Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
A little while later, he pulled into the driveway at the house. When I started to get out, he stopped me. “Wait.”
I sat back.
He reached over into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
I gave him a glare. “You could’ve just asked.”
“This was easier, less of a fight.” He was already going through it, and when he paused, I knew he was reading the texts from Jake. His jaw clenched, and he hit a button before he handed the phone back to me. He’d deleted all the text messages, including the one to him. “I’m going to get you a new phone.”
I started to protest, but then shrugged. “He’ll need to have my number if we need to get ahold of each other for any reason.”
“I’m aware, thank you.” Still biting.
I ignored that.
“He’s pushing you, and I don’t like it. He shouldn’t be pushing.”
“He wants to get to know me.”
“He shouldn’t.”
I could feel the glare coming from him, even though it was dark. A few shadows played over his face, and I could see his lips, his chin. He had a nice jawline. It was making me feel restless again.
What was wrong with me? Raize had killed a guy simply because he talked back when he shouldn’t have. Actually, that wasn’t altogether true. He’d asked me if the henchman would be a problem. The answer was yes. That’s why he’d shot him.
How could I be this restless again? Twice in one day? I’d lost my mind. That was the only explanation.
As if reading my mind, Raize asked, “You okay now?”
“About Jake or…?”
“You need to get off again?”
I inhaled a sharp breath. It was like he was asking if I needed a hit of coke or something. So casual.
“I’m fine,” I clipped out.
“Good. Stop being nice to Jake. I need to see if he’ll stop pushing you.”
I’d been about to ask what it would mean if Jake didn’t stop pushing, but then I thought about it. I didn’t want to know.
I went inside, not waiting for Raize, and I walked through the kitchen. The guys weren’t here. I didn’t know where they were sleeping, but I went to my room, flipped the light on, and locked the door.
It was then I realized I’d had it locked this morning, too.
That hadn’t stopped Raize.
I didn’t know how I felt about that, and then I was just so tired of everything.
19
Ash
I slept late the next morning, and when I got up, I found coffee, toast, and a note left for me in the kitchen.
Boss said to let you sleep. We’re off doing recon. Call if you’re bored –Jake
The toast was cold. The coffee was colder.
I had the house to myself.
I felt like I’d just scored a touchdown without ever carrying the football. Score.
I wasn’t going to ask what recon they were doing. There were so many different agendas and lies going on—I was just following orders from now on. Doing what Raize said and living. My two main priorities as of now. The list would come. Raize would help, or he said he would.
So I ate my cold toast, drank my cold coffee, and grabbed a book. I went outside, found a tree in the backyard, and lay down on a blanket. All in all, this was the beginning to a great ‘off’ day, if those existed in this world.
I’d fallen asleep out there when I heard the voices and sat up.
There was movement inside the house.
The guys were back.
I stood and bent over to grab my book as a voice hit me—one I didn’t recognize.
Lifting my head, everything went on alert inside of me.
I could see guys moving back and forth around the house, but I’d known. As soon as I couldn’t place that first voice, I had known. Now that I saw, the alarm went flat inside of me. Dulled. Maybe that was my fight-flight mode? I didn’t know anymore, but the guys I was seeing in the house weren’t my guys.
They were strangers, and they were moving through the house on a mission. They went from room to room, shouting to each other. They rummaged through the kitchen.
Crap.
I edged back, my hand going to my pocket. Raize had taken my phone, but I had my fake ID in my pocket. That’s all I cared about. Oh, damn. My gun. Where was my gun? Would the guys have left guns in there?
And why was I still standing here?
I scooted back, hiding behind the tree, and inched back until I could slide through an opening in the fence.
I heard more shouting, and when I looked back, a guy was in the backyard, staring right at me.
Fuck!
Run.
Run, run, run.
I shoved off, thanking God that I hadn’t taken my sneakers off before I fell asleep. I pumped my arms and my book flew from my hand, but I kept going.