Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Nina was screaming bloody murder last night. It wasn't panicked screaming, either. It was more like she was staring death in the face and refusing to go quietly. The sound led me right to her. Without it, I wouldn't have found her. And I think maybe that was fate, too.
She's the reason my instincts were screaming at me to get my ass to work all day yesterday. And I may be a lot of things, but I am not crazy enough to question fate.
I tap her bottom lip and then stand upright again. "Since we're apparently up for the day, I'm going to get dressed." I rake my gaze down her body, appreciating the sight of her in her little tank top and pajama shorts. "You should absolutely feel free to wear that today, though. The cherries suit you."
I stride across the room, leaving her spluttering in my wake.
Christ, I can't wait until she's ready to trust me. It's been a long fucking time since I touched another woman. She was probably still a damn teenager the last time I was with anyone. But I want her in a way I've never wanted anything. And having her in my bed isn't going to be nearly enough to satisfy me.
I want every piece of her. Starting with her secrets.
After taking care of my aching cock, showering, and getting dressed, I lean against the sink to call Dillon.
"What do you want?" he grumbles.
"You're cranky today," I mutter, grinning.
"Yes. That's because you're on my phone. What do you want, Emmett?"
"Nina's brother is missing."
Dillon is completely silent for a moment before he groans loudly. "What do you mean by missing?"
"I mean he stuck a note to do the door saying he was going camping with a friend, but Nina is worried," I explain. "Any idea if he has a history of disappearing like this?"
"Why don't you ask her?"
"It's complicated."
"Uncomplicate it," he growls.
"Look, I'm not sure what the fuck is going on yet, but she's hiding something. She's scared of something. I don't fucking know. But she's worried about her brother. Given that someone just set a house on fire with her inside and there were shady motherfuckers lurking around the day before that happened, finding him seems like a good idea to me," I mutter.
"Now who's cranky?" Dillon asks after a brief pause.
I chuckle despite myself. "Have I ever told you that you're a fucking asshole?"
"A time or two. You're just pissed that I pay my investigators more than the fire department pays you," he says. "We'll start looking for the kid. And to answer your question, as far as I know, no, he has no history of disappearing. He and Nina are close, and he's a good kid. He's all-state, has a full ride to Texas A&M, volunteers on weekends."
So not the kind of kid who runs around setting fires. Why the fuck does Nina think he set this one? It doesn't make sense. And I can't exactly ask her. She's scared as hell, and the last thing I need is for her to realize I know she thinks he set the fire before she's ready to tell me. All that'll do is send her running. I do not need her running with her brother missing and two unidentified men lurking around.
Which means I need to figure out how to clear Nate as a suspect without her realizing that he's even on the fucking list. At least until she's ready to tell me what she knows. It's a delicate goddamn balance, but I can't risk her running anywhere but into my arms.
"Do you think he has anything to do with the fire?" Dillon asks.
Fuck my life. I knew the question was coming, but it's not one I'm prepared to answer because right now? I don't fucking know. I've never lied to Dillon about a case. We may give each other nine kinds of hell, but we're always honest.
But I'm not ready to tell him any of this shit yet, either. Not until I know one way or another if I'm throwing her brother under the goddamn bus here.
"She said he had football practice last night," I say instead. "I'll confirm to cover our bases."
"No need," Dillon says immediately. "Garrett was bitching yesterday about practices running late this week because they're trying to find the new starting QB. The Welch kid broke his shoulder."
I grunt in response.
"I'll have everyone keep an eye out for Nate," he says. "Keep me posted on what you find."
"Will do." I disconnect before he has a chance to ask anything else and then scrub a hand down my face. Fucking hell. I need to figure this shit out quick.
I stand there for a minute before I go in search of Nina, only to find her in the small kitchen, loading two plates.