Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Are you certain, sir?”
“Yes. Colin and I will handle it from here.” I walk away holding the child in my arms, knowing that wherever this young, fragile being goes so does the other young, fragile thing. Two days? Three days? They have to be starved. “Colin, food right after Doc Sallaway.”
Colin nods to me, his phone already to his ear.
Without looking behind me, I say, “Come now. No arguments. You can devise a way to murder me later. You’ll be a more formidable opponent when your stomach isn’t growling.”
“You don’t own me,” says the girl.
“You’re wrong. I do.”
2
LILA
“Slow down,” the giant man in the fancy suit orders.
I glare at him as I take a much-needed breath before I shove another fry into my mouth. I go for the cheeseburger next but only take a small bite. He gives a small nod of approval. My stomach gives a strange dip which I chalk up to being over the food. I haven’t had anything warm to eat in days.
The first three nights I was here, they never locked the cafeteria, but last night they had. Thankfully, Beau only needed warm water for me to make his toddler formula which he favored. I had a stash of his other snacks of fruits and jarred items, but I was down to my last can of the formula. He can have whole milk, but he doesn’t care much for it, and it’s harder to keep with me. I was hoping I could lay low here for longer, but we both needed food, and I was never going to find that formula here.
Then again, I might be wrong because when the tray of food arrived, so had three giant cans of toddler formula with it. It was like magic how it popped out of nowhere. It seems that the suit says what he wants, and it appears. I’ve learned that in the short time I’ve been in his presence.
Of course, the same day I plan to leave our newest home I end up getting caught. I’m not even sure what to make of the man that’s caught me. When I first saw him, I almost peed myself. The man is likely three times my size. Then he went and plucked Beau out of my arms. He didn’t seem so scary with Beau cradled gently in his thick arms. Everyone else looked as perplexed as I did about him taking Beau from me.
“Are you going to give me your name?” he asks when I’m halfway through my cheeseburger.
I can’t remember the last time I ate something so good. My stomach is starting to hurt, but I don’t want to stop yet. I’m guessing the food in prison is going to be shit. I should enjoy this last meal. How much time does a girl get for kidnapping a little boy? Gotta be a lot of time for that one.
“Does it matter?” I say before taking another bite. His eyes stay trained on me. They never seem to leave me. If they do, it’s only for a moment to check on Beau in his arms. Does he think I’m going to bolt? I can’t. Not while he still has Beau. I think he knows that.
“You know I can’t let you walk out of here with him. Especially when I don't think he’s yours.”
“He could be mine,” I blurt out defensively.
“You’re lying.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“You better be lying,” he half growls, making me sit up straighter.
“Or what?” I try to act tough and challenge him, but it comes out as more of a whisper. Something dark flashes in his eyes. I swear the whole temperature in the room starts to change. “He’s not mine but I, I—” I stumble over my words, not sure what Beau is to me. The thought of someone taking him from me makes my heart ache, but at the same time wouldn’t he be better off with a good solid family? Wouldn't we all, actually?
“You want to keep him.” He rocks Beau in his arms.
“I’ve been taking care of him since he came to my fo—” I clamp my lips together. Why do I keep spilling my truths to this handsome stranger? There’s something about him that puts me at ease. A feeling I’m not accustomed to after being in foster care.
“Foster home,” he finishes for me. A knock sounds at the door before it opens a second later. In walks one of the men from before. I think his name is Colin.
“As you requested, sir.” He sets a bunch of bags down. “Anything else, Mr. Mason?”
“That will be all, Colin.” Colin nods, his eyes bouncing between me and the big man in the suit before he’s back out the door. “I haven’t called the police, and I think it’s clear I’m not harming you either.”