Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“She can do both,” he assured me with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Walker returned with my cell, and I took it with trembling hands.
I called Aria first to explain, and with her usual blunt efficiency, she took charge and told me she’d call her father right away.
Five minutes later, my phone rang.
“It’s Wesley,” I told the guys before I answered. “Mr. Howard.”
After I explained what was happening, Wesley informed me that his people couldn’t find Nathan, either, and he insisted I call the police. I promised to keep any mention of Allegra out of my story, and he seemed relieved to hear it.
Walker called the police immediately.
We only had to wait in my broken cottage for about fifteen minutes before two constables arrived from the police station in the nearby town of Tain. Ardnoch was too small to have its own station. They took my statement while Walker stood at my side. Brodan had gone outside to call and update Lachlan. I was careful about what I told the police, explaining my past with Nathan, minus the incident with Allegra. That he’d recently gotten out of prison, etc. We had no proof, however, that it was Nathan.
Thus, the police informed us the cottage was now a crime scene. Until detective inspectors and a crime unit could arrive from Inverness, I had to move out. Not that Callie and I could stay while it was in its current state. The female constable escorted me upstairs, and I packed an overnight bag for me and Callie. The intruder had destroyed some of our clothes. The bastard. Like I had money to buy a new wardrobe.
Upon returning downstairs, wondering where on earth we’d stay and how much it would cost, I followed the constables and Walker out of the house as they locked it up. They told us they’d be in touch and departed.
I stared after them in a daze, wondering why life continued to throw this kind of mess at me. Had I done something bad in a past life? Had I done something in this life? Yeah … I’d been a stupid kid who had sex with the wrong guy. I didn’t think that was worthy of punishment, though.
“Sloane.”
At Walker’s hard voice, I unglued my eyes from the retreating police vehicle and noticed faces peering out of windows, a few stray folks walking past us, staring and whispering.
I flinched inwardly.
“Sloane.”
I looked at Walker, who kept his distance from me. After I was sick, he helped me clean up and hugged me. But since then, we hadn’t touched.
“I spoke with Aria,” he said. “We agreed you’re safer on the estate for now.”
Great. Back in the tiny staff lodge where we stayed before Monroe got me the deal with the cottage. I knew I shouldn’t be ungrateful, but I had orders to fill and I needed money more than ever. And the lodge didn’t cut it for baking.
“We know you need a kitchen, so you’re staying with Aria.”
That news shocked me out of my stupor. “With Aria?”
“At her house on the estate. No arguments. We’ll collect Callie now, and I’ll drive you over.”
Brodan stepped forward to hug me good night. I squeezed him and said, “Tell Monroe I’m fine. Please. I’ll call her later.”
He looked like he didn’t believe me, but he agreed.
Then it was just me and Walker, driving toward Caelmore to pick up my daughter. I barely even noticed his quietness. Butterflies raged in my belly—what would I tell Callie?
My daughter was ten years old. She’d already been traumatized by what happened that night with me and Allegra. I did not want to have to tell her that her dad was possibly terrorizing me.
I felt like I was outside my body as we pulled up to Regan and Thane’s. My legs seemed to move without my permission, taking me to the door. Regan opened it before I could knock and pulled me into a tight hug.
“Where is she?” I asked softly.
“In the living room. She knows something is going on.”
Those butterflies went wild, and I sucked in a breath to tamp down my nausea. Walker was at my back as we followed Regan into the living room.
Eilidh called out hi and Thane shot me a worried look.
But my eyes drifted past them both to where Callie sat with Lewis on the couch.
She hopped up at the sight of me and flew across the room to wrap her arms around me. “What’s going on?” Her little voice trembled.
“Come with me,” I urged, leading her into the laundry room for some privacy.
I saw Walker in my peripheral, standing in the doorway. But my focus was on my daughter as I smoothed her hair off her face. Her cheeks were pale, eyes so filled with worry.
No ten-year-old should ever look like that.