Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
We hop out of the helicopter and start walking fast. It’s pitch black here, but they have a bright light pointed at the house that helps illuminate our way. Despite that, I nearly stumble when a man on a megaphone starts bargaining for Josslyn’s freedom. A handful of police officers storm us, making us halt. I’m about to shoulder past them, when a man in a suit walks up from behind them.
“Finn,” Chief Rivera says with a sharp nod.
I look toward the house. “What’s happening?”
“Are they … have you seen Josslyn?” Dame asks.
“She stood by the window an hour ago and they’ve assured us she’s unharmed.”
“An hour ago? How long has she been here?” Damian asks.
“Since one thirty or two.”
I blink, a rush of disbelief and pain shooting through me. “One thirty or two? You don’t even know?”
“She called—”
“She’s been in there for eight hours, and you guys are still out here!? Have you even tried to go inside?!” I ask, my voice rising.
“Our officers—”
“I don’t give a fuck about your officers and your goddamn protocols!”
Damian answers his phone and tells whoever it is that we just got here. “Yeah, I’ll be right over.”
“Go be with your parents,” I say.
“I’ll be right back,” he responds and starts jogging toward the front of the house with two officers at his sides.
I look at Captain Rivera. “What the hell have you been doing all day?!”
“These things take time,” he says, “But we know she’s safe in there. We have audio around the house.” He takes out his phone at the same time that a man starts speaking into a megaphone.
“Why is he addressing them like they’re both involved?” I ask when the megaphone shuts off. “Josslyn is being held captive in there!”
He raises an eyebrow. “You know that for sure?”
“Of course I…” I take a step back, frowning. “You think she’s part of this?!”
“There are four people in there right now. I don’t know what to think, but in my experience, if it was only the ex-boyfriend who was going to kill her, he already would have, and by now, he would’ve turned the gun on himself as well.”
He looks apologetic, but the way he speaks about it is chilling. Four people? What the motherfucking fuck. I instantly think of Onyx. If Tate brought that sex group here … I clench my fists. I’m going to fucking murder him. I brush past Rivera and start walking, not even pausing when I hear the click-clacks of their holsters behind me. If they draw their guns and aim for me, I’ll be dead, and they’ll be fucked.
“I don’t think any of you wants to find out what happens if you shoot a Barlow in this fucking city,” I say loudly without even looking back.
I hear a string of curses and suddenly Rivera is beside me, grabbing my arm.
“Jesus Christ. Is that a gun underneath your jacket?” Rivera asks, eyes wide.
I yank my arm away and glare at him. “I will fucking end you if you try to stop me from going in there.”
He knows it’s true. My father is the only reason he’s the chief of police. He’s the reason he’s on this farm. My last name is the only reason I was able to land a fucking helicopter here while this is happening. In any other city, they would’ve put me in handcuffs and in the back of a car. Not in Fairview, though. We have dirt on every single person of importance in this city.
We make and break careers. And while I don’t normally use my last name for gain, since my presence does the job for me, I will proudly use it to swing my dick around right now. We walk until we’re a few feet from the house and I stop to study it. Goddamn it. If this was a movie, I’d barge in there, kill Tate, and take Josslyn. I need to be smart about this, though. I know I won’t be able to accurately shoot him if he uses Josslyn as a shield, or takes off running. I’ve been to the gun range many times, but shooting a piece of paper and a moving target are wildly different. I take another step, but Rivera stops me by telling me he has something to show me.
“We have ears,” he says and plays an audio clip.
My heart stops beating when I hear Josslyn speaking. “Seriously, you don’t have to do this. I don’t understand what you want!” she says. The sound of her desperation and tears makes my heart break. “I did so much for you. I tried to help you. I tried to…” She starts to cry. “JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!”
No response.
“At least let Tate out! His wound will get infected! He’ll die if he doesn’t get help!” Josslyn shouts.