Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
We all put the earpieces in and listened to Fern sing “Another One Bites The Dust.”
Luna’s teeth chattered. “It’s fucking freezing up here, guys. Make a move already.”
Happy turned to face Luka. “When you’re ready.”
“We’re ready,” he said with a curt nod.
But from behind us came, “Sorry we’re late.” I spun around at the sound of her voice. She looked small and scared and out of place. But she held her head high and blinked at me a moment before her eyes met Lexi’s. A small shrug bounced her shoulders. “Heard you could use some help.”
Lexi bound forward and wrapped her arms around Molly. They held each other a long time, and while Molly’s eyes closed, Lexi whispered into her ear, and I watched Molly’s face crumple in pure sadness. She shook her head and uttered a whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
Meeting Tama’s eyes, I jerked my chin at him. “Thanks for coming.”
Luka didn’t appear impressed. “Great. Nice. Family reunion. Fucking wonderful. Now—” He motioned to the building. “—time’s wasting. Let’s move.”
Lexi uncoiled her arms from around Molly but remained by her side in a show of silent support, and while Happy broke us into the building using his gadgets and whatnot, Julius moved to my side, speaking for my ears alone. “Ana wanted to be here.”
I frowned at him. “That girl has gone through enough. I’m glad you were able to talk her down. Besides...” My own voice quieted. “This isn’t her fight.”
Julius leaned in and he put his hand to my shoulder. “He’s coming home.”
Yeah, he was.
He was.
My son was coming home.
The huge double doors beeped a second before the latch clicked over and we were in. Happy held the door open, and as I walked past him, I muttered, “My brother,” proudly.
We had to take both elevators up, with Lexi, Molly, Tama, Luka, and me in one, Julius, Happy, Zep, Evander, and Manda in the other. Once we reached the tenth floor penthouse, Happy knelt by the door, inserted a blank cardkey into the lock, and used his phone to hack the code.
The light turned green and my heart jolted. We were so close.
Before anyone went inside, Julius held a finger to his lips and motioned for everyone else to stay in the hall. The apartment was dark as he entered, gun drawn, but soon enough, I heard her.
“Drop it, Jay.”
A light switched on and, from the hall, we watched Julius illuminate in the soft glow of lamplight.
What Julius said next had me rushing to his side. “Ling,” he uttered, his face awash with concern, “what have you done to him?”
What?
Fuck this shit.
My feet carried me faster than they ever had before, and when I joined my brother in that room, my eyes landed on the small woman cradling my son in her arms in the nook of the large bay window.
She looked high, or tired, or both. I couldn’t tell.
Ling smiled at me, but it was more a taunt. “Quiet, Daddy. You’ll wake him.”
“Put him down, Ling.” My voice shook with raw fury.
From behind me came, “Let go of my son,” and I was surprised by how steady Lexi’s voice was at that moment.
Ling looked up around us, and her eyes widened as the space within the bedroom got smaller and smaller with bodies filling the area. Molly slid to one side of the room as Tama matched her move on the opposite wall, blocking the little woman in.
“Oh. You brought guests. If I’d known, I would have tidied up.” She smirked at Lexi. “But you know kids. Messy little things.” Manda stepped forward, and Ling slowly raised her gun, clicking her tongue. “Get back, baby, or I put a hole in you.”
But Manda took another small step forward, putting her hands up. “Ling. My name is Manda. I’m a doctor.” She looked down at her nephew and her brow creased. “I’m concerned. A.J.’s breathing is a little too shallow for my liking.” She spoke to Ling as if she were a child. “Can you tell me what you’ve given him?”
Ling frowned down at the little boy in her arms, and I wanted to kill her right then and there. “I gave him a little Phenergan.”
“What?” I was fucking shook. “You drugged my son?”
The stupid bitch. My jaw ached with how tight it clenched. She was dog meat.
Manda nodded lightly. “It’s an antihistamine. They sometimes use it to make children drowsy on long flights.” She turned back to Ling, took another small step forward, and asked, “How much did you give him, Ling? This is very important, okay? Too much can kill him.”
But Ling ignored Manda as she gently rocked my son in her arms. “I just wanted to hold him. He’s always on edge. I just want to love him,” she whispered softly.
“He’s not yours.” From beside me, Lexi’s breathing turned heavy, and I watched her fists ball in unconcealed anger. “You can’t have him.”