Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Killian puts his hand behind his back and motions with his fingers, gesturing for me to move, so I do. I slip to the side of the door, hiding in the shadows next to the closet door and some shelves. Killian clears his throat as Owen stops at the bottom of the three steps up to the door.
“How’d you find me?”
“You never called back, man! Had to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah,” Killian mutters. “Sorry. Shit reception out here.”
“Well, I knew you’d probably hole up here. Hawk knew the address.”
From where I’m hiding next to the doorway, I can see Killian’s jaw clench. Through the door-jam, I watch as Owen takes a pack of cigarettes out his pocket and jams one in his mouth. A zippo flicks, the flame illuminating a haggard, rugged face, and showing me that the neck tattoo is a roaring lion.
Owen takes a long drag.
“She here? The chick, I mean.”
“Owen—”
“Kill, there’s more going on here than you know. Trust me, brother. So is she here or not?”
“We gotta talk, Owen.”
“Killian, this whole thing we’ve gotta roll back on. Our whole fuckin’ intel was wrong on all of this. It’s not Leonard, man.”
I frown, and so does Killian.
“What?” he grunts.
“Yeah, brother. It turns out, it’s not her father. Hey sweetheart?” he suddenly calls out, taking another drag of his cigarette. “Since I’m guessing you’re in there? Come on out so we can all chat, honey. This whole thing is a big misunderstanding.”
Killian glances sidelong at me, his eyes hard. But I nod, and with a deep breath, I step out. Owen smiles when he sees me, nodding.
“Hey, sweetheart. It’s Nicole, yeah?”
“Hi.”
“Listen, I’m real sorry for all of this. Honest. I’m second in command of this crew, so I’m taking full responsibility for this whole fucking mess.” He grins, but there’s something cold and hard in his eyes.
“Actually, hang on. Someone else wanted to come along with me here tonight.”
He turns and waves, and more headlights turn on further up the gravel road. An engine starts, and Killian tenses and reaches for his gun, but Owen waves a hand.
“Nah, brother. It’s okay. Hang on one sec.”
The mystery car drives down the road towards us before coming to a stop and shutting off. The door swings open, and my mouth drops as the man steps out.
“Dad?”
My father steps out, smiling meekly.
“Hi, honey.”
Killian snarls and lunges forward, but Owen jumps quickly, blocking him and pushing him back.
“Woah! Woah, brother! Hang tight. We were wrong about Leonard, alright? He’s not with the mob. We were wrong.”
Killian’s eyes narrow. “Wrong?” he growls.
“It’s not an opinion, it’s fact,” Owen mutters. “He’s been—”
“I work on the intelligence and the evidence I’m given,” my dad says quietly, looking scared and quiet honestly, pathetic.
“I’m really sorry for your friends, Mr. Donovan, and I’m going to see if I can fix this.”
Killian’s teeth are bared as he glares at my father.
“Who gets you this wrong info then?”
My dad sighs this practiced, lawyer sigh that somehow seems both bored and condescending at the same time.
“Detectives, cops,” he shrugs. “This mob-bought corruption might by systemic in the whole city. But I’m going to get to the bottom of it. Nicole, come here honey.”
I stay where I am, my eyes hard.
“You knew I was here?”
“Well, my new friend here, Mr. Cordon,” he gestures at Owen. “Assumed as much.”
“You didn’t call me?”
“I wasn’t sure you’d pick up, in light of what I’m sure you’ve been told.”
My mouth purses, trying to imagine a scenario where a parent finds out their kid’s been kidnapped, and is safe, and doesn’t immediately call them a gazillion times until they pick up.
Owen claps his hands together, shattering my thoughts. “So, let’s all go inside and talk, Killian,” he chuckles. “I swear, this whole thing is funny shit once you hear it.”
“I’m not laughing, Owen,” Killian growls.
Owen laughs, shaking his head. “This fuckin’ guy!” he chuckles, elbowing my dad like they’re old buddies. “Always such a hard case, this guy! C’mon, Kill, play host. You got something to drink in their I assume?”
Killian’s brow furrows, but he nods. “Yeah.”
“Well, let’s get drinking!”
Killian looks at me, I look at him, and we both seem to subtly nod at the same time.
“Alright, come on in.”
I move back into the kitchen, and Killian stands aside, gesturing for Owen and my dad to come in. My dad steps up first, followed by Owen, when suddenly, there’s a scrabble. Killian swears as Owen shoves him sideways, and just as he goes sprawling, the older man reaches back and yanks the gun out of Killian’s jeans.
I scream, but my mouth snaps shut as he points the gun right at me. Killian roars, lunging up from the floor, but Owen yanks another gun from his own belt, snarling as he jabs it in Killian’s face.