Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
The men put their heads together and began to plot.
It didn’t take long. In the morning, Kestrel would fly over the area where Boyd’s phone had marked its location while Celeste and Magnus investigated the diamonds. Phoenix and Caesar planned to drive past the target and park off the road. Their approach by foot through the uninhabited space to the north should go unnoticed.
With that done, they debated the message to send to the kidnappers. Finally, they settled on this short message.
Do not harm Boyd. I don’t know what goods you are talking about. What’s going on?
The response came quickly.
Your manager was to transport two vials to Japan. He hid them in your case.
Tell me the location. I’ll be there at noon.
Come alone to the petrol station on the road north of Danger Bluff.
I will send a representative in my place. That’s not negotiable. Bring Boyd. That is not negotiable either.
Noon.
“They didn’t promise anything there at the end. I don’t like this setup,” Rocco said. His brow was furrowed with worry.
“We’ll have a few surprises for them,” Magnus promised.
The men continued to make and refine their plan until they couldn’t find any place to improve it.
“I’m going to get a few hours of sleep,” Kestrel said, rubbing a hand over his face.
“We should all do that,” Caesar suggested. “Especially you, Phoenix. Do I need to take a shift monitoring the screens?” Caesar asked Magnus.
“I’ll set the system to alert me by phone if there are any problems,” Magnus shared. “They’re not coming tonight.”
“I’ll take the phone to charge. I’ll monitor any new communications,” Phoenix said.
“Damn, we forgot the cake,” Rocco mentioned as they stepped onto the elevator.
“The girls would have killed us if we’d eaten it without them anyway,” Magnus growled.
“Cake for breakfast tomorrow?” Caesar suggested.
“You’ll never suggest that when your Little gets here. Have you seen the Little girls after all that sugar?” Kestrel joked.
“Just thinking of distractions. Waiting until noon will be tough on them,” Caesar pointed out.
“Good point. Cake for a midmorning snack,” Kestrel agreed and thumped Caesar on the back. “Yours will be here soon.”
“What will we have to save her from?” Caesar wondered, running his hand through his hair in exasperation.
“Let’s take care of Lyra first. Then we’ll move on,” Rocco suggested as the doors opened onto the fifth floor.
The group dispersed into the different apartments.
Phoenix stopped to trace the edges of one hairy foot on the tarantula now attached to their door. Spiders were starting to grow on him thanks to Lyra—at least unalive ones. He headed inside, eager to crawl in bed with his Little and her stuffie.
After brushing his teeth and undressing quietly in the bathroom, Phoenix turned off the light and opened the door. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of Lyra leaning against the opposite wall in a nightie. Her gaze swept over his nude body, and her cheeks were slightly pink.
“You should be asleep, Little girl, instead of ogling your Daddy.”
“Mmmm. You are distracting,” she admitted as she focused on one particular area.
“Eyes on mine, Little girl,” Phoenix directed, his body already responding to her attention. “Why aren’t you in bed?”
Slowly, Lyra raised her gaze to meet his. “I can’t sleep. That picture of Boyd is stuck in my head. What if he’s dead?”
“The super bad guys won’t have any leverage over you if they kill the bad guy who’s been putting you in danger,” Phoenix assured her.
“I know. That’s what I keep telling myself. What if they’re so stupid they don’t realize that?”
“Then Boyd is in trouble. The only person I care about is you, Little girl. I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”
“I’m scared.”
“Let’s go cuddle in bed, Crash.”
“Okay. But I need to tell you something first. I love you, Daddy. I wasn’t ready to tell you when you told me you loved me before. I am now. I love you so much.”
Phoenix took a step forward to wrap her in his arms. Then he lifted her from the floor as he squeezed her against his hard body. Lyra flung her arms around his neck and hugged him back. She shivered when he pressed a warm kiss on her shoulder.
“I love you, Lyra Bloom. I’m so glad you crashed into my life.”
“Even though I’ve brought all this mess to your doorstep?” she asked.
“You haven’t caused any of this. There’s only one bad guy involved here,” Phoenix corrected her.
“There are the other bad guys that beat him up, too,” Lyra pointed out.
“Boyd brought that on himself. And I’m definitely not his Daddy.”
Lyra looked at him as those words registered in her mind. She giggled. “You as Boyd’s Daddy. He’d never get to sit down!”
“Come on, giggles. Bed. We both need some sleep.”
“Hmm. Could we do something before we go to sleep?” she whispered.
“Like play marbles?” he asked, placing her in bed and pulling up the covers.