’d let them take his picture, but he’d avoided any contact with anyone who might uncover his earlier days. The publicity would have been good for his career, but he hadn’t wanted anyone knowing his business.
“I didn’t want your woman to see my smile. I was protecting your marriage.” As comebacks went, it was lame, but it was a good first try. He heard the way Malichai and Mordichai razzed the others. They were good at camaraderie. He was still learning what real camaraderie was, not the fake smile and pretend, like he’d taught Trap. He wished he had the time to work with Trap more and do a better job of explaining so the man would understand—like he was just getting—that friends and family were important enough to make an effort with.
“You wish.”
“How is she? She was so sick, we were all worried. You must hate being away from her.” Draden felt guilty about that, although he didn’t know why.
“I don’t like it, but she’s strong. I talk to her and the girls several times a day. The girls are having fun there. It’s a different environment. I should have thought to take them to a place that would be safe for them and expose them to other surroundings. As for Pepper, she doesn’t do well being separated from me, but she knows it’s necessary. She always says to give you her love and that she’s thinking of you.”
“She’s like Nonny. Lots of heart.” It was true. Draden realized he judged all women by Nonny now. Pepper took care of them all the way Nonny did. She had no mother and no one to guide her, so she patterned herself after her favorite woman. Pepper was very close to Nonny. He wanted that for Shylah.
“That’s a nice thing to say, Draden,” Wyatt said. “I’ll pass it on to her. She loves Nonny and that will be the best compliment anyone could ever pay her.”
“What about Cayenne? How is she doing without Trap?”
“She hasn’t killed anyone yet, but she won’t FaceTime him. She’s wrapped herself up in silk and refuses to talk to anyone other than Pepper and Zara. Zara seems to be able to get her to eat and drink a little.”
There was a hint of worry in Wyatt’s voice that Draden picked up on immediately. Trap didn’t turn around, nor was there any indication that he heard, but Draden knew better. Cayenne was his world. He was sacrificing a lot in order to stay there and work while his pregnant wife was far from him. She was the most lethal, self-sufficient woman Draden could imagine, and yet entirely dependent on her husband. The dichotomy was very strange.
“Can you and Trap work in Montana? It might be safer for you there. If the Williams brothers and their friend Orucov are heading that way then all of you would be safer to get out.”
“Do you think that’s a real possibility?”
“I haven’t found enough on them to get a reading for what they might do, but Shylah thinks so and she’s been tracking them, so she knows them better than anyone else. She thinks it’s a possibility. Right now, all we know for certain is that they left in a hurry. The last sighting was in the village with the MSS, but they disappeared, using the river as an escape route. We discussed the fact that they despise Whitney and may decide to take out a GhostWalker team in retaliation, but we have no evidence pointing to that conclusion.”
“Word was put out and law enforcement everywhere is looking for them. Airports, any point of entry, have been notified.”
“Why don’t you all pick up and move to Montana? Trap could be with Cayenne and I wouldn’t have to worry that you’re a target.”
“We need to be close to you, Draden. We can’t afford the time it would take to get the blood samples flown to Montana, or Louisiana for that matter. I’m working with Trap and I’m used to him being a bear. The girls and Nonny will take care of Cayenne. We’ll all get through this. You’re the only one of us Trap acknowledges as a brother …”
That got a snort of derision from Trap, but he didn’t turn around.
“Other than me, of course,” Wyatt added.
Trap did turn around. “I’d like you a lot better if you’d help instead of gab all the time. You’re worse than an old gossipy woman.”