Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“I can get him the help he needs,” Trav says. “Pay for rehab in a secure location—”
“Coming forward will only put his life in jeopardy, and what good will rehab do if he’s dead? I can’t ask someone to risk their life to save mine.”
A small smile tries to break free on Trav’s face.
“Well, apart from you. But you do this shit for a living.”
“Glad to know you’d pick me first for something. Even if it is dying for you.”
“Let him go,” I say again. “We’ll find another way.”
Though I’m having a lot of trouble actually believing that.
“Thank you,” Hale says and scurries off.
“You might have lost any chance you had of making Walker pay for his actions,” Trav says.
“Or I might have saved a man’s life.” I head toward the car at the end of the alleyway, and Trav follows.
“So after wanting to find Hale—find the answer—you’re going to walk away when everything you hoped for is right there in front of you? I put both of us at risk for … that. I thought you were all about doing the right thing?”
When he puts it like that, I feel like an idiot. But at the same time, I stand by my principles. “Is it really the right thing if it means putting an innocent person at risk who was trying to do the right thing by his friend?”
“Does that mean your lecturing about me bending the law and blurring lines only applies to me and my job?”
“Hale didn’t break any laws.”
The resolve in Trav’s features starts to crack. “Okay, fine. Have morals. Though, I’m starting to suspect you just love needing to be by my side at all times. I get it.”
“And the real Trav is back.” But it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.
After he admitted his snide comments were a way of both pushing me away while being truthful, I get the feeling he’s doing it now because I’m walking away from Hale. Trav’s pissed and trying to hide it.
“Where are we gonna go?” I ask when we get back in the car, and he takes off.
“Somewhere I don’t own. If those contractors found me at the ranch, they could find me at any of my safe houses. It’s kind of ironic that my own safe houses can’t keep me safe.”
“I’m guessing my place is out of the question too, then.”
“Definitely. We’ll head to Domino’s for now, and I’ll try to think of a more long-term option in the morning.”
“Long-term?”
“Well, you just let your short-term option run away. You’re stuck with me, baby.”
That doesn’t sound as bad as it did a few days ago. “Could be worse. Walker could’ve found me and killed me, so there’s that.”
“I love the way you love me.”
I sigh in exasperation, but my lips betray me as they turn up in a smile.
Trav drives toward Hollywood, and by the time he takes the turn up the narrow and winding roads of Beachwood Canyon, the sun is rising. It’s been a long time since I pulled an all-nighter.
When Trav pulls up to a modest sixties-style home on a small hill, I’m taken aback by its humbleness compared to Trav’s monstrosities.
Trav assesses my reaction. “What, this not up to your standard? Wow, a couple of nights with me, and you’ve already become accustomed to a higher standard of living. You’ll make a great househusband yet.”
“I was actually thinking that this is humble compared to what I was expecting.”
“Why don’t you wait until you see inside before you say that.”
“And now I’m scared to enter the house.”
“Don’t worry. Despite the decorating he did at the ranch, Domino has decent taste.” Trav gets out of the car and pulls his bag out of the back seat, but I’m still blinking at what he said to catch up to him.
He closes the back door and then waits by the hood for me.
I open my door and approach him. “Domino decorated the ranch?”
“Yes. Though, that’s not common knowledge, so if you tell any of my other guys, I’ll call Walker myself to tell him your location.”
“Why such a big secret?”
He leads me to the wide wooden front door. “If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a secret, would it? It’s just something between Domino and me. You know, bestie bro code.”
“One, you’re way too old to believe in things like bro code, and two, the way you say it’s something between you and Domino makes me think there is something between you and Domino. You and he ever …” I move my hand in a circular motion. “You know …”
Trav bursts out laughing so hard, he has to hunch his big body over to catch his breath. “Domino is the one straight guy on the team, and don’t get me started on how many times he’s had to defend his sexuality while working for me. Trust me when I say, after twenty years of friendship, I’ve seen the number of times guys hit on him. If he was ever inclined that way, he would’ve acted on it. He’s had plenty of chances.”