Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I know it’s a shock to find out you had a kid you knew nothing about. Shadow went through the same thing. I don’t know if Deacon’s guy, Ignacio, is there with you, but he didn’t meet his son until he was thirteen.”
I keep my eyes locked on Mila through the gas station window. I’d be in there with her if three of the BBS guys weren’t inside as well.
She declined going back to her sister and Carlen’s house. I don’t know if it was out of fear or what, but she had no interest in going back to the house. I’m thinking I may need to see if Deacon or one of the BBS guys can go grab some of the sentimental stuff for the boys. They may not understand having some of that stuff now, but they will when they get older.
“You’re sure you don’t want us to go further?” Deacon asks after he’s done fueling up the Tahoe he’s driving.
“Wren said there’s no sign of us being followed.”
Deacon shakes his head. “All the major players are still at the clubhouse. I have no doubt that Adrian would take care of something like this personally, especially after the little confrontation you told us about in the driveway when you got back to town. His pride wouldn’t allow him to let someone else come after you.”
I hold my hand out to him.
“I want to thank you for all your help.”
We shake hands, Deacon assuring me that they’re available at any time. All it would take is a simple phone call.
He bids us a safe trip before climbing into his SUV and driving off.
“They didn’t have regular Coke so I grabbed you a diet,” Mila says as she comes back into the vehicle.
I do my best to keep my nose from scrunching up, but the thought of drinking a diet soda makes my stomach turn.
“Thanks,” I tell her instead. Making a big deal out of something so petty would be pointless.
I help the boys into their seats, Jace being big enough to buckle his own belt, while she gets Sutton settled into her car seat.
The little girl arches her back, already losing her shit for being placed back into her car seat after having spent several hours in it already.
Mila looks up at me, and I told you so flashes in her eyes. I was hoping both she and Kincaid were wrong, but it’s not looking that way.
I argued with Kincaid about this not being a damn vacation. We aren’t taking a leisurely stroll across the United States, but I can already tell after getting back on the road that it’s going to take much longer than eighteen hours to get to New Mexico. Sutton’s crying only ebbed for a few minutes, and although she isn’t full on wailing, it’s clear she isn’t happy with being stuck in the car.
Thankfully, Mila doesn’t seem to be the type of person who’s going to complain in front of the kids which would only agitate them further.
She pulls something out of her purse, handing it back to Sutton who is strapped into her car seat directly behind me, but she moves too fast for me to tell what it is. It calms the little girl, her babbling having a happier edge to it.
“What did you give her?” I ask.
“A little stuffed toy,” Mila says as if it’s completely normal to carry something like that on you all the time.
I have so much to learn about kids.
The road stretches out in front of us. We aren’t taking the scenic route. We aren’t spending any time taking in the sights or detours to visit any special places. There’s an urge inside of me that drives me to get them to safety as quickly as possible, yet I don’t press my foot down on the gas as hard as I can. Their safety not only includes protection from Keres, but it also includes making this trip in one piece. That means paying attention and trying to predict what the other idiots on the road are going to do.
“Not much out here,” I tell her, gaining no response.
I glance over at her, wondering if her eyes are closed. I can only imagine how tired she is from parenting three kids, not to mention the exhaustion that comes from worrying about her future and not only how she’ll be able to take care of them but also how she’ll manage to protect them.
I want to tell her that she’ll never have to do anything alone ever again, but in my head that sounds like I’m trying to control her. Maybe in a way I am. I won’t let her make decisions that will in any way harm these children, and although I don’t think she’ll do something like that intentionally, I’ve discovered that she has a prideful streak to her.