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)
“That’s because I am. You need what we have.” Zach stood still as he spoke, his coolness under pressure impressive since she was as jumpy as the dealer.
But Hadley also had enough. If Patrice was here, then so was her sister. She hoped. “I want my sister now.” Her steady voice surprised her.
Zach stiffened at her intervening.
“Hads?” Dani screamed.
“I’m here!” she yelled back.
Zach held her tighter. “Do not move,” he warned under his breath. “I don’t need him attacking you.”
“Mom, let me go!” Dani shrieked.
“Can’t you keep the bitch quiet?” The boyfriend yelled. “She hasn’t shut her fucking mouth since she showed up.”
God, her sister was going to give Hadley a heart attack. Of course, she couldn’t be a quiet hostage.
“Dani, stay calm,” Zach called out.
“I told you to gag her again.” The man who stood between Hadley and her sister was twitching as he spoke, body parts unable to remain still.
“I’m hungry! You said you’d feed me if I was quiet, and you haven’t. Hadley?” Despite the bravado, Dani’s voice shook.
But she was brave, obviously wanting to let Hadley know she was here and okay, but who knew if Patrice had a weapon or how desperate she was.
Hadley wanted to believe she’d never hurt her child but by using her as bait and leverage, she’d already done just that. Hadley was sweating, her neck damp, her hands wet, her entire body rigid with fear for her sister.
“Patrice, do the right thing and send Dani out to me. Please.” She wasn’t above begging.
“Don’t you dare let her go!” The dealer pulled a gun from his pocket and Hadley took a shocked step back. He couldn’t keep his body from shaking. The gun could go off any minute.
“Whoa. No reason for that,” Zach said in a calm tone. “Here. Take the drugs.” Zach tossed them so they fell in front of the guy’s feet.
He bent forward, grabbing the bag. “Now give me keys so I can get the rest, deliver them and get my cut before I end up dead in the East River.” He continued to twitch and jerk as he spoke, the gun waving wildly.
The moment Zach pulled out his keys, all hell broke loose. Police officers came from seemingly out of nowhere, jumping the fence across the street, a sea of blue shocking Hadley.
Zach shoved her against the wall, blocking her with his body. The brick scraped her hands and her shoulder hurt but she remained still, not fighting him and praying the crazy tweaked up dealer didn’t shoot and hit him.
“Clear!” Hadley heard the cops yell.
“It’s okay,” Zach said, his voice warm in her ear. He stepped back and helped her balance herself.
“Oh my God.” She glanced around. Tweaker guy was on his knees, hands cuffed behind his back. “Where’s Dani?”
“There.” Zach put his hands on her shoulders and turned her towards the corner. An officer guided Patrice toward them on the sidewalk, her hands also behind her back.
Dani turned the corner next with another officer by her side. “Hadley!” she screamed and came running, slamming into Hadley full force.
Hadley wrapped her arms around her sister and let the tears flow. Burying her face in Dani’s hair, she inhaled the teen’s fading perfumed scent and squeezed tight. “Oh my God. Tell me you’re okay!”
She pulled her sister away and looked her over from head to toe. Other than wrinkled shorts and T-shirt and puffy eyes, she seemed unharmed.
“I’m okay. I wasn’t kidding that I’m starving. And is it true that Dad’s in prison? Mom said he’s never getting out.”
Hadley closed her eyes and groaned. “I–”
Before she could answer, Zach cleared his throat. “Hey, Dani.”
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “I’m sorry, Zach.”
He shook his head. “Nobody blames you for going when your mom called though I’m sure your sister will have a set of new rules for you to follow.”
Hadley managed a grin.
“I’m not sorry for that, okay well I am, but I meant, I’m sorry for saying you were a jerk who couldn’t help us that day I met you in the city.” She brushed the pink stripe of hair out of her face.
He coughed, then narrowed his gaze. “I don’t remember you saying that.”
“Me neither.” Hadley shot her sister a warning glare despite the trauma she’d just been through.
Dani shrugged. “Oh. Well, then I thought it and I’m sorry. You were awesome today. You too, Hads.”
She hugged her sister again. “I have to admit I was scared to death. And Zach’s right. We have a lot to talk about when we get home.”
A man in a jacket strode over to them. “Excuse me. I’m Detective Benjamin Rodell and I need to question everyone. Including the young lady.”
Hadley straightened her shoulders. “The young lady was the victim of a crime, and she’s a minor and I’m not leaving her alone.”