Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
He throws me down on top of one, and I bang my hip against a sharp wooden corner. I cry out as I try to lie on top it. I shouldn’t close my eyes, because I probably have a concussion, but my body is begging me to pass out and get away from all the pain.
“You idiot, you brought her here?!” I hear Lilith shriek as a door slams nearby.
“Shut up,” Fritz says so low that it sounds deadly.
I turn to face him, and I see him staring at Lilith. She’s gone white in the face at the sight of Fritz and the gun at his side. I don’t blame her. He looks like he’d be all too happy to use that thing right about now, and suddenly I’m sure he’s going to use it on me. I know it.
“Fritz, honey,” Lilith begins, but even I can hear the false tenderness in her voice. “It’s over. Put the gun down and let’s get out of here. We can hop on a plane and head to the Caribbean. They won’t find us there. She doesn’t need to be involved anymore.”
I’m surprised that Lilith is willing to defend me. Then again maybe she’s scared he’s going to lose it and shoot both of us.
“They’ll never stop looking,” Fritz says, turning to look at me. “I was supposed to be on a beach sipping margaritas by now. But instead I’ve had to track down all the loose ends.”
“I promise I won’t say anything,” I plead, sitting up. “You have all the information I found. That’s all of it. I haven’t told anyone what happened.” Tears fill my eyes as I try to convince him to let me live. “I’m nothing. No one would believe me.”
Fritz takes a menacing step towards me and leans in close. “Is that what my brother told you?”
Confusion sets in at his words, and an evil smile forms on his face.
“What? You didn’t know Ryker is my brother?” There’s a strange excitement in his eyes as a knot of worry grows in my stomach. Then suddenly he begins to laugh. “Oh god, he didn’t tell you?”
His laugh echoes through the warehouse, and I think for a second that I might throw up.
“Oh, sweet, stupid Blair. He’s been using you this whole time.”
The pain in my head from where he struck me is nothing compared to the pain ripping through my heart at the realization that I’ve been used again.
Chapter 24
Ryker
“Is she going to be okay?” I ask the vet, and he nods.
John had gotten one of his men to get him before I even came out here. It took us longer than I wanted to get Memphis to back down and let me reach Diamond. John was right, I was the only one he would listen to.
I could see the look in the horse’s eyes, and I’ve known that panic. I felt the same way when I knew my Blair was in danger. Once I got Memphis out of the way and the boys got him back to the barn, we were able to cut Diamond free. She lost a good bit of blood, but the vet was there to take care of her. We got her back in her stall and she’s been resting, with Memphis in the stall beside her to watch over her.
“I just don’t know what happened,” John says, rubbing his face. “When I saw she was gone I looked everywhere for her. Then the radio was out—”
“What?” I say, cutting him off.
“Yeah, it was smashed up,” he says, pointing over to the table with pieces of black plastic on it. “I thought maybe one of the horses trampled it when they got out, but I remember putting it back in my office before I went to bed.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands up and I turn to look at the house. “Blair,” I whisper and take off running.
John is hot on my heels as we jump in the Gator and take off for the house. We kick mud up all around us as I speed over the hill and to the back of the house. Lily is outside in the garden and she stands up when she sees me coming in fast. I watch as she pulls headphones off her ears and looks at me strangely.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, watching me rush in.
“Where’s Blair?” I demand as I run. “Cricket!” I shout, not waiting for her to answer. I just need to make sure she’s okay.
When I burst through the door of my office, Bear nearly jumps on me and meows so loudly it’s like a cry. I look around the room and see the coffee table turned over and blood on the floor. The files that I left with Blair are missing and the front door is wide open.