Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Romero?” I murmur, looking back at the cabin. How many other cabins around the lake are being used right now? Did anyone hear the shot? Maybe not over the thunder.
“He’s staying behind. He’ll get a ride back with the cleanup crew.”
He pulls away, and soon we’re rolling down the muddy road. The tires send jets of water shooting up both sides of the car, and lightning highlights the dark, towering trees.
Dead. Dead. He’s dead.
Callum killed him.
Callum saved me.
“You’re safe now.” Callum’s calm voice slices through the fog in my head, the way lightning slices through the sky. “I’m sorry, little bird. I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”
I’m too exhausted to speak. All I see is the blood. It all happened so fast. One minute he was there, and the next, he was…
“I will never let anyone hurt you again.”
I want to tell him I believe him but can’t make my mouth work.
He was alive, and then he wasn’t.
I must zone out for a while because, the next thing I know, the car is swinging through the front gate of the compound. We haven’t reached the courtyard yet when the front door flies open, and Tatum comes running down the front steps in the rain.
“Oh, my god!” She practically pulls me out of the car before squeezing me hard enough to make my ribs ache. “Thank God! Are you okay? Did he—”
“Get her inside,” Callum urges, before nudging us both toward the house. “She needs to get cleaned up.”
He touches my shoulder, and I don’t know what makes me do it. The memory of the gunshot, or how easy it was for him to blow a man’s brains out. He didn’t even hesitate. How could he end someone’s life so easily? Whatever the reason, I flinch away from his hand and cling to Tatum. His jaw works, but he doesn’t say a word.
“I’ll take care of it.” She steers me toward her wing once we’re inside, and I’m glad to let her take the lead. I can barely think, much less anything else. I’m numb. Why can’t I feel anything?
“Come on, sweetie. You need a shower, clean pajamas, and a few days in bed.” Tatum’s voice is soothing. It brings tears to my eyes. At least something’s getting through to me.
If she notices the blood on my face, she ignores it once we’re in the bathroom. She turns the shower on, and it doesn’t take long for steam to fill the space. I peel off my torn, soaked dress and let it fall in a sodden heap at my feet.
She helps me under the water and closes the shower door while I tip my head back to let what’s left of Lucas’s blood run over my skin and down the drain. The longer I stand here, the clearer I can think. The world comes back to me.
“You okay in there?” She pokes her head into the bathroom, and it hits me that I have no idea how long I’ve been standing here.
“I’m okay.” I shampoo my hair, and she’s cleaned up my messy clothes by the time I’ve rinsed it out. It’s enough for her to be here with me. A reminder that I’m safe.
“I’m just so glad he found you so quickly.”
“Me too,” I choke out. I’m halfway through scrubbing my arms—trying to keep from staring at my bruised wrists—by the time it sinks in.
He knew where to find me. It didn’t even take long.
“How did he know where I was? Did he tell you?”
“There was some kind of tracking app on your phone.”
“He was tracking my phone?”
It should be the last thing on my mind, but it’s merely another brick on top of all the others. Once again, he’s invaded my privacy. I’m glad to be out of that cabin and safe, but I’m not safe if I can’t have a single second to myself. It wasn’t enough for him to watch me. He has to know where I am, literally at all times.
What happens when he isn’t satisfied with that anymore? He might decide to keep me around the house instead. It’s not like he’s never threatened me with that before. Tying me to the bed and all. What if I’m the next person he kills? He threatened that once before. After witnessing the results first-hand, I have no doubt he’d kill me if he wanted to.
“He doesn’t trust me,” I whisper, trembling under the hot water.
“He doesn’t trust anybody,” she says with a sigh. Through the shower door, I see she’s finished changing into pajamas and is now taking off her makeup at the sink.
“Why not?”
“I think my mom really fucked him up, and now he can’t trust any woman.” She shrugs at her reflection. “I have no idea how his brain works. I’d be too afraid to dive in.”