Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
But because he’s an ex-con, the DA may not see it that way.
Miles can fix it.
My father can fix it.
Whatever is going on right now with Miles—why he needs me now more than ever—has something to do with my father and grandfather. I feel it in my bones.
I will find out what it is.
It means I have to marry Miles, sleep with him, probably be forcefully violated by him, and I will do it. I will find out what’s going on with my family, what role I’m playing.
And somehow, someway… I will try to get back to Falcon.
I keep my expression reserved still as we exit the hospital, as Miles gives the valet attendant his ticket and some five-dollar bills.
I stand next to him as I wait with Miles for the attendant to bring his car.
His black Mercedes drives up a few minutes later, and the attendant gets out.
Part of me is surprised Miles is driving himself.
Part of me isn’t.
Miles has always been an enigma.
I want to ask where we’re going, but I’m determined not to speak.
I won’t make this easy for him, even though I have acquiesced up to this point.
He may force me to sleep with him—he may beat me and rape me—but I will do what I can to make it difficult.
If I won’t be happy in this marriage, neither will he.
Someone will answer to me. Someone will answer to me why this is so important—Miles and me together.
I thought my father had made a deal. I had done my time, and I could leave. I took the job in Summer Creek. Stopped doing the family’s bidding.
It’s becoming clear that either my father lied to me, or something has happened since then. Something just in the last couple of weeks.
And I’m wondering…
As I look at the events as they’ve unfolded…
Ashley’s death.
Michael Barrett’s accident.
Meeting Falcon.
Being his parole officer.
A lot of coincidences.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
But when things line up like this?
More often than not, something else is at work.
I aim to find out what it is.
Because if they have something on Falcon or the Bellamy family, I need to make it go away. For Falcon’s sake. For Raven’s sake. For the sake of the rest of his family, who I don’t even really know.
“You’re quiet,” Miles says.
I say nothing.
“I can order you to talk to me.”
I say nothing.
“You don’t want to know where we’re going?”
I do, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of asking.
So again I say nothing.
“We’re stopping in Austin for the night. We’ll stay at my father’s place.”
Not Miles’s own house? Odd, but again, I say nothing.
Knowledge is my only defense, but if I ask? He could lie to me. Tell me something I want to hear. Try to confuse me with fiction interspersed with facts.
So I choose again to say nothing.
“I see what you’re doing, Savannah.”
I say nothing.
“You’re in love with this Bellamy character.” He makes a gagging noise. “I know you’ll never be in love with me. I was never in love with you either, despite what my father had me tell you five years ago.”
And I just proved my own point. Miles will lie to me.
So I say nothing.
“I made a deal with you, Savannah. I’ll do what I can to make sure your Mr. Bellamy is not charged with any crimes regarding Abel’s death. But you and I both know that I don’t have the final say in any of them.”
Bullshit. Again I say nothing.
“But that’s all I promised you, my lovely wife-to-be. I didn’t promise you anything else with regard to Falcon Bellamy or his family. And perhaps I found your Achilles’ heel, Savannah. Perhaps I have found a way to keep you in line. Forever.”
Rage boils in my veins. My heart begins to thump wildly. My hands curl instinctively into fists, but I do my best to maintain my composure.
And I say nothing.
“You’ll talk once we get to Austin,” he says.
That’s what he thinks.
“I can guarantee you will. But I’m not going to tell you why. We’ll just let that be a fun little surprise.”
35
FALCON
I meet Leif at the entrance to the hospital.
“The only lead I now have is this Giancarlo character who Savannah stabbed. He’s not talking to me.”
“I’ll make him talk.” Leif looks around the lobby. “Let’s go find them.”
Without saying anything more, Leif and I walk toward the stairwell. When we reach the fourth floor and Giancarlo’s room, he’s alone again. Appears to be sleeping. The machines are all beeping just fine.
“I tried to get information out of him earlier, but he had a panic attack and his machines went crazy.”
Leif’s gaze darkens. “Yeah? They’ll probably do so again. That’s why we’re going to unplug them.”
“We can’t do that,” I say. “The nurses’ station will get notice right away if the machines aren’t working.”
Leif nods. “Good point. Then we’ll just have to make sure that he holds himself in check. Because if he doesn’t, I’ll fucking blow his head off.”