Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I glanced across the patio, then leaned in lower. “No offense, brother. I don’t need a spotter tonight. You don’t have to call trace. Read the wind. None of that. I want you safe.”
Enzo rolled his eyes. “You want a getaway driver? Instead of helping you play God from a mile away.”
Okay, so maybe it was safer than being caught in the act of assassination. “LAPD will shut down the grid in minutes. So, maybe I already called Howard and got the intel I needed for when you come into play.”
“You did that without offering her a favor?” He winked. “Hope you told her I’ll handle any favors you need to give her. That girl’s a freak.”
“What happened to ‘she’ll get all egotistical and require a lobster dinner?’ Y’know what, never mind. On that note, I think we’re done here.”
A second later, a text came through from the girl held in the same basement cage as Ignacio. After finding and rescuing Lisette from her current captor almost a year ago, she asked me to look for him next. Ignacio was on my list, but my search led to proof of his suicide. The news nearly broke her.
I believe while beneath Hagerty’s home, she’d felt the same connection with Ignacio as I felt with Jordyn. I’d asked her for help today and told her it might trigger her. Before I could finish worrying over Lisette, she promised to do whatever I asked, which included cornering Hagerty at a rally he attended earlier today in Los Angeles. It was a long shot with his security surrounding him. But based on her erratic, short texts, she must’ve gotten close enough to him to deliver the message and anger herself.
Lisette
I called his name from the crowd.
S didn’t want him to come to me, but he RECOGNIZED MY VOICE JAMIE!
Lisette must’ve chosen S for security even though I gave her an untraceable burner phone.
Lisette
I told him to come clean about what he did by seven pm.
He laughed in my face.
Do what must be done.
Welp, we gave him a chance to be honest. I shook my head, then dropped cash on the table next to Enzo’s empty salsa bowl, and we disappeared into the growing dark as I finished telling him the plan.
25
BIG BEAR
Jordyn
Days Free: 2
Despite enjoying the potato scones Nan had made, I was surprised she’d ordered Rory, Lachlan, and Leith to the store for more groceries. She probably would’ve made Little Brody go too—as if she didn’t favor any of her sons—but the eldest had disappeared a little while ago.
Nan said, “No telling when Jamie will return, but I’ll make him a feast. Will you sit, talk to me, as I cook, yeah?”
I glanced at my hands, feeling as useless as ever. “You ever need a sous chef?”
Her eyes widened, blinking. “No one ever asks me that. As my grans always say, ‘let’s do this.’ ” Her mouth corked. “Can you do more than peel tatties?”
I chuckled. “I wasn’t offering to secure brownie points.”
“Sorry. You’ve no meat on your bones. Had to ask.”
I was almost one-fifty-five. Not skinny, but if I kept sitting down twiddling my fingers, I might get up there. I almost smiled, wondering if Jamie would still love me because I had the feeling that, unlike in the past, I would still love me.
Shaking my head, I laughed, saying, “I suspect you intimidated anyone from asking.” You could take the girl out of the Manolos and white-diamond nail polish, but you couldn’t take the clap back out of her.
Nan chuckled all the way to a cabinet and pulled out two tumblers and a crystal decanter of an exotic amber liquid. She poured both drinks, sliding one across the table.
I grabbed the glass before it could sail off the surface and crash onto the ground. That was test number one.
Test two came when I tossed back the whisky instead of taking a cutesy sip.
Despite Nan’s sealed lips, mischief sparkled in her eyes. She walked to the pantry and retrieved a briefcase.
“ ’Ello, Old friend.” She ran a hand across the alligator leather.
Were we cooking or about to conduct business?
She opened the briefcase, and my eyes bugged. Didn’t expect that.
Knives. Lots of them. Shiny, sharp, every size and use. The air in the kitchen went from pleasant to scorching, even with snow feathering the ground right outside. “I’ve got another set at home.” Nan ran her fingertip over a blade, pursed her lips, and then picked up the diamond-brushed knife sharpener. “But I’ve not seen this dear set in ages. When I prepare a feast, I use these.”
“I bet you do.” I chuckled. Those feel-good bubbles that flutter in your veins after drinking alcohol crept over me. “Okay, so these are the reason nobody wants to party with you in the kitchen.”
She chuckled too. “Now, let’s see what you can do.”