Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I saw your father once, a few weeks ago. When he contacted me, I just had to meet him. I knew you were safe, so why not?” She sighed. “He was still everything I remembered. Charismatic, strong, charming. Smart. We talked about you. He’d found out that you were a Variant, that you were with the FEA. He was angry with me. He couldn’t believe I’d handed you over to them. He’ll never forgive me for that.”
“But where is his headquarters?”
“I don’t know. That’s restricted information, and he didn’t tell me. We met in a small restaurant outside of Vegas.”
“Did he tell you anything that will help me find him?”
She laughed mirthlessly. “No. But some of the customers talk. There are always rumors about Abel’s Army and the FEA making the rounds. I’m not sure how much of it is true. I never really bothered to find out.”
I wondered how she could be like that, how she could so easily turn her back on her past and everyone in it. “Then why did you wind up here? If you were so desperate to be normal, why did you get into a relationship with another Variant? You gave me up to have a chance at a normal life.” I didn’t bother to hide the bitterness that I felt.
Hopelessness blanketed her expression. “It seems normal is out of my reach. You can’t help who you are. No matter where you go, no matter how fast you run, Tessa, you can’t escape yourself.” She sniffed.
She pressed her fingertips against her temple. Exhaustion marked her face. She probably needed some rest after her drug haze. I perched on the bed beside her and took her hands in mine. Her eyes widened but she didn’t pull back. Maybe she didn’t have the energy to do so, but I tried to tell myself that she stayed because she enjoyed my closeness.
“Please. If you know any way I can find Abel, you have to help me. I need to find my friend.”
Her eyes became distant. “Abel’s Army can’t be found, they find you. That’s what people say and it’s true. Abel found me and he will find you too. If you let him. I think he’s met his match in you.” She paused. “But it’s possible that Stanley knows something. He hates talking about it, but he belonged to them once. To Abel’s Army.”
She started to get up but her legs shook and she sank back down. I walked to the door and found Stanley in the corridor, arguing with Penny. Devon spotted me and immediately came over and touched my arm. I wanted to press myself against his chest, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place.
“You okay?” he asked.
I gave him a small smile. “I’m fine. My mother doesn’t know where Abel’s Army is, but she thinks that maybe Stanley does.”
Devon looked doubtful. “I don’t think he’d tell us even if he knew.” Especially after I’d threatened to call Abel on him earlier.
“Stanley,” I yelled out. “I need to talk to you.”
His narrowed yellow eyes cut to me. He said something to Penny and she disappeared down the stairs. Stanley strode toward me, a reddish-bluish bruise marking the spot on his chin where my fist had struck him. If I’d known I needed him, I wouldn’t have hit him, but it was too late for that. My eyes darted to my mother, collapsed into herself on the bed.
“You still here? I don’t want you under my roof,” Stanley growled. Like he hadn’t known that I’d been helping my mother all this time.
“I don’t want to cause any more trouble,” I said. “As soon as you tell me what I need to know, I’m gone. And you’ll never see me again.” I retreated into the room.
That was a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep. And he probably knew it. I couldn’t leave my mother in this place, but I couldn’t exactly take her with me either. I had to save Holly first, but then who knew if I’d be back.
He followed me into the room, scanning my mother without a single emotion on his face. “What do you want?”
Devon trailed after us, his eyes never leaving Stanley.
“You have to tell me how to find Abel’s headquarters.”
His mouth twitched and then booming laughter burst out of him. My hands curled into fists at my side but I let him have his moment. Devon glanced at me, his eyebrows raised.
“You want me to help you find Abel?”
“Yes. I won’t leave otherwise.”
His eyes hardened. “Oh yes, you will.”
Devon took a threatening step toward Stanley. “Listen, you’ll have far less trouble if you just tell us what you know.”
The man jabbed a finger at Devon. “You know nothing about trouble, boy. That girl of yours is getting you into a shitload of it. Better run while you still can.”