Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 27
Brady
“You sure you are okay with all of this?” Ryleigh asks me when Harmony is out of the room and I look over at her.
“She’s living in my house,” I remind her. “I wouldn’t have her and her son living with me if I wasn’t okay.” I make sure I emphasize the words. “She wouldn’t be here.”
She nods at me. “That woman is already packed and ready to run,” she relays, but it’s something I feel down to my bones.
“She’s not going anywhere,” I declare.
“I knew a guy like you once.” She smirks at me. “Never took no for an answer.”
“Yeah?” I do a chin up. “Where is he now?”
“Taking care of our two girls.” She turns to head to the table, her smile plastered on. “When we get to the station”—she goes back to business as she puts her things away—“they are going to take us in a room.” I watch her as I listen for Harmony’s footsteps. “You won’t be allowed in the room.” I start to get tense. “But if I need you to make an official statement, I’ll call you.”
“I’m not letting her go in there all alone,” I snap, and Ryleigh side-eyes me.
“She’s not going in there alone.” She grabs her bag. “I’ll be with her every step of the way.” Her voice goes low. “I don’t know your backstory, but I can sense the hatred you feel for them radiating off you. She’s already freaking out; she’s not going to be on her game if she thinks she has to take care of you also.”
“I’ll be outside, then,” I give in to her, “but the minute, and I mean the minute—”
“Trust me,” Ryleigh cuts in when the knock comes at the front door, “those men out there”—she points at the door, then to herself—“you think those men would let me go anywhere they thought I wasn’t safe?” She shakes her head. “Max and Matthew are my husband’s uncles. The two of them played for the NHL. My husband also plays for the NHL. My father is Tyler Beckett.” The name rings a bell, and I don’t have much time to think about it because she tells me. “He’s the biggest name on screen. Does his own stunts. Now let’s throw in Casey for fun, just to mix it up. I’m pretty sure Matthew and Casey could take over the fucking world without sweating. You think the Cartwrights scare me?” She laughs. “I’m begging them to fuck with me at this point. I’m begging them to fuck with her because fucking with her is fucking with me and them”—she points at the door—“and now you.”
I nod at her as the alarm beeps, and the door is pulled open by Harmony. “Hi,” she says, and Ryleigh walks to the door and stops beside me.
“She won’t do it,” she says, “but if he shows up here, you call the cops first, then me. You do not hesitate to call them. You hear his car on the street, you pick up that phone. After our meeting today with the sheriff, he’ll know we aren’t backing down. He’s going to relay that message to them, and they aren’t going to be happy. Winston isn’t going to be happy, and the only person he will take it out on is Harmony, so be ready.” She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything before she walks out of the room.
I get in the truck with Harmony beside me as I follow them to the sheriff’s office. She gives me one more look before she walks with Ryleigh into the station.
“We have eyes and ears in there,” Casey states from beside me, and I just look over at him. “Sheriff isn’t running that tight of a ship, and a lot of his new deputies think it’s time for him to retire.”
I don’t say anything as Casey walks over to the car and leans on it next to Matthew, sunglasses on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. Max is in the same position next to him, and all eyes are on the door that Ryleigh and Harmony entered.
“It’s almost over,” Charlie says to me softly.
“Or just beginning.” I look back at him and wait for Harmony to come out. It takes a full thirty-five minutes, which feels like an eternity. My eyes are on hers as she walks out. Her eyes find mine, and she gives me a small smile.
“You okay?” Matthew is the first to Ryleigh’s side as she nods and about pffts.
“Old man thought because I was a girl, I didn’t know anything.” She shakes her head. “Rookie mistake.” She smiles up at him. “That was good, right, using the rookie thing?”
“You did good.” He laughs at her, putting his arm around her neck and kissing her head. “Now, let’s get you home. Your husband has been blowing up my phone.”