Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
I sat up. He put his hand on the back of my neck and squeezed reassuringly.
“I wanted to find a way to get you and your sister in touch safely like. So I got Zack’s team on it weeks back. Told him to look her up and feel out the situation. Would’ve loved to have had her here for yesterday, baby.”
My mouth dropped open. I felt the panic trying to set in. I pushed it back. He kept talking.
“Zack couldn’t find Holly in Alaska anywhere, so he did some looking. As it turns out, her grandmother got sick and your mother got wind of it and called CPS and CPS had returned her to your mother before the Kruna scumbags had people kidnap her.”
“She…” I could barely breathe, “She’s not in Alaska?”
“Whoever picked her up from your mother didn’t return her. Your mother never reported her missing. The grandmother didn’t get better. Died a few months later. Your mother figured Holly ran away. Holly has been gone for almost as long as you have.”
The world stopped turning. Holly. Oh God.
“We think we know where she is, though. I’m gonna find out, Angel. I’ll do everything I can to find her for you.”
He pulled me into his arms and I grabbed him and held on tight.
Tommy has to be here for now so we’re staying and I’m totally okay with it. We decided to go back to Costa Rica soon to close up the house, keeping it for now.
Tommy and Dare are working together at Ferrano Enterprises. A few of the subsidiaries were sold but they haven’t finished their clean-up. Tommy rented a house a few doors down from his father’s house. It’s just for now, while we figure things out, but I love the house and love that it’s just down the street from the family.
He’s doing therapy and he really seems like he’s doing better. He’s busy with work and he’s on the webcam with Oliver three times a week. I see a difference in him. It’s good. Really good.
I’ve been hanging out with the girls and with Angel, too. She had me, Tess, and Luc be bridesmaids and it’s been nice to have friends again. Now that I know we’re staying put here for at least a while, I’ve called Ruby and she, Mia, and Beth are coming for a girls’ night while Tommy is out of town on business. He’s going to be gone three days and then when he gets back, we’re going to Costa Rica.
While he’s gone, he’ll have Nino and Dex doing shiftwork staying with me here (and he had a state-of-the-art security system put in). Even though that’s overprotective, for Tommy it is huge progress.
The day after Dare’s wedding when I woke up, I felt something warm on top of me and something wet on my face.
I opened my eyes and was greeted with a big pink tongue. I winced and then realized it was a puppy’s tongue. I reached forward and grabbed the big yellow fluff ball and saw my husband sitting on the edge of the bed, a huge smile on his handsome face. A golden retriever, maybe about six or eight weeks old, was furiously licking the air and whining while I held him at arm’s length. He had a big pink bow around his neck.
“Oh, my gawwwwd!” I squished the puppy against me. “Tommy!”
“Like him?”
“I love him! I love you!” I put the pup down and threw myself at Tommy.
“Follow me.” He backed off the bed, putting me on my feet.
I scooped up my puppy and followed him downstairs and out the front door. Our house was similar to his father’s house. An older large Tudor style home, it had two big gates out front, which Tommy liked for security reasons. I liked it because the place had character. Big rooms, architectural details. Gorgeous gardens. Apparently, I had a bit of a green thumb. I’d been spending time tending the flower beds and really enjoying it. Tommy said we’d see what was what, and maybe we’d buy it.
Out front was a brand-new metallic orange Jeep. It had a big black bow across the hood.
“What?” I stared at it. I put the dog down. He went to a tree and lifted his leg and peed. “Good boy, Marley!” I said and leaned over and patted his head.
“Marley?” Tommy asked.
“Of course. What else could it be?” I replied, staring at the Jeep.
“Is that for me?”
“It is. It comes with driving lessons so you can finish your license.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he replied and put his arms around me. “Time to start livin’, baby girl. I’ll be a nervous wreck for the first bit so be patient with me, okay? And go slow. Don’t take off every five minutes or I’ll have to drag you home and tie you to the bed. Alrighty?”