Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“Come on, come on, come on.”
What felt like an hour later but was less than two minutes, it finally switched, and I accelerated, though I took it slower that time.
My attention glided from right to left, searching for any sign of the SUV, guessing if they knew I was tailing them, they’d likely have ducked into a dark corner to keep themselves hidden.
My heart battered at my ribs as I searched, peering into the shadows of the narrow roads that cut between buildings and into the parking lots sitting in front of the businesses.
I drove toward the south end of town, passing a ton of shops.
River of Ink, the tattoo shop that River owned, a tea shop, the historic hotel on the corner. I inched by Kane’s, the parking lot just beginning to fill with people coming in to unwind after work.
I made it all the way to where the road narrowed and began to twist up the mountain on the opposite end of town.
Irritation buzzed through my senses.
Asshole was nowhere to be found.
I let go of a disgusted chuckle.
It wasn’t like I had any proof there was even a reason to be hunting someone down.
It wasn’t like seeing a car twice in this small town was some kind of smoking gun. My gut the only thing telling me something was amiss. Thing was, my gut was usually right.
Same way as I hadn’t been able to drop the feeling that someone had been out on the motel’s property early this morning.
Releasing a heavy exhale, I gave up, turned around, and started back in the opposite direction.
Far too anxious to get back and check on things. To make sure Alicia and Lucy were safe and whole.
Get proof that I was just being paranoid.
But it was more than that.
I felt drawn.
An urge I couldn’t resist.
Aching to get back to Unit B.
Piper’s face bold and bright in my mind.
This woman who’d unknowingly become a beacon.
THIRTY
PIPER
“Mommy! You get back from wook?” Warmth rushed me the second I stepped through the door to Finn’s adorable smile.
His little face lighting up the room from where he was playing with blocks on the floor.
He jumped up and bounced my way with his hands thrown over his head.
“I am home, my sweet boy. Did you miss me?” I asked as I maneuvered the mess of bags that had been in the backseat through the doorway, stomping off the snow that clung to my boots at the same time.
“I miss you dis much!” Finn stretched his arms out wide.
My heart expanded in a fist.
Joy pulsing in a riot of extra beats.
Each one compelled by the hope that bashed at the fortified barrier where I’d kept it locked tight, like a high tide eroding the shore.
I knew I was in trouble when that hope was marred by the worry that spread through my consciousness when I noticed that Theo had made a sudden U-turn in the middle of town.
Something was wrong.
And as hard as I tried to fight it, I cared.
Cared in a way that was reckless and foolish.
Finn collided with me, and he wrapped his little arms around my legs. Tipping his head back, he beamed up in my direction. “I got happy hearts, Mommy.”
Mine just about exploded.
I set the bags onto the floor so I could kneel in front of him, and I ran my fingers through the soft locks of his nearly white hair.
“I have a happy heart, too.” I whispered it low.
I could feel Nelly peering at me from where she was chopping something at the counter in the kitchen.
“I bet I know why you have a happy heart.” Innuendo colored her voice. “Did that charmer show up to give you a ride home?”
Heat hit my cheeks, and I attempted to hide the smile that wanted to break free as I pushed back to standing and wound out of my coat. “Oh, he showed up, alright, but he didn’t give me a ride. He brought me a ride.”
Confusion quirked her brow. “He brought you a ride?”
“Yep, a rental, you know, since he figured I was going to need it to get around. And it’s ridiculously fancy.”
I might as well dish it. It wasn’t like she wasn’t going to notice the car that was suddenly sitting in the bay attached to our cabin.
She cast me some wry, victorious grin, like I’d finally caught up to something that she’d been clued into all along.
She continued chopping, pieces of her gray hair sticking out of its twist as she muttered under her breath, “That one’s a keeper.”
Uncertainty flickered and flew, and I hoisted Finn into my arms, hugging him tight, loving the feel of his weight as I carried him through the living room and around the end of the long counter where Nelly stood.
“I’m worried you might be dreaming too big, Nelly.” I brushed my free hand over the top of Finn’s head like it might offer me peace as I pushed into our reality.