Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“I also know that if he was in that shack you live in that he wouldn’t come running to save you. Hell, he wouldn’t even roll his ass out of bed and crawl.”
It was terrifying how well he knew her father. Knew about her life.
“I’m looking for him, Mouse. When he turns up, which we know he will because a rodent always returns home, I want you to call me.”
Well. She wasn’t so sure about that rodent statement. Did rodents have a home? Wait, rats made nests didn’t they?
So maybe that’s what he meant.
“My number is on this card.” He tucked a card into the back pocket of her jeans.
He had a business card? That was so weird.
“Mouse! Are you fucking paying attention to me?” He grabbed her upper arms and shook her.
Her head banged back against the door making her cry out in pain.
“Fuck, Mouse. You don’t know what those noises do to me. I want to hurt you more so you’ll keep making them.”
Oh God.
Oh God.
Why her? Seriously. What had she ever done that people thought it was okay to push her around and bully her?
She was so fucking tired of it and she’d had enough!
Without thought, she brought up her knee straight into his dick. He let out a groan and stumbled back.
Oh no. Oh shit.
What had she done?
Move, Devi!
Turning, she unlocked the door to the trailer.
Her hands were shaking which made it nearly impossible and she almost dropped her keys twice.
Now was not the time for her to be clumsy! Opening the door, she stumbled inside and turned to shut the door behind her, locking it. Then she backed away.
Devi was all too aware that it wouldn’t take much for him to break in here.
And punish her.
She was dead.
There was no way she was getting out of this. Why hadn’t she run?
Where would she run to? She didn’t want to drag anyone else into this.
She got the feeling that Vega wouldn’t hesitate to take out anyone who helped her.
Devi glanced around for a weapon just as there was a loud knock on the door. She screamed.
Shit. Why did she do that? If she wanted him to leave her alone, then she really needed to stop reacting. She had to pretend that she wasn’t completely and utterly terrified of him.
Because it seemed like he got off on scaring her.
He really was a freaking psychopath.
“Bad move, Mouse,” he said through the door.
Yeah, he didn’t have to point that out. She got it.
“Call me when he returns.”
Was that it? He wasn’t going to break in here and kill her?
Devi wasn’t sure how long she sat there, waiting for him to retaliate. But she finally realized that she was cold and cramped and that he had gone quiet.
Moving to the window, she drew back the curtain with a whimper and peered out.
It didn’t seem like anyone was there.
Still. There was no way she was sleeping tonight. She turned on all the lights in the trailer and made her way into her bedroom.
What she needed was a weapon. Some way to defend herself.
What you really need is to get out of here.
Yeah. No kidding.
She needed to get far away from Vega, from her father.
Speaking of no-hope losers . . . where the fuck was Derick? And what sort of trouble had he gotten her mixed up in now?
16
She looked like hell.
His protective instincts went into overdrive as he studied her.
What the hell had happened now?
It was Tuesday morning and Devi was behind the counter at the café like usual.
Except unlike usual, she didn’t really seem to be there. She was staring straight ahead as the customer in front of her tried to get her attention.
She looked pale, and thinner than before. And he didn’t think that had been possible. Her hair was lank and messy as though she’d pulled it back into a ponytail in a hurry, without combing it. She wore a long-sleeved sweater and worn jeans.
Her usual vibrancy was gone and he didn’t like it.
Go to her. Check on her.
He let out a huff of irritation. Kent hadn’t liked the idea of bugging Stein’s house. It was crossing a line and Hayes got where he was coming from.
But Stein wasn’t a good guy. Hayes knew it. He was also the kind of guy who might do a sweep for bugs, so Hayes understood why Kent had vetoed that idea.
It would be the end of his reputation if Stein discovered they were bugging him.
He’d also told Hayes he was considering pulling them out.
Hayes should have been pleased at that idea.
So why did he not want to go?
The woman across the counter from Devi reached out to touch her arm and Devi startled, jumping with a small scream.
Everyone in the café stopped talking and turned to look at her. He watched her face grow red as she stared around.