Total pages in book: 185
Estimated words: 172387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 862(@200wpm)___ 690(@250wpm)___ 575(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 862(@200wpm)___ 690(@250wpm)___ 575(@300wpm)
The neighbor used to complain that the boys were infringing on his privacy. At the time they didn’t even know what their new toy could do, but after the neighbor yelled at them and daddy threatened to gut him if he even looked at one of us kids, they started doing research.
They couldn’t get a special night waiver without daddy’s help and daddy would’ve asked a million questions if they’d asked, so Aiden went ahead and added his own anti collision lights and a whole lot more to it. Now I can see better even when I fly it high.
I didn’t find the right house yet, but after buzzing a few of the houses in the neighborhood I can scratch them off my list. Oh yeah, the other thing he did is add something so I can hear better, I don’t think drones are supposed to do that, not the toy ones at least, but his does. When daddy finds out he’s going to skin him.
I rolled back onto my side and looked out the window at the tops of the trees in the distance. I didn’t know that our windows aren’t really windows until today. I could see through other people’s windows with the drone, but when I buzzed our house earlier, all I saw was the reflection of the light outside. Daddy had surrounded the whole house with one-way glass.
That’s why I love my daddy, he does everything to keep us safe. Even the bad man didn’t get too far when he took me. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the memory of that day. Though everything is still fuzzy, I know that something bad would’ve happened if daddy hadn’t found me.
Bunny looked back at me as my jaw snapped with a yawn. I have so much to do but daddy took my computer. I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Daddy had only got me one because of what happened, otherwise I would’ve had to wait until I turned thirteen.
I’d downloaded the sounds onto the phone and even took a few pictures from the drone but I’m too tired to listen or look at them now. Tomorrow….I’ll text Lily and Nia and get them to help me. My eyes drifted shut on another yawn and I burrowed under the covers. Tomorrow is family day. I smiled in my half sleep state.
All the aunts and uncles are here, even grandpa Grimmy’s back. I wonder what cool things he brought me? I didn’t even get to see Caitie’s new car before the man hid it. I’m pretty sure daddy’s gonna find it in the extra garage where he keeps most of his cars. Only the ones that he hardly ever drives. When I grow up I’m gonna drive them all.
Maybe tomorrow I can get uncle Hank to get me stuff, he owes me and I need new stuff for the lab. I don’t know how come daddy haven’t figured out that the boys can do stuff to their drones, he taught them how to build a bike, he should know they like taking stuff apart and putting it back together.
My mind rambled the way it does at night before I fall asleep. I’ve learned to separate each thought so that they don’t become a jumble and look at each one separately until I’ve figured it out.
My last thought as I fell asleep was of the man’s face. Just like that day, it was blurry and I couldn’t bring him into focus. I won’t let him get Caitie. I didn’t feel my body shiver as I fell off into darkness.
LYON
“Fuck!” I came awake and hit the ground running in one motion at the first scream. In my head I knew she was safe, that it was just one of the nightmares that had awakened her in the months after she’d been taken.
I hit the light in her room and had to step over the dog, who’d jumped up at her scream. He was doing his best to nudge her awake. “Wake up baby, Catalina, it’s daddy.” I had to keep my voice low and calm even as my heart raced in my chest.
Her little arms flailed around like she was fighting someone. I saw lights come on from the guardhouse and a shadow entered her bedroom door as I held my little girl close to me, talking her down. “It’s okay now, you’re good, you’re good.”
I sat back against the headboard as she whimpered herself awake. “Is she okay?” Mancini stepped into the room out of the shadows. Even with the situation tearing my guts and heart out, I couldn’t help grinning at the gun in his hand.
“Hank what were you expecting to find?” He looked down at the gun.
“Natural reflex, I didn’t even realize I grabbed it.” I could hear others moving around in the hallway and Law, Creed and the boy stepped into the doorway. The only reason the SEALs weren’t here is because they’re at mom and dad’s I’m sure.