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)
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I growl, taking a few steps back. My first instinct when I look up at him is to run into his arms and let my tears soak into his shirt, but I learned long ago that my first instincts are always wrong.
He doesn’t hesitate to drop his hands from my upper arms where he placed them to steady me.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I snap, getting close enough to shove both of my hands into his chest.
His jaw twitches but he does nothing to make me think he’ll retaliate.
“Is something wrong?” His voice is full of gravel yet somehow smooth.
I scoff. Every fucking thing is wrong. Nothing is right.
“That’s a stupid question. You need to leave.”
He’s still standing in the driveway as I get my purse from the car, digging around inside it until my fingers brush my keys.
He doesn’t try to stop me, nor does he follow me to the front door as I unlock it and step inside.
I wasn’t in the apartment for long, but I’d never risk going to pick up the kids with anything dangerous on my skin.
I do my best not to think about what I’m doing as I grab some lounge clothes from Janet’s dresser and head to the bathroom down the hall.
He’s no longer in the driveway when I peer down from the window. I’m mad he didn’t bother to attempt to stick around, and also grateful he left. Both emotions piss me off. He’s as irrelevant to me now as he was three years ago.
I need him out of town, not snooping around, trying to insert himself into my business.
Chapter 5
Stormy
“You mean more private time?” Legacy asks, his lip twitching with mirth as he watches his new wife’s mouth hang open in shock. Her cheeks start to turn pink, making it very clear how easily she gets embarrassed.
Although many of us know why they disappeared for a while after they said their vows, no one would actually bring it up to them.
I can’t help but laugh when Devyn fans at her face with her hand, trying to clear the redness from her cheeks. She glares at her husband, but there’s more than just irritation in her eyes. I have no doubt they’re going to end up excusing themselves for a second time if Legacy keeps teasing her.
I smile at the two of them, knowing just how easily this day could’ve never happened. A couple of months ago, several of us, including the happy couple, attended another wedding in Texas. Jinx’s younger brother got married, and a handful of us tagged along because the small town of Lindell, Texas had seen some recent criminal activity from a group of traffickers, and they just wanted to make sure everyone was going to be safe.
We failed that town. Four gunmen showed up to the wedding that took place in the town’s square. Several people were shot and two of the town’s citizens were killed. We were able to take out two of the gunmen and wound a third, but the fourth gunman dragged Devyn away from the event. We spent hours searching for her, and if the gunman who was taken to the hospital didn’t give up his rendezvous location, there would’ve been more devastation where Devyn was concerned.
I take a deep breath, feeling like even more of a failure with recent events. The logical side of me knows that what happened to Janet and Carlen isn’t my fault. I know how easy it is to slip into that part of your head that turns over and over a litany of questions and what-ifs, but I still can’t seem to stop it from bouncing around in my head.
A knock at the front door is like a record scratch, echoing through the room and pulling every ounce of attention in that direction.
Kincaid heads in that direction, every man in the room repositioning themselves to protect the ones they love if it comes to that. Kincaid doesn’t seem nervous when he pulls his head back after checking the peephole, but he also isn’t relaxed either.
Cold chills race up my arms when I see who it is that enters the clubhouse.
Edward Dobbs, the attorney who called me about Carlen’s death, is standing in the Cerberus clubhouse. I met with him briefly last week when I was in town. The fact that the man is so far from home tells me something is incredibly wrong.
“This is about Janet and Carlen,” I mutter, but before I can walk in their direction, Kincaid escorts the man toward me.
The palms of my hands grow slick as they approach.
“Fuck. What now?” I mumble, praying I’m not going to get another dose of horrific news.
“Mr. Chilton,” he says as he steps in front of me.
“Mr. Dobbs.” I can’t begin to control the irritation in my voice. I’m beginning to get upset, and I don’t even know why he’s here yet.