Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
"Carter doesn't know, but I had to come. I told him I was staying a night or two with a friend. I didn't know where to go. I overheard Carter talking about Reggies’s bar, and when I got into town, I met someone at the gas station, who told me where to find you. I think his name was Ethan?"
West growls, which takes Shona by surprise, and she shrinks back in shock. "God damn it. That fucking useless piece of fucking shit. He'll get us all fucking killed."
"You said Carter doesn't know that you’re here. But does he know that I am?" Skye's voice has a hint of desperation, but she’s trying to keep herself composed.
Shona casts her eyes down again, the shadows beneath them deep and dark. “He doesn’t know exactly where … yet.”
I step forward, drawing her attention. "I saw you the other night. You and Carter. Looking cozy. And with Hallie, too."
Shona sniffs as fresh tears break her attempts to compose herself.
"I was taken in, Skye. I’m so sorry. After you left, he made a play for me. You know how he is, throwing his cash around, indulging me, making me feel special. Until it became obvious that he used me to get to you. He took my phone. He read your message. Then everything changed."
Skye slowly lifts her gaze and silently addresses each one of us in turn. Her eyes are pleading with us to say or do something.
"He's angry, Skye. So angry. I didn't know how bad he was … I never saw what you saw, not really." Her voice trails to a whisper. "He's not going to rest until …"
She doesn't finish the sentence, but we all know what remains unsaid.
He's coming for Skye. He wants to finish what he started once and for all.
"What about Hallie? Where is she?" Skye sobs.
Shona shakes her head. "I was caring for her, but when Carter found the message, he took her away … to his sister's maybe. I overheard him telling her that she'll need to travel … I think he's planning to get Hallie out of the country for a while."
Tears leak from Skye's eyes, but she swipes them away and turns to me, then West and finally Jack with pleading eyes.
Help me, they say. Help me get my baby back.
She won't ask us outright, but every fiber of her being strains to express her desperation.
Jack moves forward, seating himself at the table and resting his gun across the polished wood. He takes a shot of Jack Daniels and tosses it back. He taps his cellphone, and the sound of a dialing tone on the loudspeaker moves to a calling tone. Moments later, the call is answered, a gruff cough being the only indication of this.
"It's me." Jack's voice is low, steady, and strong.
Whoever Jack called is listening only.
"We can't wait. It has to be brought forward. Tomorrow. See what you can do."
The sound of someone inhaling deeply and then breathing out audibly is evident on the line.
The tension is clear.
"Leave it with me." The call is cut dead.
Jack sits still with his eyes closed. Eventually, he surveys us all and reaching one beefy arm around to grip the back of his neck, he fixes his gaze on me and growls.
"Give me Liam's number." Gripped by emotional and physical exhaustion, Skye and Shona move to the couch. Shona pulls out her phone to show Skye pictures of Hallie, but Jack snatches it and turns it off, then searches it for a tracking device, which he doesn't find.
"You can't leave," he says. "Not until this thing is resolved."
Shona nods, and Skye stands abruptly like she has suddenly realized what 'resolved' means.
This situation will come to a head, and the cards will fall.
We need to eat, so I rustle up some pasta with a ready-made sauce, hoping quick and filling will be enough. Skye helps me, running on a kind of dazed autopilot as she slowly grates cheese, staring into the middle distance.
Jack disappears for more hushed conversations. Now Shona is in our midst; we can't speak openly.
Afterward, Jack offers to sleep on the armchair with his gun resting across his body. I know his priority is making sure Shona doesn't flee into the night.
He wants her where he can keep his eyes on her.
Skye finds a blanket for Shona and hovers in the kitchen.
"I'll sleep with you tonight," West tells her, fixing himself some water and offering some to Skye.
Skye touches my arm, and I pull her into my chest, feeling her sink against me. Her tiny frame feels so fragile, like a bird that's fallen to the earth, all its delicate bones fractured.
"I'm sorry," she whispers. "Sorry that I’ve stolen your peace."
I stoop to kiss the top of her head. The scent of almonds and something sweet is familiar to me now, and she grips me tighter.