Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Hi,” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “My friend gave me her old phone, and I wanted to activate it with my number.”
“Great, come with me, and I’ll set that up for you.” She motioned for Kelsie to follow as she headed toward a computer station. Her long black hair hung down her back in a thick braid, swishing as she half bounced, half walked. “I’m Audrey, by the way. Are we transferring an old number or starting fresh?”
Oh, she hadn’t thought of that. Transferring her old phone number would be easier, but it meant her family could contact her. They would eventually discover her new information—they always did—but she’d prefer to remain off their radar as long as possible. A new number would buy her a little time. “Can I transfer the data from my old phone but have a new phone number?”
“Absolutely!” The store employee, who couldn’t have been much older than Kelsie, spoke every sentence like she was announcing important and exciting news. “As long as you have your old login information, you’re good to go.” She gave Kelsie a wide, toothy smile.
“I have it.”
“Great! Give me one minute…”
As she click-clacked on the computer, a man in an identical polo strode over to the computer station next to Audrey. Kelsie immediately tensed, and her insides did the now familiar churning that preceded an anxiety attack.
Don’t lose it. He’s not even paying attention to you.
She stuck her tongue between her teeth and bit down. The sharp zip of pain helped draw her from the brink of panic.
The man grabbed a water bottle, murmured something to Aubrey, winked at her, and wandered away.
Kelsie blew out a long, stale breath.
“All right, may I see the new phone?”
She blinked. “Hmm?”
“The phone?” Aubrey held out her hand, palm up.
“Oh, sorry. I drifted.” She handed over the device.
“No worries.”
Fifteen minutes later, Kelsie walked outside with a working phone chock full of all her old apps, contacts, and data but with a brand-spanking new phone number. It felt nice to be connected to the world again, but the big win today was surviving a trip to a store where multiple men had come and gone without losing her shit.
Her smile felt well-earned. As did the exhaustion now demanding she sit and take a breather. Most people didn’t understand how physically taxing it was to battle a mental enemy. Panic attacks sucked every ounce of energy she had. Even when she emerged victorious over her inner demons as she had today, she felt like she could sleep for a week.
After ten minutes of recovering and deep breathing in the driver’s seat of Brooke’s SUV, she had mustered enough energy to check her email on the new phone.
There, at the top of a very long list of unread emails, sat the job proposal from Brooke. She might as well give the contract a read, even though she had no intention of turning down the job. Brooke could have offered her gum and nachos as payment, and she’d happily accept the offer. A job working with all women in the one place she felt completely safe. In what universe would she say no to that?
Smiling, Kelsie went to open it when she caught the subject of the next email.
Family first, last, and above all.
Her blood ran cold. How many times had she heard that mantra through her childhood years? Countless. The phrase was uttered at every family gathering and before ending any phone call. Hell, her father even had the words tattooed above his heart.
And in their eyes, she’d forsaken her family. They’d let her get away with it—mostly—for years, but now it seemed they wanted her back. With a trembling finger, she touched the screen of her phone, opening the email. Brooke’s generous offer fell away from her radar as her terrifying family came into full focus.
My only daughter,
Kelsie rolled her eyes at the dramatic greeting she’d come to expect from her manipulative father.
It is time to come home. We have been patient with your need to spread your wings, but the time has come to end your foolishness and return to us. You are no longer a child and must not forsake your familial duties. In one month, I’ll be holding a press conference to declare my bid for governorship. Before then, we need to announce your engagement to Andrew Tinsley. It is imperative you cooperate.
If you do not return home on your own, we will be forced to take action to bring you home. Make no mistake, we know exactly where you are. Biker gangs do not scare us.
Her heart sank.
There it all went, gone in a puff of smoke, seconds after she’d finally felt her life was progressing positively. When her brother called her roughly ten days ago, he’d laid out the family’s plan for her to marry Andrew Tinsley. Andrew was the son of Cameron Tinsley, the current Speaker of the House. He was also the definition of a toxic male. Tabloids loved him because they didn’t have to make up sensational stories to feed their hungry readers.