Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
A wet sound followed his exit and I grimaced.
I didn’t have it in me to get up right now either. It looked like we were doing some laundry later, because there was no way I could move right now.
Getting up on my knees, I crawled slowly to the middle of the bed and collapsed into a heap beside him. However, it didn’t make Jack happy that I was so far away, and he hauled me closer until I was plastered against his side.
I cuddled close and rested my head against his big bicep since the pillow was just too far away to contemplate even getting.
His large hand moved from my right hip and traveled down until he was cupping my sex. Two large fingers found a home in my core and stayed.
My heavy eyes only got heavier, and I surrendered to sleep.
***
Those same two fingers woke me from one amazing nap. Except they weren’t inside me anymore, they were running along the tattoo that covered a good portion of my thigh.
“Like it?” I croaked.
“Yeah. You’ll need to do the other side, too. Just have to wait for the scar to heal from the knife.” He rumbled.
“Who was the girl?” I asked a lot more awake this time.
“Sam’s sister.” He rumbled.
I jackknifed up to a sitting position and stared at him. “What?” I screeched.
His smile slowly overtook his face. “Yeah, she’s a spitfire, too. Hates her dad just as much as Sam does.”
“What the heck is that man’s problem? How did you find her? What’s her story?” I asked.
His fingers went to the stray curl that escaped my low pony tail, pulled it, let it go, and watched it spring up into the tight curl again. “I don’t know much. She was pretty closed mouth about everything. Only thing we really know about her is that her dad did kind of the same thing he did to you. Went to her house and told her she needed to leave. Gave her a wad of cash and brought her to us.”
“You saw him?” I asked excitedly.
I hoped that it meant he got some information on my situation. I was just about sick and tired of having people watching my every move. I’ve felt smothered ever since I’d shot and killed Ben.
His smile died on his face, and he looked at me, gauging my level of togetherness.
“Just tell me!” I burst out.
“He sent me to your sister.”
I blinked. “But you said you’d spoken to her before and that she had no clue. You said she was devastated when I’d been ‘killed.’”
I did the finger quotations when I said killed and he rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well she was. Only, it wasn’t just for you. Apparently, your mom was a busy woman that year. Getting a drug fix and using her body to pay for her habit. Your sister’s boyfriend had a lovely little secret and then used that secret to ensure your sister’s cooperation.”
I was beyond confused. I hadn’t thought about my mother in a very long time.
In fact, I didn’t even like the woman.
“So?”
“Your sister’s boyfriend got your mom hooked. To pay for her habit, she started to fuck Peter to get her fix. Your mom only wanted more and more, and by the time your sister found out about it, your mom was pregnant.”
My mouth fell open in shock. “What?” I hissed.
Did this mean I had a little sister or brother out there being raised by that horrible woman?
“It gets better. Peter made your sister choose. Your life or the baby’s life. Guess which one she chose?” He said staring up at the ceiling.
“The baby’s.”
“No. She chose yours. Only, Peter didn’t stick to his promise. Took you anyway. Hooked your sister on drugs. Forced them down her goddamn throat. Forced your sister to fuck him. Which, thankfully, your mom never knew about. No clue where your mother is. He still has eyes on your sister, too.”
Jack rubbed his face with his hands, as if remembering what my sister said physically pained him.
“Holy crap.”
“My sentiments exactly. Your sister doesn’t remember the night you were taken. Also doesn’t even know you’re alive.”
“Is she a good person?” I asked swiping my eyes as the tears finally spilled over.
“I think so. She was put into an impossible situation. She was with him only because of your mother. Your mother got in trouble and volunteered her daughter as payment. You. Only your sister volunteered instead. Things just escalated from there, I think.”
“Oh, my God. Poor Stormy.”
“Yeah, your old room is like a fucking shrine to you. Everything is still in the exact same place you left it.”
“God.”
“Yeah. God.” He said just before he pulled me down hard and buried his face into my hair.
Chapter 19
Gas, grass, or ass. Nobody rides for free.
-T-shirt
Jack
“How’d she take it?” Sam asked me.
“About as good as can be expected. I think these past few months she’s written her sister off and now she feels bad.” I explained.
He nodded. “I’m not so sure what to think of all this. Seems like we’re missing something.”
“I haven’t made any progress with Adam’s shit either. The fire was ruled arson, finally. No suspects yet. Goddammit. I’m gonna have to bring her in and have her work her magic.” I groaned.
“Oh, honey pie, you brought me in a long time ago, you just didn’t know it. Does Adam have a safety deposit box?” Winter asked from the doorway.
Her reading glasses were perched on her nose, and her hair was falling out of her bun at the top of her head. Springy curls were everywhere.
In the month since we became aware of Stormy’s involvement, we had a lot of information, but none of it matched up. I’d done my best to keep Winter updated only enough that she wouldn’t stick her head out. Apparently I was wrong, and she’d been helping all along.
“What?” I asked finally.
She smiled. “I knew you had something you were working on. Don’t think I didn’t notice you disappearing in the middle of the night either. Although, I didn’t think you’d leave the house. Trying to find you in the middle of the night in this place is like searching for a virgin in a whorehouse.”