Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I swallowed through needles. “So she... your mother... gave kill orders to her thirteen-year-old son?”
The smile remained as he tangled in my hair.
“No, Rain. When Nora found out, she went off on him. A killer for a son hardly fit into her perfect life. She hardly cared if he got caught and went down for it, but if I’m hauled away in cuffs, everyone will look at the mother who abandoned me as the first blow that warped my mind.”
“Or maybe it’s because she does love you deep down. She doesn’t want that life for you.”
His laugh was a harsh sound. “No, that’s not it.”
I couldn’t argue with him. Nora was a stranger to me. I could trust her son knew her a lot better.
“What you need to understand is that she is not one person. She is multiple people. The guys and I don’t need to use names. They’re all basically one entity, taking orders from the same person. Nora is one of the people working with her. She convinced Jack to take on the job when they were married, and expected him to continue after.
“For years after what went down at Jubilee, I knew something more was going on with him, but Jack kept me out of it. He refused to answer my questions and made sure I wasn’t following him when he went out at night. During that time, his drinking got worse.”
“How did we get here?” I asked. “Now you are doing your father’s job. The five of you. If Nora didn’t want you involved, what changed?”
“I didn’t give up. When I was old enough to drive, I started tailing my old man. Noting who he met, looking up the numbers he called, paying attention the nights he left his badge in the office. Jacques helped me put the pieces together. They led to Arsenio, Legend, and Roan in different ways. The boss has multiple people working for her, doing different jobs around town.
“We were already the Bedlam Boys by the time she made another call to Dad, and I answered the phone. I told her Dad’s not in that business anymore. She was dealing with me now. At first, she was hesitant, then I mentioned I’d been doing the job anyway. Cleaning up after my drunk father’s messy crime scenes, and pouring him into his uniform the next morning to continue the charade at work.
“Officially, our job is collections and keeping shits like the Crows in line. Unofficially, we’re the town’s clean-up crew. This serves her well since it keeps Nora off her back and the job still gets done. She calls Jack to give him a name, knowing I’ll get it out of him.”
“Goodness,” I breathed. “I truly don’t know anything about the home I’ve lived in for almost twenty years.”
“You’d be surprised how very few people do.”
“You’re not, you know.” I kissed him soft and light. “Empty. An empty person wouldn’t go to the lengths you have to protect your father. He wouldn’t care for his sister. And we wouldn’t be as connected as we are.
“I’ve known empty men,” I said, Cavendish floating through my mind. “They need to hurt others because they can’t feel pain themselves. While you’ve known pain, heartache, abandonment, and loss, Cairo Sharpe. That’s why you bleed it from me. You know what I need to breathe.”
He bent his neck, our mouths closing the distance.
“Morning.”
The mailman bounded up the path, waving to us like it was just another sunny day.
For everyone else, it got to be.
“Don’t have much for you today.” He climbed past us, heading for the box. “Can I say, people don’t send letters much these days. Especially not black ones.”
We shot off the steps, startling the poor man into jumping back.
“You two have a good day,” he said, hurrying off.
Cairo looked over my shoulder as I tore the black letter open, tearing out the note.
Well, well, well.
Did you hear my voice as you read that? Of course not. Stupid bitch, you don’t remember me, so you got the cops out here looking for me.
The thing about living in a small town is you know everyone’s face. You for sure recognize the strangers suddenly camped around drop boxes in town.
Clever plan, but ultimately, a waste of time. If you wanted to meet me, Angel, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble.
I’m arranging a little meeting for us as you read this.
I suddenly came into some good news and I want to share it with you.
If you’re lucky, we’ll both get what we want.
You’ll get answers.
And I’ll get you.
Stay psycho.
Love you, XOXO.
“Arranging a meeting for us?” I repeated. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t think there’s a hidden meaning, Rain.”
“But why would he?” I spun on him. “He said he’d meet me last time because I did what he wanted and killed Verlice. He found out that was a lie, and you know what I walked in on. This time I haven’t done anything for this guy. Plus, he knows the police are onto him. If there’s a meeting planned, it won’t be for beers at the Roadhouse.”