Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
"Okay. Good. And by the way, before I go, I wanted to tell you—we're having a baby."
We embrace in a big old hug before my phone rings again. It's probably Sophia, wondering where the hell I am. I pull it out of my purse. I look at the number and it's my uncle, Penny's dad. "It's your dad."
"Hey, Uncle Denver,” I answer with a bit of hesitation. I’m not sure why he’s calling me, but I get a bad feeling.
"Sweetie, where are you?" my uncle asks. I sense the tension in his voice, and it makes me a bit nervous. Yep. It has to be something bad.
"I'm at the bakery with Anthony."
"Take a seat, please."
"Okay." I walk over to the table and chairs and have a seat while Anthony looks on apprehensively. "What's going on?" I ask, gripping Anthony’s hand that he extends to me as he stands behind me.
"I don’t know how to put this, so I’m going to say it flat out.” With a long pause, he sighs and then says, “Your mother and stepfather are dead, and your stepsister is missing."
"Oh my God,” I gasp, catching the attention of everyone around us. I don't know how to feel, but shock is the first to hit me. Elle comes up to me with a bottle of water as Anthony bends down in front of me, cradling my face.
"Precious, what's going on?" Anthony growls.
"Let me talk to Blade, sweetie," my uncle says.
I nod as if my uncle can see me, and then I hand my husband the phone. "What did you say to upset my wife?"
"Her parents have been killed."
"Oh shit. Okay, and the sister?"
"Missing."
"Son of a bitch."
"The detectives want to meet with Jules today if possible."
"I'll drive her up there. The same station?"
"Yes."
"We'll be on our way."
"Sophia and I are never going to meet," I blurt out, feeling worn out.
Chapter Fifteen
Blade
We’ve just left the station, and I’ve nothing to tell my wife who’s confused and mentally exhausted. She’s been hit with so many blows lately that she hasn’t said a word in over an hour. Today was supposed to be a happy day, but now it’s a depressing moment. She didn’t like her stepfather, but she still loved her mother. Especially the woman she used to be. It’s that loss that bothers her. Frankly, I’m glad they’re dead, but my biggest concern is where the sister is. She’s the bitch I don’t trust.
Her sudden disappearance bothers me, and my guys need to discuss it.
“My precious Jules, please talk to me.”
“I’m sorry, Anthony. I don’t mean to be so silent. I’m just a bit overwhelmed by it all. I love you so much. I don’t want you to worry. I still plan to do what I said. I can’t cower in fear and well, I’m not as upset as I should be, and maybe that’s why I’m quiet. Please don’t fret. I’m sure I’ll freak out a bit later, but I need some normalcy.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to bring that sense of peace to you.”
“You need to talk to the Riders, don’t you?”
“I do. Do you want to come to the clubhouse this time?”
“Yes. I need to see something outside the walls of our house.” She frowns, biting her tongue. “I didn’t mean anything bad.”
I press my finger to her lips. “I know what you mean, my beauty. I get it. You’ve been cooped up too long. I want you to relax and take it easy. Your husband is going to do all he can to make you smile again.”
I kiss the fuck out of her before driving away from the station. I need to hold her all night long, but for now, matters need to be dealt with, and she's right. The guys and I have to talk. I learned a couple of things while we were there. It's obvious that the police believe that we have something to do with it, although they have no proof.
Honestly, after the re-arrest of Brandon, we left the matter in the hands of the police, avoiding all unnecessary trouble. After we left, they were less suspicious, but I'm going to make sure the guys know about the heat on us.
"So do you want to go to their funerals?" I have to ask, and I’ll do whatever she wants, even though I could give a fuck if their bodies are left out to be eaten like they used to do in Ancient Greece to their enemies—carrion for the vultures.
"Nope. My uncle said he'd handle everything for that. I want no part in it all."
"I know. You have the right to hate them even though they’re dead. Please remember that."
"Thank you. You're right. They tried to kill me, after all. At least my stepfather did. I'm not too sure that my mother didn't know." She doesn’t ask the question, but I’ve learned to read my woman. Jules wants to know the truth. As much as it pains me to tell her, she needs to know.