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)
“Are you okay?”
“I think so,” I whispered.
Aria released me, her gaze assessing, before she turned to where Walker stood with Callie. She gave Callie a beautiful smile and held out a manicured hand that was, for once, bare of any jewelry. “It’s nice to see you again, Callie.”
Callie gave her a small, tired smile as she took her hand. “You too.”
Aria tugged on her gently. “Come on in. I was just making hot chocolate. You want one?”
“Yes, please.”
Aria shot me a look as if to say “your kid is adorable.” It almost made me smile.
“Go on inside,” I urged Callie. “I’ll be in, in a minute.”
She gave me a reluctant nod and looked up at Walker. “Night, Walker.”
“Night, wee yin.” He squeezed her shoulder, and then she followed Aria into the house.
I waited for Walker to say something reassuring. To hug me.
Instead, he stared stonily at me as he handed over the overnight bag. “We’ll talk in the morning.” With that, I got an abrupt nod, and he jumped into his SUV.
Hurt scored through me.
Stupid freaking hurt.
Steeling myself against it, I walked into the house without looking back.
Twenty-One
WALKER
I stormed into my house, not bothering to switch on any lights until I reached the back bedroom I’d transformed into a home gym. Beyond the expensive workout machines, hanging from the ceiling in the corner was a boxing bag.
I palmed the light switch, illuminating the room and my destination. Pulling my sweater off, I dumped it on the floor and didn’t bother wrapping my hands before fury exploded out of my fists.
The bag swayed and jolted brutally with my assault as I slammed into it in a flurry of impotent fucking rage. Sweat dripped down my face, my arms ached, and I didn’t know how much time had passed until one particular brutal punch caused a worrying crack above me.
Panting, I looked up at the ceiling. “Fuck.” I’d knocked the fixing loose, and it was tearing at the plasterwork.
Glancing down at my hands, I noted my swelling knuckles.
It was worth it. I felt marginally better.
Striding into the kitchen, I pulled out ice and threw it into a bowl large enough for my hand to fit. Then with one hand in it, I used the other to pull my phone out of my pocket.
I hit the number for my mate Dexter who I worked with back in LA and who didn’t mind doing a bit of dirty work. With the time difference, I wasn’t worried about waking him. I wouldn’t have been, anyway. This couldn’t wait.
“Walk, how you doing, man?” Dex answered, sounding relaxed.
“I need a favor.”
“Tell me.” His tone sharpened.
“Name is Kyle Brixton. I’ll send you what details I have on him when we hang up. I want him found, and I want you to do whatever it fucking takes to get information out of him on the whereabouts of Nathan Andros. Whatever it takes, Dex.”
“Understood.”
Twenty-Two
SLOANE
Ignoring Frannie’s worried glances, I pushed on with my work that morning just as I had done every day since the cottage was trashed. Some people might think me crazy, but I felt trapped on the estate. I was living in a beautiful coastal house with incredible views, yet all I wanted was our cottage back.
The police had taped off the house and dusted it for prints. We were still waiting on word if they’d found anything. Two detective inspectors interviewed me again. They also interviewed Walker and Brodan. I only knew that because of a quick exchange of words with Walker when he collected the cakes I needed delivered. Callie was still on mid-term break for the rest of the week but Walker thought it was better she stayed on the estate. That meant no tae kwon do until this was over.
I hated that.
I hated how trapped we both were.
Even if Aria was being super cool about it all. She wasn’t around a lot because she worked long hours, but when she was, she was extremely sweet to Callie.
One person who was not being sweet, at least not to me, was Walker. Other than the cake delivery, he was avoiding me. His texts were blunter than usual and did not encourage conversation.
It made me furious. Hadn’t we agreed that if one of us didn’t want to do this thing anymore, we’d talk about it? Also, why did he suddenly not want to? Was I proving to be too much of a hassle? If so, why continue to protect Callie? Why not let someone else do it? I knew Brodan and Monroe would have someone watching over us in a heartbeat. My best friend had driven out with Lennox to see me last night, and the baby cuddles made me feel a little better. Seeing Monroe had, too, of course. I tried to paste on my brightest smile to prove I was doing okay, but the woman saw right through me.