Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“What if it isn’t, Owen?” Tears line my eyes, rage-driven and fearful. “What if he hurt Gregory?”
Owen furrows his brow, remorse and anger swirling over his features. He groans. “If I tell you to stay here, will you?”
I shake my head.
“Didn’t think so.” His muscles tense. “I’m going to draw my gun,” he warns me before slowly retrieving the gun he always wears holstered at his lower back. His T-shirts always cover it up, but I’ve always known it’s there. “You stay behind me. You understand? Even if we see the cat, I need your word you won’t step in front of me.”
I nod, my fingers shaking.
He hesitates another moment, regret flashing in his eyes before he moves toward the tree line.
I do as I’m told, stepping where he steps, barely able to control my racing heart as we clear the first portion of the trees—
A soft mewing sounds, and every single muscle in my body tenses at the sound.
“There he is,” Owen whispers, but holds his free arm in front of me in case I’m about to break my word and run toward Gregory, who is struggling against something tied to his back paw.
I don’t move despite every instinct urging me to run.
Owen scans the wooded area, looking every inch the terrifying bodyguard my father hired. After a few excruciating minutes, he nods and moves toward Gregory.
“Son of a bitch.”
CHAPTER 15
Owen
Igrowl as we make it to the cat and give the area another quick scan. There’s no sign of Spencer, so I holster my weapon and crouch. “He tied him up and left him here.”
“Is he hurt?” Zoe asks, tears coating her tone as she continues to obey my demand, staying behind me as I crouch before the cat.
I look him over. He’s tugging against a string tied to his back paw, securing him to the tree. Mewing instead of hissing, which is a good sign. “I don’t think so,” I say, gently reaching for him. “I’m going to help you,” I say to the cat, eying him in the hopes he won’t take this out on me.
He stills, as if he can understand me, and I get to work on the tie, noting as the cat shifts that there’s another fucking letter underneath him.
“Almost,” I say, working the string. Zoe is kneeling next to me, petting his head, the cat leaning into her touch. “Got it.” The tie comes loose, and I lean back, expecting Gregory to run for it like he usually does after he gets what he needs from us.
I flinch as he leaps toward me, climbing up my chest until he’s practically clinging to my shoulder. I stand up, cradling the shaking cat in my arms.
“It’s okay, buddy,” I say in a soothing tone, my eyes widening as I glance at Zoe.
She’s smiling, but tears are rolling down her cheeks as she looks him over where I hold him. “He’s not hurt,” she says, relief drenching her tone. She bends and scoops up the letter, anger radiating from her as she opens it.
This could’ve been so much worse. Don’t you see? You see what your silence and indifference toward me is doing to me? You’ve pushed me to this level. Next time, I won’t be so nice. Lose the guy and agree to meet with me. I just want to talk to you. Once you hear me out, you’ll understand why we should be together.
Ice fills my veins as I read the letter, her holding it so I can see every single word.
He’s escalating, just like I was afraid of.
She folds the letter, sucking in a sharp breath as she looks at the cat, then me. “I almost wish he’d been here,” she admits as we start the walk back toward her building. “Is that awful?”
“No,” I say as we reach the back door. “You want this done. You want closure. It’s understandable.”
She shakes her head, folding her arms around herself.
I try to put Gregory down, but he clings to me and protests with a meow.
I raise my brows, and Zoe laughs a soft, broken sound. “Guess he’s warmed up to you.”
I force out a laugh. “I guess,” I say, glancing down at the damned cat. “All it takes to get on your good side is saving your life?”
Zoe sighs. “If he hadn’t left the letter, I would’ve assumed Gregory just moved on to another feeding location.” She shakes her head. “This is getting worse, right?” she asks, motioning to the cat with the letter in her hand. “This…it’s more intense than destroying flowers and obsessively texting.”
I nod.
She blows out a breath, turning to open the door. I follow her inside, and she sets the dishes of food and water on the floor in the break room. Gregory almost reluctantly releases me, hopping down to eat. Once he’s done, he’s immediately climbing back up my leg and into my arms.