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 go for the water.
The food is still warm, which means it was placed here recently.
What time is it? I have no idea. I don’t know where my phone is—somehow it didn’t make it to the hospital with me and Nurse what’s her name never got me a new one.
When I finish my dinner, I go into the attached bathroom, take care of things, and then walk to the closet. Perhaps there’s something I can wear.
Yes, a fluffy white robe—the kind you find in posh hotel rooms—hangs inside. Since it’s all I have at the moment, I don it and then leave the bedroom.
An older woman in jeans and an apron stands at the counter.
“Mr. Moreno?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“You shouldn’t be up.”
“I’m fine. Are you the person I should thank for the delicious fajitas?”
“Yes, I’m glad you enjoyed them. I’m Katina, Mr. Ashton’s housekeeper.”
“Well, thank you again.” I glance outside. “I guess I’ll join the others on the deck.”
“I should get you back to bed.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m fine.” I smile, even though it makes my face ache. “And thank you again for the dinner.”
“You’re most welcome. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
“Maybe just some more water?”
“Of course. But can I convince you to go back to bed first?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Very well then. I’ll bring your water out to the deck.”
“Thank you.”
I step through the door to be met by Edgar and Jed.
“Buck!” Aspen stands. “What are you doing up?”
“I just ate the dinner you left for me.”
“Good. I hope you swallowed every bit.”
“I did. I was actually pretty hungry. I’m feeling better.”
“That’s good.” This from Luke. “Because you and I need to talk.”
“O…kay,” I reply.
“Alone.”
“Oh, hell no,” Aspen says. “If you’re going to talk about what’s going on with me, I need to be involved.”
“Actually, it’s not about you.” Luke’s tone darkens. “It’s about…my previous life.”
Aspen doesn’t look convinced, but she backs off.
“Now?” I ask.
“Yeah. While you’re awake would be good.”
I resist an eye roll. “Okay.”
I follow Luke back inside the house, down the hallway on the other side of the bedrooms to what appears to be his office.
“Come on in.” He takes a seat behind a large mahogany desk and gestures for me to sit down in one of the chairs on the opposite side.
When I drop into the chair, it’s the most comfortable damned cushion my ass has ever sat in.
Or maybe I’m just that tired.
“What is it?” My tone is not friendly.
“I know you’ll never like me. I’ve accepted that.”
“Good.”
Luke inhales and pushes some papers around his desk. “But we’re on the same side here. We both want what’s best for Katelyn and Aspen.”
“Keep talking.”
“Aspen has decided she doesn’t want her father involved.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, and for what it’s worth, I agree with her. You and I both have much better contacts than Darnell Davis. I looked into him. He was an excellent SEAL, highly decorated. He retired as a captain.”
“I know all that.”
“A man of integrity.”
“All SEALs are,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Which is why we need to keep him out of this. You and I both know that we’re going to need to bend the law here.”
I don’t reply. He’s right, but it still rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like his implication that Darnell is a man of integrity but I am not. I am a fucking man of integrity, damn it.
Still, I’ll break at every law on the planet if it means keeping Aspen safe. Does that affect my integrity? I don’t feel like it does, but if so?
So fucking be it.
I feel like a snake is slithering up my spine.
“You haven’t been able to talk her out of this?” I say.
“Was I supposed to?”
“She’s hell-bent on vengeance, Raven.”
“It’s Luke.”
I don’t resist it this time. I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Luke.”
“You’ve got to give me an inch, Buck.”
“I don’t have to give you a goddamned thing.”
Luke sighs. “I understand.”
And I think he does understand. The expression on his face isn’t angry. It’s resigned. Were our situations reversed, he’d feel the same way I do.
“But like it or not,” he continues, “we’re in this together. I love Katelyn and you…”
I clear my throat. Damn. Still hurts. “I love her. I love Aspen.”
“I figured as much.”
“Which is why I need to save her from this. From this fate. I know what it’s like to want revenge so badly that you can actually feel your blood boiling. It almost broke me once. I won’t let that happen to the woman I love.”
“That’s not your choice to make.”
“I have to do what I can. And as much as I hate myself for it, I need to ask for your help.”
“Part of me agrees with you,” Luke says. “But part of me needs to see all these people taken care of. As long as any of them are still out there, both Aspen and Katelyn are in danger. I can’t have that.”