Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
It’s fucked-up that the man who saved me from doing time for murder has spent so much time training me to kill people.
“Shoot to kill.” I nod, stand, and make my way out of his office.
“Oh, Milo?”
“Yeah?” I turn.
“I’m glad Annie’s doing well. She’s a fighter.”
I nod slowly. I don’t trust him.
“I had her transferred to a safe place where well-qualified people will continue to care for her.”
“A safe place? Where?”
He laughs, and I’m reminded that he’s more monster than man. “You don’t get the keys to the castle just yet.”
“I want to see her.”
“You did.”
“I saw her in the fucking hospital a handful of times.” My voice escalates while I make two hard fists at my sides.
“You’re welcome.” He smirks.
“I’ve done everything you’ve asked,” I say between clenched teeth.
“Good.” He shifts his attention to his phone while he leans back in his leather chair. “Keep doing it, and Annie will be fine. You’ll be fine. Everyone will be fine because of you, Milo. You’re a goddamn hero.”
It takes everything I have, every last shred of self-control to keep from planting the muzzle of my gun between his eyes. When I close the door to my truck, I blow out a long breath and glance at my watch. I’m going to be late.
On my way to the taco joint, Jolene calls me. It’s tempting to ignore her call. But now that we have a child together, I have to take all calls. I can ignore her, but I can’t ignore Benjamin.
“Yeah?”
“Milo, where are you? I just saw you pull out of the driveway. Leah is sick, and I have court tomorrow.”
“I’ll be home by tomorrow.”
“Don’t be this way. I have so many files to go through tonight.”
“He’ll sleep.”
“But if he wakes up—”
“Then soothe him back to sleep.”
“Dammit, Milo. When will you be home?”
“I have a meeting.”
“Where?”
I roll my eyes while barreling down the road toward Dallas.
“Turn around and come get Benjamin. You can take him with you.”
“No. My meeting is not in the best part of town. The last thing I need is a baby with me. Call your mom or have Fletcher watch him. I’ll be there when I get there.”
“Milo—”
I end the call. If she has so much work, then she’d better get to working instead of wasting time whining to me.
Twenty minutes late, I park in front of the taco joint. The lights are off at the floral shop, and I have no idea what car Indie drives. My patience is gone. If she’s not here, I’m going to lose it. I need her to be here, especially after Fletcher has taken my sister again.
“Hi. Did you have a to-go order, or will you be dining in?”
I barely hear the man behind the counter. Indie snags my attention, and she doesn’t know I’m here. With a book in her hand, one knee is drawn toward her chest. She scrapes her teeth along her bottom lip, enthralled in the book before her instead of finishing her half-eaten plate of tacos.
“Sir?”
I shake my head slowly without taking my eyes off Indie. “I’m meeting someone …” I trail off while making my way to the back of the restaurant.
Burnt fajita veggies and the aroma of seared meat fill the air, along with the sizzle of hot plates being served around me.
Indie glances up at me as I approach and presses her lips together, but it doesn’t completely hide her smile. “You’re late.”
“Not really. I’ve been watching you, getting up the nerve to invite myself to eat at your table.”
She giggles, marking her place in the book and setting it aside. I’ve spent more time with Indie than I have with Annie. I know her better. She’s the only person on this earth who makes me feel at home. She’s the only person who erases a lousy day with nothing more than a smile.
“Well, I’m about done, but you’re welcome to sit with me for a few minutes.”
I pull out a chair, resisting the urge to lean forward and brush my lips along her cheek. Resisting the urge to draw a long breath at her neck just to see if she still smells like lavender.
“Can I get you something to drink?” the waiter asks.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
“Her drink or her meal? She’s just drinking water.”
I don’t look at him. I can’t. Indie demands my attention with her tiny grin while she brings said water to her red lips.
“All of it. The water she’s drinking, the food she’s eating, the air she’s breathing. Just … everything.”
He chuckles. “Sounds good. I’ll be back with everything in a bit.”
“The air I breathe?” She sets her water glass on the table.
I lift a shoulder. “It’s been one of those days. I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“You must have a shitty job.”
“The worst.” I take her glass and gulp down most of the water, dumping a few pieces of ice into my mouth.