Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Lionel mysteriously died the night after he choked my wife. If I ever find the name of the bastard who did it, I’m sending him a bottle of the world’s most expensive brandy. Fucker deserves it.
Brooke turned over her father’s laptop to Agent Swanson. There was more than enough evidence to take down the entire Lancaster empire as well as to indict Bruce, Adam, and Ian. They’re all three in prison, awaiting trial.
I haven’t talked to my son since the day he kidnapped my wife. I doubt I ever will. I want him dead for what he did to her. It’s a sick piece of trash that will sell another human being.
Brooke pleaded for me to spare him. I promised her that he would not die by my hand. But keeping him alive in prison is proving difficult. The little fucker has a lot of enemies and a short fuse. One day, I doubt my connections will be enough to save him.
“I see it now,” Brody says. I can tell from his tone that he’s lying through his teeth, but I don’t point this out.
“How are you taking this?” I ask. It’s Colt’s second child. His first…well, that’s a sad story.
He pockets the photo and stares out across my backyard where Sierra and Charlie are setting out food on the picnic table. We finished working on the barn roof a few minutes ago. “It’s tough. But I’m getting a second chance. That’s more than I can say for most people who live through what I have.”
Brody claps him on the shoulder. “You’ll be a great dad and this kid will have the world’s best-looking uncle.”
“And Brody,” I add.
He flips me the bird while Colt laughs and takes a sip of his beer.
Together, the three of us make it toward the picnic table. It’s a great place to socialize with our friends and last week, I ate strawberries and whipped cream off of Brooke’s stomach while we were out here alone. I love my woman and her curvy body.
She has nightmares sometimes and there’s a lot going on with the cases, so she’s constantly reminded of her past. But I’ve helped her get in with a therapist that specializes in working with adults who have faced childhood abuse. I think the woman is helping her because after every session, my wife seems just a little bit lighter. Maybe one day, the darkness will leave her entirely. Even if it doesn’t, I’ll always be here to love her and support her.
“Where’s my wife?” I grump when Colt kisses Sierra and Brody pulls Charlie into his arms. She should be out here now.
“She’s still in the kitchen. Something about not wanting to see your grumpy ass,” Charlie teases.
I laugh. It’s an easy, natural sound now. My life is filled with good things. I have a wife who loves me and who I love more with every beat of my heart. I have friends that always have my back and even recently, I joined a support group for men who have been prisoners of war.
Getting to talk with people who understand what I’ve gone through has been eye-opening. After the first meeting, I realized I’m not alone. There are others who also made the same sacrifices and they understand the resulting trauma better than anyone.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Lincoln calls just as his twins run into the yard. They rush toward Luna who greets them with slobbery kisses causing them to giggle.
There’s a whole section of the picnic table that’s specifically gluten free so his family can join us without worrying about what they’ll eat. I never realized how committed Lincoln had to be as a dad until he started telling me all of the foods his kids have to avoid. He can’t even let them have those free cookies the grocery store gives out to children.
But today, Lincoln and the twins aren’t alone. His wife is with him. She has an easy smile, and the kids are clearly enamored with her as they introduce her to Luna.
Linc met her at the club when he was participating in the stripping contest. The weird thing is that unknown to either of them, she was his new nanny. They both got a shock when she showed up for her first day of work the next morning.
“How’s married life?” I ask him when Brody has passed him a soda.
“It’s good.” Linc’s grin widens. “Better than good. Damn near perfect, actually.”
I know the feeling and now all I want is to be around my wife. I clap him on the back and tell him I’ll catch up with him later before I head into my house. It’s high time I find my woman.
Brooke
I hum along to the oldies radio station as I rinse the bowl with the chocolate cake batter. I haven’t touched a computer in nearly three months. I doubt I ever will again. All I want is to build a cozy life with my husband.