Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“What was that?” Odin asks.
I shrug as Mr. Jamison settles into his seat and opens a folder. “Something with the Avery family. I guess they’re having me followed.”
Odin’s forehead furrows. He opens his mouth to ask something, but Mr. Jamison clears his throat, and we both turn to him.
24
SANTOS
I wait impatiently to take my wife home, irritated at not being in the attorney’s office with her, but also needing this time to get my thoughts together. Today is turning into a shit show, as if I will pay for the last seven days of peace with just this one.
Bea Avery knowing where Madelena was shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. Find your enemy’s weakness. Exploit that weakness. It’s your way in. I learned that even before I met the Commander. But my reaction to her comment? That was just stupidity on my part. The way I peeled out of there confirmed to her that Madelena is my weakness.
I made her a target.
As I sit staring at that closed door, I go through our conversation again. I didn’t expect her to come clean about my mother. But what she said, and her satisfied expression? It’s bothering me. She got under my skin today, and she knows it.
I get to my feet and push a hand into my hair, pacing. My phone dings with an email. It’s the police report. I’d told Val to get me in touch with Detective Hayes, the agent who’d worked on Alexia’s case. I have the paper version of the coroner’s report at the house. I want to talk to Hayes about the stab wounds and the fact that according to the coroner, they were made by a right-handed person. But it turns out I can’t talk to Hayes. No one can, because he died in a hiking accident weeks after he closed Alexia’s case. Got too close to the edge of a cliff apparently.
What if I was wrong about Alexia’s father? What if it hadn’t been him who killed her? Then who? Who would murder her so violently, so cruelly, then pose her the way they did? Alexia had no enemies. She was kind, friendly and warm, and there was rage in the killer’s hand.
My phone dings with a message.
Caius: Back from the dead?
Me: Don’t be an ass.
Caius: What the hell’s going on, Santos? We used to talk, remember?
I rub my throbbing temple.
Caius: Drinks to celebrate wifey’s birthday?
Me: Wifey?
Caius: Typo. Fat thumbs. Drink?
Me: Tomorrow. It’s been a long day.
Caius sends two thumbs up emojis and follows it up with the middle finger. It makes me smile because that’s him.
Me: Meet you at the club, brother.
Caius: Augustine’s remember? Dad will turn over in his grave if he hears you call it the club.
The office door opens then, so I type out a quick response telling him the time, then tuck my phone into my pocket.
Madelena shakes Jamison’s hand and thanks him. She’s holding a folder and looks a little paler than when she went in, but when she meets my eyes, she musters up her anger. It’s good. Anger makes you strong. I need her strong right now.
I go to her, stand a few inches from her, then turn to Jamison. “All done here?”
He nods.
I look to Madelena. “Home or your uncle’s house?”
“Home.”
“We can go over together when you’re ready,” Odin tells her.
“I don’t think so,” I tell them both.
Jamison clears his throat and excuses himself. “What do you mean, you don’t think so?” Madelena asks me.
“I’ll take you myself. I already told you I would.” I set my hand at her lower back and nudge her forward.
“I want to go with my brother,” she says, not budging.
“He can be there. That’s fine. But I’ll be there too. Let’s go.” I shift my grip to her arm to march her out, wanting her safely inside the house.
“What’s your problem? Why are you being like this?” She tries to pull free, but I lift her into the backseat of the SUV. Odin closes his hand over my arm, and I turn to him, surprised.
“Don’t hurt her.”
“I’m not hurting her.” I face him, blocking Madelena’s exit with my body. “I’m trying to get her home where I can ensure her safety. Go.”
He steps toward me like he’s looking for a fight, which would be idiotic on his part, but I think I’ll engage. Why the fuck not?
“I and only I will decide how I keep my wife safe. Now go before I beat your ass.”
“Don’t touch him!” Madelena says from behind me, hands on my shoulders.
“Walk away, Odin,” I tell him.
“Go, Odin. I’ll call you,” she says.
Odin glances at his sister.
“You heard her,” I say.
“Odin, please,” Madelena says to which he reluctantly responds, giving me one final glare before turning and walking away. “Fucking bully,” she mutters once I climb into the SUV.