Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 105921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
No time to think about it. Together, we headed to the gas station bathrooms, getting in and out as fast as we could. Thatcher and I met in the brightly lit, tiled hall that led to the fast-food restaurant attached to the gas station. Tenn called out his order as he moved past us to the front door and out to the pumps.
Standing in line, I bounced on my toes, willing the line to move faster. Just when I was about to ditch the idea of food in favor of a few bags of chips, the party ahead of us was gone and it was our turn. I ordered as quickly as I could, shoving my credit card at the cashier.
"What's with the rush? Does Tenn have a curfew?" Thatcher asked, laughing.
"Kind of." Sending a look around the crowded restaurant, I said, "I'll explain later."
Grabbing our bags, I nudged the drinks at Thatcher. "Go easy on yours, okay? We're not stopping for another bathroom break."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," I confirmed.
When we reached the car, Thatcher said, "You can sit in the front, Mom. Then I can stretch out back here."
I guess he was done with hugs. He'd have to put up with one more. Handing the food and drinks to Tenn, I hauled Thatcher into my arms and gave him the hug I'd been saving up for almost a week. He stood passive in my embrace for a few seconds before his arms came around me in a tight hug. "I'm okay, Mom."
"I know." Planting a smacking kiss on his cheek, I set him free. "Don't forget what I said about the drink. We're not stopping again."
I buckled in and Tenn pulled back onto the highway. "We have until 10:48, according to Griffen," he said, a determined set to his chin.
Thatcher leaned forward, his hand on the back of my seat. "Why do you have to get back home so fast? What's such a big deal that those guys left their mission to help you?"
Tenn sent me a questioning look. I shrugged. "I think he should know what you risked to help him."
Tenn nodded and appeared to think for a minute. "You know who I am?" he asked Thatcher. "Who my family is?"
"Yeah, kind of. You're a Sawyer. Your dad owns, like, a whole town and a bunch of land and stuff. Your family is really rich but sorta secretive. Like, you're not all over the internet, driving expensive cars and stuff."
"Basically. Did you know my dad died a few months ago?"
Thatcher's face dropped and he shook his head. "No. Was he old?"
"Not really. He was murdered."
Both Thatcher and Tenn looked at me, Thatcher in shock and Tenn wondering if he should have kept that part quiet. Ignoring Thatch for the moment, I asked Tenn something I needed to know even if I didn't want to ask in front of Thatcher.
"Are we staying when we get back? Or is it time to, you know, call it a day?" I tried to ignore the spike of nerves while I waited for his answer. I would not burst into tears if he told me we should call it a day. I would not.
Tenn's dark blue eyes were deadly serious on mine. "You're absolutely staying."
I didn't try to hide my smile. "Then I think he might as well know the truth. He'll find out anyway. Better to hear it from you."
"Okay." Tenn looked up to meet Thatcher's eyes in the rearview mirror. "My dad was murdered in his office at the Manor. We have no idea who did it, but my brother was set up to take the blame. He's in jail right now. There's some other stuff going on too, but you want to know about the deadline."
I didn't miss how he glossed over Vanessa's murder. I wasn't going to bring it up. Prentice's murder was enough for now. Thatcher could hear about Vanessa another time.
"When my father died, he left a will. Instead of splitting his estate between his kids, he divided the cash into trusts and put our oldest brother, Griffen, in charge of the trusts for the next five years."
"The Griffen who used to work with Kane and those guys?" Thatcher asked, leaning forward as far as his seatbelt would let him.
"The same one. Our father put Griffen in charge of the family company and left him the house, but he didn't leave him any money. He gets access to our trusts and any profits from Sawyer Enterprises. The rest of us don't get anything for the next five years. If we want what's in those trusts, we have to live in the family home, Heartstone Manor, for those five years."
"That doesn't seem that hard. I looked you up and there aren't any pictures of your house online except what someone took from a drone, but it looks huge. Like a castle or something."