Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
He wants a final showdown, and I’m afraid of what he might do to get it.
“WHERE IS SHE?”
My head jerks up just before I reach the store, when a woman’s voice calls out to me. I’m confused for a moment, wondering if the words are directed at me, but when I see her face, I can tell they are. I have seen enough of the news to know who she is – she is Nia’s mother. Glancing around, I see more than a few people have stopped out the front of the store to watch.
Great.
This is the last thing I need.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know,” I say, carefully, trying not to make matters worse.
The woman, with her tight blond bun and stern blue eyes, thrusts her phone in my direction, turning the screen towards me.
“Then explain to me why you were at the prison, visiting your father?”
Confusion washes over me as I stare at the screen on the phone, and see a picture of myself standing outside of the prison, looking guilty as hell. I was so nervous being there, in fear of this very thing, so of course I look worried. The caption is enough to make me recoil. Daughter of the infamous Shadow Butcher caught visiting her father for the first time, amidst suspicions that she has something to do with missing local girl, Nia.
No.
This isn’t happening.
“I don’t know where your daughter is,” I say, my voice shaking. “I swear.”
“You’re a liar,” she screams, throwing her hands up. “Where is she? What have you done with her? Tell me! Tell me or so help me God, you will feel the fire of hell cast over you.”
Jesus.
She’s screaming right in my face, and I’m forced to take a step back, my palms sweating as I try to figure a way out of this. More people have gathered, and are all watching me, their phones held up high to capture the moment.
“I have never, nor would I ever, hurt another person. I’m not my father. I would never touch your daughter.”
“Liar,” she bellows, and a woman gets out of a nearby car and rushes over, taking her by the shoulders. “Give her back to me, sinner. You will go to hell for this. You will feel the wrath. I want my child back. She belongs to me.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I try to fight the tears. The woman sounds delusional, but I’ve never lost a child so I have no idea what that could do to someone.
A hand on my shoulder has me jerking, but the calm voice that follows, brings a sense of relief. “I’m sorry about your daughter, ma’am, but you have no right to do this.”
Jace.
“Come on,” he urges, turning me away and rushing me towards his car.
I get in, without hesitation, my heart racing. He takes off, and only when we’re out of the parking lot, do I exhale the breath I was holding. “Thank you,” I say, softly. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“I guess it was lucky we were at the store at the same time,” he smiles, warmly. “Was that Nia’s mother?”
I nod. “I guess you saw the news articles, too?”
He nods. “Yeah, it’s the talk of the town. Don’t worry, Mera. One day soon, this will all be a bad memory and nothing more.”
I wish that were the case, I really do.
“I appreciate that, but I fear until Nia is returned, I’m never going to be free.”
He falls silent, driving away from the town. I don’t know where. I don’t really care. I just want to get out of there. The last few days have been rough, and I feel as though I’ve taken two steps back when it comes to finding answers, even though I have already received so many. I just need this to be done with. It’s all I want. To move on with my life free of this.
“Do you want to go to a café I like? Are you hungry?”
I glance at Jace. “I guess I could eat. Thank you.”
We continue driving silently for a moment, when I notice Jace keeps looking in the rearview mirror. Concerned, I turn in my seat, glancing out at the back of the car to see nothing more than a white van following behind us.
“Is everything okay?” I question.
“I think that van is following us.”
My heart skips a beat as I turn and look again. Jace turns down a street, and of course, the van does, too. Maybe they’re just going in the same direction? Looping around, Jace ends up back on the highway and the van follows the exact route. I glance back at Jace, hoping we’re wrong but thinking he may just be right about this.
“Just keep driving,” I say carefully. “Head towards the club.”
Jace nods, and we keep driving down the long, quiet highway. It’s too quiet, and that makes me feel uneasy. Why does there seem to be nobody on this road? Rubbing my hand over my chest, I try to remain calm, but something about this situation feels wrong. Like a terrible thing is about to happen, and I don’t know how to stop it.