Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Thanks.”
I walk back to my cubicle, and I drop my jaw.
Rod is sitting at my desk, my computer screen open.
“Care to explain this, Diana?”
Chapter Five
Dragon
“I suppose you can go any time,” Alayna says. “But I figured I’d go check it out for you first.”
Would that be a better idea?
Hell, I don’t know.
“Dragon…”
I don’t immediately answer.
“Let me think,” I finally say. “In the meantime, can you send me the information? The address? The names they’re using?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thanks.” I press my lips together. “If you were to go check it out, when would you leave?”
“Right away. It’s about a four-hour drive. I’d be there by sundown.”
I should probably let her do it. I don’t even have access to a car right now. Diana has one, but would she let me borrow it?
I can’t even think of asking. She’s letting me live in her home for free, and she’s giving me Alayna’s investigative services on her family’s dime.
No way am I going to ask to borrow her car, which is probably a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW or something even more lavish.
“Okay. You go, then. Let me know as soon as you make contact.”
“Absolutely. I’ll be in touch as soon as I get there. I may not be able to make contact tonight. Depends on a lot of factors.”
“Understood.” I rub at my forehead. “But there’s one other thing—something that may be even more important.”
“What’s that?”
“The guy who answered says he no longer has Griffin. That she was taken by some cult called the Order of the Serpent.”
No reply.
That’s not good.
“Alayna?”
“I’ve never heard of it, but I’ll be honest with you. It sounds like a cult or secret society or something.”
“I thought the same. If they have her, it can’t be good.”
Again, no answer.
Until— “I’ll do some research. Does this take precedence over your parents?”
“I think so. Don’t you?”
“I’d say yes.”
“Let me know what you find out. Thank you.”
“Glad to be of help. In the meantime, I’ll need that number that came in the package as well. My guess is it’ll be untraceable like the others, but you never know.”
“Absolutely. I’m sending everything.”
“Good enough. And Dragon?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to worry too much about everything.” She ends the call.
I can’t help a scoff. Try not to worry? My baby sister, who I assumed has been dead for decades, may be alive. May be with some weird cult.
Great.
If only…
Alayna’s text comes through with the names and address in Taos. Frank and Christine Delaney.
Now what? I need a fucking car. How can I convince Diana—
My phone buzzes before I can complete the thought. I don’t recognize the number, but it’s local.
“Hello?”
“Dragon, Antonio Carbone.”
“Oh, yeah. How are you?”
“I’m good. I’ve got you scheduled for the lessons. You begin Thursday at five p.m.”
Thursday. Five p.m. That’s two days from now. I guess I can’t go running off to Taos anyway.
“Sounds good. Thanks.”
“If you can give me an email address, I’ll send you the schedule.”
“Yeah. Great.” I rattle off my email address.
“I’ll also send you a W-8 form. I just need your Social Security number for your 1099 that I’ll send at the end of the year.”
“Absolutely. Whatever you need.”
“Sounds good. Glad to have you on board, Dragon.”
I place my phone back down on the table, and my gaze is drawn once again to the metal box.
To the fabric in the shape of a heart.
I pick up the piece of flannel, run my fingertips over it. How long had Griffin had those pajamas when she was taken?
I do the math in my mind.
I’m not exactly sure when she was taken. I know when she was first attacked because that’s when I was sent away. But I never got the full story of when she was actually kidnapped from my parents’ home.
Maybe it’s better that I don’t know.
Alayna has probably uncovered all of that. I could just ask her for the information.
Griffin…
I never imagined she could still be alive.
As much as I wish that she is, part of me wishes differently. Because if she’s still alive…
I can’t even begin to think about what she’s been through.
God knows I went through my own horrors when I was in that group home. But I grew strong, tough, able to fight off my attackers.
I may have started out vulnerable, but I ended up one of the strong ones.
But Griffin?
She was a five-year-old little cherub.
Why would anyone want to hurt that?
And yes, while she was also able to grow, she could still be overpowered.
That’s the difference between the sexes.
I don’t like it, but I accept it. Reality is reality.
I’ve got a little over forty-eight hours before I start my job at the music store.
I pace through the kitchen and dining area of the penthouse. I shove my hands in my pockets and then take them out. I rub my forehead, pulling at my hair.
Alayna is good at her job. I have no reason to believe she won’t be able to find out what the Order of the Serpent is.