Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Opening my eyes, I said, “His father was pressuring him to shoot the guy. He said that the man was second, and he, um…he betrayed and stole from them.”
“Second?” Mark and Kian said at the same time.
“Like, as in second in command?” Kian asked.
Mark wrote it down. I glanced at his notes, and he had written the man’s possible age and the very small description I had given him.
“Makes sense why Michael’s father was desperate to find you. You witnessed him killing someone.”
I nodded as I chewed on my thumbnail. Kian reached over, took my other hand, and squeezed it.
“Why would he ask his sister about me though?” I asked Mark.
“He didn’t. He was just confiding in her. I guess he does it a lot. Seems like the guy might have a bit of a conscience. The sister doesn’t want anything to do with the family business, including the bank where her brother works. The FBI would have never stumbled on your name if he hadn’t brought it up that he was looking for you.”
“But the sister knows what her father and brother do?”
He nodded. “Yeah, she knows. That’s why she stays clear. But, her brother, mother, and father visit her often, and unbeknownst to them, they give away bits and pieces of information.”
My heart was still beating faster than normal, and I tried to take a few calming breaths. “So what do I do now?”
Mark looked at Kian and then back to me. “That depends on you. Do you want to tell the FBI what you told me? They can offer you protection.”
Confused, I looked at Mark and asked, “What do you mean? I just told you everything.”
“No,” he said with a smile. “You just told your boyfriend’s brother.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe I can ask my boyfriend’s brother for some advice.”
He motioned for me to go on.
“What would you do?”
Mark let out a long breath. “Well, I’d want them to pay for their actions and take them off the streets. But some part of me would want to move on and start my life over. The only problem with option two, you don’t know if they’ll track you down. They might, or they may never find you. It’s a risk you’d have to take.”
I looked at Kian; my heart felt like it had grown twice its size when he smiled at me. His eyes looked at me with concern and something else I didn’t want to label just yet. “I would never want to put you or anyone else in danger. What’s your advice?”
“You can’t keep running for the rest of your life. Looking over your shoulder everywhere you go. If it were me, I’d offer to testify. Put them where they belong. Jail.”
Mark leaned forward. “As far as we can tell, they don’t know where you are yet. The FBI has a tail on Michael. My guess is his father is the one who would want to find you. I also think he’ll use his son to get to you. Figures you will trust him and maybe…just maybe it would be easier to snag you if Michael does the bidding.”
A chill ran through my body.
“If we’ve got you under protection, we can at least have eyes on you and Michael. If they even get a hint that he’s coming your way, they’ll get you to a safe house.”
“But I can stay here in Moose Village until the trial, if there is ever a trial?”
“They’d have to figure out who was killed first,” Mark stated. “But yes. I don’t see why you couldn’t stay here. If they don’t know where you are just yet, I don’t see the harm in allowing you to stay here.”
I closed my eyes, drew in a breath, and prayed I was doing the right thing. When I looked at Mark, I asked, “What’s the next move?”
Mark stood. “I make a phone call. They’ll come and interview you.”
“I won’t leave Moose Village or change my identity again. That’s my only stipulation.”
With a nod, Mark excused himself and walked outside. Kian and I both looked at one another.
“I’m so sorry, Cadie.”
I forced a smile. “It’s not your fault. I should have never gone looking for Michael. I wish I would have just left.”
“It doesn’t do you any good to play that game.”
Nodding, I looked up at him. “What about your brother being in the CIA?”
His eyes went wide. “Right? My little brother…I had no freaking idea. I hope I get to be in the same room when he tells my mother and father.”
My hand came to my mouth to stifle my laugh. Kian winked and I shook my head. “That’s terrible, Kian.”
“Just wait, you’ll see after this weekend when you meet my parents.”
“So, I’m meeting them. Even with all of this going on?”
Kian took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Life as usual. And I promise you right here and now, I will not let anything happen to you. I’ve waited too long for you, Cadie.”