Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“I’ve been wondering when you would call.”
“You saw it then,” I exhale, closing the door and locking it before setting the alarm.
Leo showed me all of it, making sure to remind me three times to ensure the alarm is set so I know if someone is trying to get in.
“I think everyone saw it. That was a ballsy move, Bonnie.”
I explain the situation to him, and when I’m done, he exhales. “Shit. That’s bad.”
“It’s really bad. I’m scared, Nathan. A man like Bill Whart isn’t going to just sit back and let this slide. He is going to want revenge, and he’s going to come looking for it.”
“He isn’t the one you should be worried about. It’s all of them, it’s every shady scumbag that works for whoever it is that is running this. Bill is a piece in a rather large and deadly puzzle.”
“Well, now I feel better,” I mutter.
“I’m not trying to scare you, Bonnie, but this isn’t a good situation. What do you need from me?”
“I have nobody. I can’t go to the police here because I honestly don’t know that they’re not going to hurt me, too. Everyone is in on it. I need protection, someone to be with me until I can figure this out.”
“Not all cops in that town are shady, only a small handful. I’ve got friends down there, I’ll contact one of them to come and talk to you.”
“What if they’re not safe ...?”
“I promise you, they are. You can trust me. I’ll be in contact. Until then, you need to lie low, this is a very bad situation for you. You should have picked another case.”
Bit late for that now.
“Maybe, but at the same time, those men are monsters, and Western spent a long time in prison because of it. Not to mention the foster children who continue to go missing. They’re running an operation that is dangerous and risking the lives of children. I’m not sorry that I raised awareness to that, because even if the article is removed, it’s in peoples’ minds now, and that’s what I want.”
Nathan makes a displeased noise. “It’s not worth the risk to your life.”
“There is nothing I can do about it now.”
“No, you’re right, there isn’t. Sit tight, I’ll be in contact.”
I hang up and sit on the sofa, staring down at my phone, desperately praying that it’ll just magically ring and Western will decide he’s ready to talk to me.
Come on, Western.
I just need five minutes.
Five. Damned. Minutes.
“LAY DOWN,” LUNA HISSES as we near the clubhouse entrance. “Like, flat on the ground.”
“I’m trying,” I grunt, trying to squish myself down in her ridiculously tiny car. My limbs are twisted, and, my word, my back hurts. It’s not as easy as it looks.
“I can see your head!”
“I’m trying,” I snap again.
I take a deep breath and flatten myself out as much as possible as the car comes to a stop.
“Well, hey there, handsome. I heard there is a party here tonight?”
“Heard right,” a gruff male voice comes through the car. “Just you?”
“Just me. I’ve got friends here, though.”
“Park your car down the back, out of the way.”
“I will do, thank you.”
Luna begins to drive again, and I pop my head up, peeking out the window as we go past the clubhouse that is already full of people, a large fire roaring in the yard. Music blares through the speakers, and my heart skips a beat. I don’t know if this is going to work, but I’m praying it does because I’m running out of options.
Luna comes to a stop, and then we both climb out of the car. We’re down the back of the lot, out of the way, and more cars are coming in and parking. I pull my black hoodie up and over my head as Luna steps up beside me, her eyes scanning the compound. “Wow, I’ve never seen a clubhouse before. This is awesome.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, staring around. “It is. What is the plan?”
“You’ll see. Come on, let’s find Western.”
Taking a deep, long breath, I follow her toward the clubhouse.
It’s safe to say we’re noticed right away, I would be shocked if we weren’t. Putting my head down, I take Luna’s hand, and we move as quickly as we can toward the house, praying Western is there. A familiar voice calls my name—Fury—but I don’t stop. We pick up the pace, shoving past people until we get inside. Eyes scanning the room, I see him. He’s sitting over on a sofa toward the back behind the pool tables, Hazel by his side, her legs slung over his lap.
My heart cracks a little more, and my breathing becomes tight as my eyes zero in on him. Everything about him just makes the emotion inside me swirl around that much stronger. I want to go to him, run my hands through his dark hair, kiss his lips, tell him how sorry I am, and, yet, at the same time I want to scream and punch him for acting as if I never existed, as if what we had was simply nothing more than a fling. We both know that isn’t the case. At least, I hope that’s the truth.