Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I don’t question your intentions,” Roan says, looking over his shoulder. “I just hope no one, especially your children, gets caught up in a war you don’t intend to start.”
“No one is going to war, son.”
Roan growls. “I am not your son, Garrett. And you waged war when you rolled into Renaldo’s territory and let it be known that you purchased something that he clearly believes he owns.”
Roan’s right about that. Renaldo pulls Bob’s strings, so he’ll be fuming at this new development.
“I won’t let that thug or the one seeing my daughter bully me,” Garrett calls out behind us. “They’re about to learn just how deep my pockets are. How fucking far my reach is.”
I sure hope to fuck this guy knows what he’s doing, because right now, it feels like he might be making shit worse.
Roux
My heart is in my throat as I speed walk down the sidewalk, eager to get away from Renaldo. Roan and Jordy have never thought twice when it came to protecting me. I could practically hear their thoughts.
Get the fuck out of here.
So I bailed first chance I got.
I’m not sure where I’m headed, but when I see a cop car parked outside of a couple of shops, I head that way. A crowd of people are frantically looking around.
“What’s happening?” I ask an older woman who’s sitting on a bench watching the whole thing.
“Little boy went missing. The momma said she turned her head for a minute and he was gone.”
A cold, sick feeling slicks over me. I don’t think Renaldo and his guys are in the business of grabbing kids, but it still makes me worry.
“What does he look like?” I ask. “I can help look.”
The lady shrugs. Useless.
Pushing through the crowd, I locate the cop. When I get his attention, I recognize him immediately. It’s Captain Fitzgerald. Same cop who was there the night Jordy shot all those men. His brows lift, clearly recognizing me as well.
“A kid is missing? I can help.”
He nods and lifts his phone to show me a picture. “His mom sent me this. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Three years old.”
“Sebban!” a woman shouts. “Sebban!”
I’m surprised to see Sidney rushing around calling for this child. I give Captain Fitzgerald a nod and then start pushing into shops looking around.
“Sebban! Sebban!”
They said they’ve turned the candy shop upside down and the gift store next door. No one seems interested in the yarn store, so I head in there. It’s quiet and vacated. The owner must be outside looking.
“Hello? Anyone in here?”
I stop and listen.
Nothing.
“I’m going to find you and then tickle you for making us worry,” I call out in a playful voice, hoping that will draw the kid out.
A shuffle.
Could have been outside…
Or a cat.
Another sound.
“You’re really good at hide and go seek. Your momma isn’t that good at finding you.”
A small giggle.
My heart races in my chest as I look behind crates of yarn. If I were a kid, I’d definitely like hiding in a place like this. Reminds me when the Hoodlums would play hide and go seek with me at Cal’s house. They have a big house on the river near their campground and have tons of places to hide there. I’d wedge myself in the tiniest nook and have them searching for hours until they were worried sick.
I peek behind the register, but it’s boring back there. No, if I were a little kid, I’d want to hide someplace fun. Skimming my gaze around the store, I find a trunk full of loose yarn meant for decoration.
Yarn that is slightly moving.
Prowling over to the trunk, I kneel down and say, “Where could Sebban be? We’ve looked everywhere for him.” Then I playfully gasp. “Except one spot. I should check the very last spot.”
I reach through the yarn and tickle the toddler hiding there. His squeals of laughter are music to my ears. I manage to pull the kid from beneath the yarn, thankful he’s alive and well. His face is red from trying to breathe under all that yarn and his dark hair sticks up in every direction. It’s his eyes that have my jaw dropping.
Oh my God.
“Come here,” I croon, picking him up and holding him to my chest. “Come here, sweet boy.”
“Again!” he cheers. “Again!”
“Let’s find your momma first,” I say, kissing his sweaty cheek. “Maybe we can play again later.”
My mind is racing and trying to do math, which I really suck at, when I burst out of the yarn store onto the sidewalk. I nearly run into Jordy and Roan, who’ve come to see what the fuss is about.
“What the…” Roan’s mouth parts as he darts his gaze between me and Sebban.
Jordy clutches his shoulder as though to keep him standing.
“Sidney’s son,” I say to him, pinning him with a “what the fuck” look.