Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“At some point, Cade must have been helping them because he did mention he thought they were shipping drugs but when he found out it was people he stepped away.”
Celeste frowns. “I can’t say I blame him; I would have too. They went missing a while back, or they disappeared on their own. The heat was on and they were in some big trouble. I don’t know what happened, but I overheard Darth saying that they had stolen something. What, I don’t know. Then, they were gone. We put out missing persons reports, looked, but there was no trace.”
That’s terrifying.
“Do you think they’re still alive?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I honestly don’t know. Part of me wonders if they just started again somewhere else, but another part wonders if they got murdered. It’s the not knowing that keeps me awake at night. No matter what I do, I just can’t get peace. He was a good kid, growing up we were so close, it’s so hard to accept that he went down that path.”
I feel for her, I can see just how much she loves him written all over her face.
“I’m so sorry, it sounds like the two of you were close.”
“He’s my little brother, we were just ... I don’t know, there was a bond.”
I reach over the table, taking her hand. It’s hard not to, she looks so broken.
“I’m trying to find out what happened, I know it won’t be easy, but I have a few resources on my side that I’m hoping will help. If you can tell me anything at all you know, I’ll do my best.”
“All I know is they were working for a guy named Marshall. I don’t have a last name, but I know he was the big guy around here. They were all working for someone bigger, maybe from overseas, and they were being paid so much money ... until they weren’t.”
My stomach twists.
I hope Clara hasn’t gotten herself killed.
“I’ll do what I can, and I’ll keep you updated. I’m so sorry you have had to deal with this for so long.”
Celeste smiles. “I’m just glad to have someone to talk about it with. I’m certain everyone thought I was crazy when I wouldn’t let it go.”
I know how that feels.
The more I dig, the harder I’m finding it to let go, too.
LAUGHING, I TAKE A sip of my soda as I sit across from Charlie. Being around him again takes me back to a place I long forgot about. A past that I would have much rather keep buried. He brings out a part of me I thought I had lost, the strong determined part. The one who would fight for anything. I enjoy his company and, mostly, his sense of humor.
“Come on, Charlie, surely you’ve been on a date after that?”
Chuckling, he sips his beer. “Nope, that was the last one and I’m fairly certain she never looked back when she got the hell out of there.”
Poor Charlie told me a rather embarrassing story about getting sick on a date and being in the toilet too long. When he got out, she was gone, thinking he stood her up. He tried to tell her what happened, but she had him blocked on everything before he got the chance. I can only imagine how horrifying that would have been.
“Well, you should get back out there. There are plenty of good women left.”
“I don’t know,” he murmurs, smiling, his eyes light. “I think they’re all taken.”
I wave a hand. “Nonsense.”
“I’m glad you made contact again,” he tells me. “I spent so long wondering where you were.”
“I didn’t have the best time when I was younger, but I’m glad I made peace with my past.”
He came to me this time, when I gave him the information I had. He told me he wanted to talk in person, so I agreed to have a drink with him. I can’t be too long, as Ciara is due any day now and I’m going to be taking care of Danny while she goes to the hospital, so I need to get things ready at home. Besides, I have to get Skye from daycare in an hour.
“You should make peace with Cade’s, too,” he points out, narrowing his eyes.
I wave a hand. “You clearly don’t know me very well if you think I’m going to do that.”
He rolls his eyes. “I know you plenty well enough.”
“Are you going to tell me what you came here to talk about or are we going to keep dodging the subject?”
He grins. “Maybe I’m just enjoying your company.”
I raise my brows. “Or maybe you don’t want to tell me.”
He exhales, keeping the grin, and takes another sip of beer. “I know who they were working for.”
My eyes widen. “And you waited this long to tell me?”