Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
“Come home. I can get all that for her.”
“No. She said you needed to go to Cascade for an auction. That’s why I went today.”
“I canceled that. I’m going later in the week. I’ll come into town and finish everything else up. You just come back. You’ll feel better.”
“No.” I winced as I heard that because it was weak. I sounded weak. “No.” That was better. My head started to pound. “This isn’t the first time I’ve panicked. I’ll be fine. It’s a twenty-minute drive. It’ll be fine.”
“Tell me your contingency plans,” he prompted. We’d done this so many times before.
“I have my GPS linked to my voicemail,” I started.
“That’s right because if—”
“If my phone shuts down, my voicemail will automatically give my location.”
“What else?”
“I have a panic button in my car that goes to the nearest police station.”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “And what else?”
“I have pepper spray on my keychain, a taser gun hidden in the back, and my gun is in its case in my trunk.”
“And?”
I recited the rest, which was a reminder that I wasn’t out of control. I knew ways to defend myself. I had more control than anyone might think. I knew self-defense. I knew how to shoot a gun. I knew how to wield a knife. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t helpless. I wasn’t defenseless.
I could protect myself.
And the best weapon I had? I was a woman, and he would underestimate me. Everyone did.
“Good. Good. How are you feeling?” Howard asked when I was done.
I was breathing evenly again. My pulse had steadied. “I’m better. Thank you.”
“I’m not wanting to stir up anything more here, but we got a call earlier today from the Kings.”
Stir up anything more? “Brett’s team?”
“I guess those kids who were hassling you and Brett on the street are trying to say he was aggressive with you. They doctored a clip to show that, but the team got their hands on it.”
“They’re what?” I barked out.
“I figured you wouldn’t be happy about that, but I gotta ask, because I love you and see you as my daughter… He didn’t grab you in any way that made you uncomfortable, did he?”
My heart sank. For Brett to even be questioned about that? “No. Those kids were the assholes.”
“Good to hear. Not that I expected otherwise, but I needed to ask. Anyway, they sent over some legal papers they want you to sign, just saying Broudou wasn’t aggressive with you. You feel comfortable signing them?”
“Of course I will.”
“I’ll let Vick know. She’s got them printed and ready for you here. She’ll fax them back in. Are you going to finish Vicky’s errands? My offer still stands.”
I was already shaking my head before he finished. “No. I’ll do it. I’ll be back within an hour or two.”
“Travis’ precinct isn’t far from you. You could give him a call?”
“I’m good.”
“Text when you’re heading back. Alright?”
“I will,” I noted softly before ending the call. I looked over to the parking lot across the street, automatically scanning it, because it was a habit—or it used to be. I’d gone soft over the last few years, getting comfortable, feeling familiar, not remembering what else was out there.
I couldn’t forget.
After scanning that one, I scanned the one behind it. To the side. To the next side.
I scanned all the parking lots, mentally cataloging as much as I could about all of the different vehicles—makes and models and the letters of the license plates. We’d figured out a trick when I was younger to remember them, and I began chanting the vehicles into a song in my head.
I was rusty, but I’d need to get sharp again.
21
BRETT
I was on my way out of the physical therapy room when Callie approached. She’d spent a good hour on my knee earlier and was usually gone for the day by now, so I paused, waiting to see what she had to say.
She crossed her arms, her eyes shifting to the ceiling. “Just got a call from PR. You’re wanted up there.”
Shit. Kim.
But Callie was avoiding my eyes, and she didn’t do that. Usually, if she had something to say, she said it and moved on.
“What’s going on with you?” I asked.
Her eyes flicked to mine, her expression wary. Her hands slid into her pockets. “Nothing…”
I grunted. “Out with it.”
A grin flickered over her face before she shook her head, rolling her eyes. “It’s nothing, honestly. Just…who was that woman at Jack’s?”
I raised my eyebrows. “We’re that type of friends?”
She swore, laughing. “I was only wondering. That’s all.”
“Who was your friend?”
She pressed her lips together, shifting back on her feet.
I laughed, moving past her. “That’s right. That’s what I thought. You want a gossip session, you gotta ’fess up too.”
Stone Reeves and Colby Doubard were leaving the next room, and Stone called my name.
I lifted my chin. “PR called me up.”