Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
I do the same but onto the bed. Black spots dance in my eyes as I fight for air. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get any into my lungs.
“This couldn’t be more perfect.” Eve comes to stand next to the bed.
“We’re going to let her die?” Ryan asks.
“She tried to take him from me. She was going to take your inheritance too,” she hisses at him. They begin fighting back and forth. I no longer can make out their words. Every breath is more of a struggle than the last. Tears escape my eyes even as they fall closed.
Dane! I scream for him as darkness starts to take me. I swear I hear him shout my name back.
18
Dane
I stand outside the hotel, my eyes trained on the SUV parked in front of me. My wife and daughter are both tucked safely inside. I haven’t been able to let them out of my sight for the past week. I run my finger across my still raw knuckles. A reminder of my brother's betrayal.
There had been a moment when I thought I’d killed Ryan. I’d barely gotten to Kennedy in time. Eve tried to make a run for it while we were in the midst of it, but Carter quickly snagged her and called the police. I’m lucky I was able to get my wife her inhaler in time. The second I knew she was okay, I was all over my brother. I let my fists do the talking that day.
It had been Kennedy who saved me from a murder charge. I still can’t believe this fucking mess. Both Eve and Ryan are now sitting in jail waiting to find out their future. Their stupid plan crumbled to dust.
I don’t know what gave Eve the idea that she and I would ever have the possibility of being together in any way. I barely even spoke to her unless I was barking orders. Kennedy showed me the picture she’d seen of us. It was taken at some benefit that all of my employees that lived locally were invited to.
Eve and Ryan had been so sure I’d fall for their plan. They counted on me falling for Eve or at the very least sleeping with her. The twisted plan was for her to try to get pregnant and tie me to her for the rest of my life. Ryan was sure that once Eve got her foot in the door, he would have access to more of the family money. At the end of the day all of this had been about fucking money, which I don’t even understand. Ryan has never wanted for anything in his whole life.
He said he never had a plan to kill Kennedy. That had been all Eve and her jealousy. He still had it in his mind that Kennedy was beneath us. He gave that as his reasoning for trying to scare her off. He actually had the nerve to act as though he was looking out for me.
When I entered the hotel room and saw what was happening, I went straight to the bathroom to grab her inhaler, almost running into Ryan. He’d found it after the reality of what was happening kicked in. I’d snatched it out of his hand.
“Mr. Osborne,” the realtor says, meeting me out front of the hotel. “Everything has been handled. It was a mad dash, but we pulled it off.” He hands the key over.
They better have pulled it off with the amount of money I threw at them. New Hope is now going to be our permanent home. Kennedy still wants to be a part of the shelter. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.
“I appreciate it.” He really has worked his ass off to get it done.
“If you want to build something eventually, I have a few pieces of land in mind.”
“I’ll keep you posted,” I say before heading for the SUV and getting inside.
“Can we know the surprise now?” Faith asks from the back seat. She’s bouncing with excitement. I don’t think anyone has ever done anything special for her. That is going to change. I can see a lot of my wife in her eyes. Her gentle soul shines through.
“Almost time.” I manage to keep the secret to myself. Even though I’m dying to tell her.
“You’re killing me here.” She throws up her hands, making Kennedy laugh.
I pull out of the parking lot. Kennedy reaches over, taking my hand, our fingers tangling together. I enjoy the feel of her wedding ring against my skin. Ryan actually told me where to find it. He looked like a kicked puppy in the end. For now I’m done with him.
“It won’t be long,” I promise Faith.
“Fine.” She picks up the book she has with her and starts reading. She always has one in her hand.