Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Dani released him and looked at Hadley, and she forced a wink at her sister. “It’ll be a fun road trip. I promise.” Too bad she couldn’t cross her fingers behind her back at the lie.
She didn’t know what awaited them any more than she knew where they’d go. “Go on and get settled in the car. I’ll be right out.” Hadley wanted a minute with her father. “You can even pick the music you want to listen to,” she said, already cringing at the certainty of loud sound to add to her pounding head.
Once Dani stomped out, Hadley spun around. “I can’t believe you did this to her. To us. Again. Don’t you ever learn?” She didn’t ask him what kind of trouble he was in. The less she knew, the safer she would be.
He hung his head and sighed but didn’t answer, which was a good thing. Nothing he said would make any difference.
“Take Dani somewhere safe,” he muttered. “And don’t tell me where you end up, either.”
Of course. Because if he didn’t know their whereabouts and those dangerous people came after him, he couldn’t reveal their location. Regardless of what they did to him to extract information. She shuddered and nausea threatened.
“I’m sure my calls are being traced,” he continued in a monotone but urgent voice. “There’s a burner number on a piece of paper stuffed in with the money. Once you’re settled, get one for yourself and ring me once so I have your number. That way I can let you know when it’s safe to come home.”
If it was ever safe, she thought, not saying the words aloud.
He had tears in his eyes but she was in a mixed state of shock, anger, and disbelief, too stunned by the sudden upheaval to feel bad for him. He’d caused this mess.
“I’m sorry.” He pulled her into a hug.
One she forced herself to return because a part of her feared this might be the last time she saw her father.
“Go, baby girl.”
She stepped back and nodded. “Bye, Dad.”
Chapter Two
For the first twenty minutes of the ride Dani was silent, giving Hadley time to think. Too bad she hadn’t come up with a destination when Dani finally spoke.
“Are we taking a plane? I’ve never been on an airplane.” She sounded excited which was better than the angry quiet of before.
Hadley shook her head. “We can’t. We’d have to show our IDs and I don’t want a footprint, digital or otherwise.” God, she was repeating the FBI’s words verbatim. She supposed there were some things one never forgot.
She slid her gaze to the passenger seat. Dani had scrunched her nose, then nodded. “I get it. I’ve seen that show called FBI on television. What’s the plan then?”
Hadley glanced at her gas tank gauge and sighed. She hadn’t anticipated a long trip. “Let’s hit the next rest stop and load up on snack food. That’ll get us by until I’m tired and we can find a motel for the night.”
From there, she’d decide where to go next but for now, she was headed east. It was as good a route as any and ironically, she was driving in the direction of New York City and the town where she’d grown up. And the boy, now a man, she’d never forgotten. She wondered if Zach ever thought of her and if so, if he’d forgiven her disappearance. She shook off that thought and focused on the present.
She pulled into a rest stop and filled the car with gas, then parked. She and Dani walked into the store.
Knowing she had to keep her sister happy during this trip, Hadley extended a hand, gesturing to the aisles of chips, candy, soda, and other food. “Load up. And I know you’re not a kid but let’s both try and use the restroom. It’ll save us having to stop again until we’re ready to pull over for the night.”
“Love the reverse psychology, sis. But I’m still going to roll my eyes and tell you I’d know if I had to pee.”
Hadley rolled hers right back. “Try anyway.”
A little while later, they were in a long line for the register with a basket full of junk food and drinks, waiting to get their items rung up so she could pay. Dani seemed engrossed in her phone, bopping her head in time to music Hadley could hear above the earbuds.
She tapped her sister on the shoulder and pulled one earbud out of Dani’s ear.
“Hey!” The teen objected to the interruption.
“That phone’s in airplane mode, right?” Hadley had already told Dani to do that and she’d adjusted her own cell, hoping that would prevent them from being traced or followed. But it didn’t hurt to be cautious and make sure Dani had listened.
Dani rolled her eyes. “You told me to when we left home, remember?” She shoved the earbud back into her ear.