Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“With killing a man?” I nod. Though the world might be a better place without some of them. “It wouldn’t be my first time, babe.” My hand freezes.
“You’ve killed someone before?”
“I told you that you can ask me whatever you want and I’ll answer you, but keep in mind there are some questions you might not really want the answers to.” Our eyes stay locked for a long moment.
I’m not scared of Garrett, but this is a stark reminder that I don’t really know this man.
“It’s time to eat.” He breaks through my thoughts by shutting the first aid kit. “My hand will be fine. I’ve dealt with worse.”
“Garrett—”
“My story is for another day, Snow. You need to eat and get some rest.” I nod, but I don’t want him to think it has changed anything. Maybe it should have, but whatever this is I feel for Garrett is still there, even with the things he’s admitted. So I lean in and press my mouth against his.
He has accepted everything he's learned about me. I want to do the same for him, even if it does make me all too naïve.
9
GARRETT
Iscoop Snow into my arms and carry her to my bed. We sat on the couch for a while after I fed her, and she continued to tell me more about Heaven's Temple. I am going to burn that place to the fucking ground as soon as I get the chance.
I lay her down and pull a blanket over her. In my bed, she looks smaller and more vulnerable. I brush my fingers across her forehead to move some of her hair that has fallen onto her face. Bear jumps up on the bed, going to the end to sleep by her feet. He’s as enamored as I am with our snow angel.
I fucking hate to think about how she grew up and what she endured. I know she didn’t tell me everything. There were moments when I could see she felt shame about her upbringing, as if she was somehow responsible for it. That gutted me. What she didn’t understand yet was that because of her, soon that place would be nothing but ash.
Unable to help myself, I lean down and brush my mouth against her. She lets out a little sigh. “Garrett.” Snow mutters my name in her sleep. I close my eyes, my chest growing tight. No clue what she has done to me, but there is no going back. My whole world is going to change, and for once, I want that. Snow has knocked something loose inside of me.
I give Bear a head rub, leaving him to watch over our angel while I dig into Heaven’s Temple. I’ll have to reach out to my brother at some point. He already knows something is up. He sensed it when he called me. I can never hide shit from him. Not that I wanted to; I just wanted Snow to myself for a bit longer. I understand it's selfish, but with the raging snowstorm outside, there's not much I can do right now.
If it were solely a kill mission, the weather would be ideal, but it's not. This is going to be a rescue with likely a few kills along the way. Joseph is at the top of my list. Regarding Snow's father, I have yet to make a definitive decision on how I’m going to handle him. I will have to get a sense from Snow in regards to him.
I pull up my email and a secure line. Ace and I might be able to get in and shut shit down, but we’ll need help afterward. These women and children will require a safe haven. Heaven’s Temple is all they’ve known their entire lives. They will need time to get acclimated to the outside world.
I reach out to a few of the men I used to work with outside of the government, and then I reach out to a few higher-ups who are employed by the government. I don’t know how deep this cult might go, but it would likely only be local. There's no way they have enough money to buy off senators.
When I’m done, I clear everything out. I should have responses in the morning. I open the trick door in my office and punch in the code for the safe room. It’s not big, at six feet by eight. I didn't design it as a panic room, although it could serve that purpose. It’s where I keep all my weapons from the days I worked as a mercenary.
I pop in a few clips and do a count. I still have my handgun tucked into the back of my pants. I grab another two to place throughout the house just in case. When it comes to Snow, I am going to be prepared for anything that might come our way. I’m not taking any damn chances. Her safety is my top priority. In fact, at some point I may have to teach her how to use a gun herself. I have no idea what these people are capable of, but I know what I would do if they had Snow hidden away in their home, out of my reach. The lengths I’d go to in order to get inside and get her back.