Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
As a little girl, she imagined her father coming to her, saying that he’d been hunting her down, trying to find her, but the truth was, he’d been the one to place her in care.
“Look, I know you don’t understand.”
“Oh, I do. Trust me, I do. It’s why I’m still standing here. You see, I always hoped that it was a mistake. That you didn’t know I was in foster care, but you placed me there. Was it because you didn’t want me?” Cleo asked.
“No, it’s not. I had to do whatever I could to protect you. To give you a chance at a normal life.”
Tears started to fall, but she didn’t make any noise as they traced down her cheeks. “That’s what I’m finding so hard. I’m … a target anyway.” She forced out a laugh. “I’ve thought about this moment so many times as a kid. When I got older, I stopped. I got my head down, worked hard, and did what I could to try to … I don’t even know what I could do. I just got on with my life, and yet, I’m here now.”
“Your life will constantly be in danger, Cleo,” Target said. “I can’t change that. I realize that now. I just want to be a part of your life.”
“You may not be able to change it, but I can,” Boss said.
Cleo looked toward the scary man as he wiped his hands on a cloth. “You have a choice, Cleo. This is a one-time opportunity. I can arrange it so Cleo Bennet is dead. Your body gets found. Arrange for it all to go down, and you’re free and clear to live your life. Away from all of us. Away from Priest, from the Circle of Monsters. You will cease to exist. You’ll have a new identity. A new life. One that you’ve always dreamed about,” Boss said.
“You can do that?”
“I can do anything,” Boss said. “I will allow you to make the decision, Cleo. If you decide to take it, I will not waste a moment in protecting you, but you must know that it means you will never see Target or Priest again. They’re the sacrifices you must make.”
“They … they can’t come and visit me?”
“It would be pointless, Cleo. It would put your life at risk, and that is not what I’m offering you. This is your one and only chance to get out, to be free. To be safe.”
Cleo couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, but then… “It means I’ll be alone?”
“Yes. It means that you’ll have to forget everything you saw today.”
“Don’t forget the plastic surgery,” Target said. “She’d have to undergo that as well to avoid the face recognition software.”
Boss nodded. “There would be a great deal to do, but it would be for your safety.”
Cleo glanced behind her and looked at Priest. It would mean giving him up.
“This is a great opportunity,” Priest said. “You should take it.”
Did this mean that he didn’t want her? Was that what he was trying to say? She was more of a problem than anything else? Sickness swirled in her gut. Why wasn’t he fighting for her?
Priest nodded at Boss, glared at Target, and then turned to leave.
What the hell did this mean?
Cleo looked at Boss and knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime offer. She didn’t want to spend her whole life in fear, but being alone was the alternative. She didn’t want to live her life away from Priest.
“No,” she said.
“Cleo, don’t do this,” Target said. “This is an amazing offer. It’s something even I can’t give to you.”
“And what life am I being offered? The chance to not look over my shoulder. To not be afraid of what goes bump in the night? Great, but it comes with a cost. It comes with loneliness. Starting over from scratch. Of leaving the man that I love behind. You could send your daughter into care because you thought you were making the right decision and perhaps you were, but not for me. Never for me. That decision was all on you, and I can’t make that mistake. I love Priest. I’m completely in love with Priest, and I am not giving up on him.”
“Even if he doesn’t want you?” Target asked. “You heard him.”
“That is my decision.”
She spun on her heel. She needed to go find Priest. To talk this through with him. Her heart was breaking, just a little bit because she needed to know if there was a chance for them. What if he didn’t even want her?
Priest was near the back door, leading out. The lights were out. They were in total darkness.
“You should take it,” Priest said. “It’s one hell of an opportunity.”
“Do you not love me?” Cleo asked. “Have I just been a bit of fun to you? Give it to me straight.”