Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
It doesn’t help the dead. I doubt it helps the living.
I close my eyes for a while and let my mind drift.
Chapter 28
Jayson
I let Fallon sleep, but before I leave, I make sure there are at least two guards on the door. “Nobody in or out unless it’s me,” I tell them before I leave to find Adler.
My brother’s still in his office, looking exhausted. “You’re not going to like what he said,” Adler says as he stares at me. I slump into a chair in front of his desk.
The rage is still there. It’s hotter than ever, burning to break free from my chest, but it’s tempered now. I can control it, direct it where it needs to go. Spending some time with Fallon helped—making sure she’s safe, getting her off, putting her to sleep, that helped me find a center I didn’t know existed. A center walled-off from the hate and rage and guilt that’s been eating at me.
“She didn’t deserve this.” The words come out harsh. I hate myself for feeling this way. For loving her the way I do. For the weakness it implies. But it’s also a kind of strength, loving when love is hard.
“You’re right, she didn’t.”
“What did the brother have to say for himself?”
“Only that there are factions within his family that aren’t fully under his control and that he was looking into it. He seemed cagey.”
“Could he have ordered it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“That might not be a good idea.”
“Let me rephrase that. I am going to talk to him.”
Adler snorts, shaking his head. “Yeah, I figured.”
“And I’m going to do it with Fallon in the room.”
That surprises him. His eyebrows raise as he sits back to study me. “Why?” he asks.
“Because she was nearly killed, and if I hadn’t already been on my way to find her, she’d be dead right now. We got lucky, and I want her to get some closure on this. I want her to hear it from her brother.”
“Interesting.” He steeples his fingers. “You care about her.”
“Yes. I care about her.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you’re admitting it.”
“Stop. I don’t need your smug bullshit right now.”
“Alright. When do you plan on calling?”
“Soon. I’m only here to give you a heads-up and make a request.”
“Go ahead.”
“Someone found her. I don’t know how, but they got her precise location. Maybe old-fashioned spy work, but I want to be careful. I want you to check out that phone I got for her, make sure it’s clean.”
“I had the usual software installed. It wasn’t the phone.”
“Double check to make sure. Also have Zach go over the cameras to see if we can’t find an accomplice.”
Adler’s smile is wry. “Yes, that would be nice, since you killed our only good lead.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t thinking long-term when I was saving my wife’s life.” I get up, stretching. “Tell me what they find.”
“Will do.” I head to the door, but Adler calls out before I can leave. “Don’t do something stupid, okay? Don’t think you can get revenge on your own.”
I stare down at the carpet. “I won’t be alone. I’ll make sure she’s involved.”
I walk off before he can argue. Adler has nothing to say that I want to hear right now, and anyway, he doesn’t know a thing about revenge.
My life’s been nothing but revenge since the day Jackson died. Revenge and hate and pain.
I bombed Colm Grady’s car because I hoped that would bring me some peace, but all it did was make things worse. The war ended, but it made Fallon despise me.
I don’t mourn her father. I think he got what he deserved, and I would probably make the same decision all over again if given the same chance, but I wish it could’ve happened without hurting my wife in the process.
She’s awake when I get back to the room. I stand in the doorway, staring as she moves around the room, getting dressed. I marvel at her body, at her lean legs and her lovely breasts, as she covers herself with sweats. When she notices me there, a smile lights up her face, and that fucking kills me.
She’s happy to see me like I’m happy to see her.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, walking over.
“Not too bad considering someone tried to shoot me in the face. How about yourself?”
“Same. Knuckles are bruised.” I kiss her gently. She doesn’t hesitate, and I feel something new lock into place.
“The poor bastard’s face is bruised worse.”
“We’re looking for accomplices right now, someone else we can interrogate.”
“Since you went all psycho on that other guy, that makes sense.”
“Did you want me to spare the man that nearly killed you?” I brush my bruised fingers across her cheek.
She shrugs. “Might’ve been good. Better to ask him questions before killing him, right?”