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 don’t want that either,” I say truthfully. “But I can’t stand by and watch Aspen destroy herself for this cause that may never be put to bed.”
“Oh, it will be put to bed.”
“How can you say that?”
The look on Raven’s face is no longer resigned. His cheeks have pinked, and his eyes are on fire. “Because I’ll make sure it is. I’ll make sure every person involved with taking any of those women—with anything that happened to them on the island—is either dead or behind bars for life.”
“Do you still have your underground contacts?” I ask.
“One or two, but they aren’t particularly forthcoming right now.”
“Because you went canary.”
“Yeah, and I’d do it again. I’d do it again because I would do anything for Katelyn.”
“Even sacrifice your integrity?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“What is integrity anyway?” Raven scoffs. “It’s doing the right thing when no one else is looking. I did that. Sure, I ratted out King and his minions. I did it twice. But it was the right thing to do.”
I sigh. “I’d like to be able to disagree with you.”
“But you can’t.”
I shake my head. “I can’t. But betraying people who trusted you…”
“Really bad people,” he says.
“I get that. I totally get that.”
How I want to hate this guy.
But we’re on the same fucking side here, and he has sources that I don’t. And I’m beginning to see that integrity can be a little subjective.
“All right. Let’s cut a deal then. We take care of everyone who had anything to do with Katelyn or Aspen or any of these other women being taken.” I grip the arms of the comfy chair I’m sitting in. “But you have to do something for me.”
“And what’s that?”
“Keep Aspen out of it. She needs to let this go. It’s too emotional for her.”
“And it’s not for you?”
“Of course it is. It’s damned emotional for me. I love that woman. I’d like to personally execute every single person who’s harmed her. And I mean every single one. Part of being a SEAL is learning to keep your emotions at bay. It’s damned difficult sometimes, Luke, but I do it. And it’s my personal belief that it’s better for Aspen to just let this go.”
He smiles. “You called me Luke.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Seriously? That’s what you got out of my monologue?”
“I figure it may be significant.” Then his smile fades. “You say you want to keep your emotions at bay, that it’s what a good SEAL would do. Yet you admit this is emotional for you, Buck, and it clearly is. It’s written all over your face.”
I grip the arms of the chair harder, steel myself, but emotion still pours out of me. “Seems I’ve found my Achilles’ heel. And her name is Aspen Davis.”
8
ASPEN
Katelyn and I play with the dogs a bit before going back in the house. Luke and Buck have been in his office for over an hour, and I’m so curious.
Curious what they’re talking about.
How do I let them off the hook for this?
How do I make sure the three of them stay safe?
There’s only one way.
“Katelyn?”
“Yeah?”
“What if I told you I’d let all of this go.”
“You will?”
“I’ve kind of allowed this to overtake me. And now, because of my interference, two people are dead.”
“Yes, I’m sorry for that.” Katelyn pats my thigh. “It must be so difficult for you, and Gloria didn’t deserve to die. Plus, she may have known more.”
“I think Gloria did know more. I think that’s why she’s dead. I think that’s also why her husband, who’s totally innocent in all of this, is also dead.”
“Still, you can’t know for sure. This could’ve had nothing to do with you.”
I shake my head. “That would be a little too convenient.”
“Maybe. Is it too much to hope that it’s all over?”
“It’s not all over. Not for either of us, Katelyn. Not as long as Ice Man is out there.”
Katelyn goes white.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “I know I’m perfectly safe here. I mean, this place is like a bunker. You wouldn’t believe the security we’ve got.”
“How much security do you have?” I glance around, scanning the area. “I mean, are you watching me get undressed tonight?”
“Of course not. But the guestroom cameras are turned on when no one’s here.”
“So every part of this house is covered?” I hold back a wince. How am I going to leave undetected?
“Every part,” Katelyn says.
“You’re not…”
“What?”
“It’s just that… Buck told me about his sister. About how Luke kept her trapped inside the house.”
This very house. I don’t mention that fact.
“I know all of that,” Katelyn says. “Luke and I don’t have any secrets.”
“Then you know that it was this house.”
“I do. Luke offered to sell it for me. He said we could get our own place. But this place has been in his family for three generations, and I couldn’t let him do that.”