Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I nod. “Thank you. I’m glad you were there to take Wallace out of commission before he shot me. Or worse yet, Aspen.”
“That wouldn’t have been pretty.”
“I know. A left-handed shot. He could’ve done some damage.”
“But he didn’t. And he’s going to be put away now.”
“Is he? I just have a feeling that Chris Pollack and the albino are not long for this world.”
“It doesn’t matter. You and Aspen got the whole story out of him. You’ll need to testify.”
I nod. “So what’s the connection to the albino?” I ask.
“Turns out he was a buddy of Wallace’s from the island. He’s the one who took care of Greg Wallace in prison. Seems Greg kept protesting, saying he was an innocent man, that he had been framed. The thing is? He never knew his brother was the one who framed him. No one believed him because he’d been dishonorably discharged from the Navy.”
“Right. Darnell Davis told me all about that.”
“Right,” Luke says.
“So what happened then? Harrison must have used Greg’s name when he went to the island.”
“Yeah. Greg Wallace’s name was on that manifest. Harrison used his brother’s name to go to the island and commit horrific acts, and somehow or another he met the albino, Fernando Smith. Whether they knew each other in LA, I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter.”
“How did Fernando Smith end up taking Greg Wallace’s place in prison?”
“He got in under the guise of being a guard. Then he took care of Greg and simply put on his prison orange jumpsuit. Obviously they had a man on the inside helping. The guards don’t pay a lot of attention to the prisoners. They’re all numbers. Not faces or names.”
“But Smith is albino. Surely they’d remember him.”
“Nope. They see all kinds in prison, and they cease to be human to the guards after a while. Apparently Smith had a deal with Harrison to get sprung after Pollack was taken care of.”
I nod. “It’s a pretty brilliant plan when you think about it.”
“I know. Somehow the albino escaped prosecution. The name of Fernando Smith doesn’t appear anywhere on any of the manifests.”
“Well, he was there. He…” I shake my head. “I wish I could kill that motherfucker with my bare hands.”
“Yeah. Now you know how I feel about Chris Pollack.”
I nod.
Seems Luke and I have finally found common ground.
I’m not sure I’ll ever call him a friend.
But at least I can call him an ally.
I don’t feel like he’s my enemy anymore.
I believe he truly cares about Katelyn. I only wish he could’ve cared about my sister that same way, but then? Things may have turned out completely differently.
Sometimes things happen for a reason. Little puzzle pieces all fall into place, kind of like Tetris.
And maybe Luke is part of the puzzle that brought me to Aspen.
He did save my life today. And for that I can’t help but be grateful.
“So…” I rake my fingers through my hair. “Help on the inside? How do we find out who’s helping them? And how do we get our hands on this albino?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Luke says.
“Yeah, so have I. There’s only one way, isn’t there? Aspen’s going to have to file a report. Tell the police what the albino did to her.”
Luke nods. “That’s the only way. I mean, you and I both have contacts. The Wolfes have contacts. We can get them all offed, but I made a promise to myself when I asked Katelyn to marry me that I would be legit. I wouldn’t commit any crimes or cause any crimes to be committed.”
“You just shot a man today,” I say.
“So did you, and that’s different. I was defending someone.”
I nod. “Yeah, so was I. Is this going to affect your immunity deal?”
“No. I’ve already talked to my old man about that. Technically, I’m not supposed to be carrying a firearm, but my old man cut a deal with the officer on my case.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I am. Because I saved your life today, Buck. Your life is important to Aspen and important to Katelyn. The two of them are important to me.”
I nod.
That’s what it all comes down to in the end.
He loves Katelyn, and I love Aspen.
I love Katelyn and he loves Aspen, as well.
The two of them are what bind us together.
We’re no longer bound by my sister, but by the women we love.
And I can learn to live with that.
I have to.
46
ASPEN
I’m still shaking when I go to bed.
Buck comes to me, holds me.
He doesn’t try to fuck me or even kiss me.
Instinctively, he knows what I need.
I could’ve died today.
Buck could’ve died today.
We’re here. We’re alive.
So why am I lying here like a dead fish?
I turn in his arms, and I press my lips to his.
“Baby?”
“Please. I need you. Make love to me. Slowly this time. Show me why we’re still here. Show me what’s important in life. What’s beautiful.”