Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Oh,” he said softly. “Well, I just wanted to come say hi.”
“It’s good to see you,” I replied gently. Charles always looked like a stiff breeze could knock him over, but after the last twenty-four hours, he appeared even more fragile. “Lucy’s going to be fine, right?”
“Yeah, she is,” he said, rising to his feet. “Ambrose told me to be patient, but—” He shrugged. “Not my strong suit. I’m going crazy waiting around.”
“Chance is downstairs cleaning up. I’m sure he could use the help,” I offered. I could hear him cursing a mop bucket in the living room. “Keep you busy, at least.”
“Good idea.” He smiled and started down the stairs.
“Hey, Charlie?”
He turned to look at me and lifted his eyebrows in question.
“You did good last night.”
Charles scoffed. “It’s pretty easy to get kidnapped.”
“It isn’t easy to put yourself in danger. Don’t sell yourself short. You came through when we needed you.”
He shrugged.
“If you hadn’t done what you did, I wouldn’t have found her,” I reminded him quietly.
His lips pulled up in a small smile. “Tell Rosemary I said hello.”
I jerked in surprise. “You know her name?”
He frowned. “She introduced herself last night.”
Shit.
“Keep it to yourself, all right?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level.
“Okay,” he replied, the word drawn out.
“The less people know about her, the safer she is.”
“Even family?” He was looking at me like I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had.
“Everyone,” I confirmed.
He nodded. “Not a word.”
“Thanks.”
Once he’d disappeared at the bottom of the stairs, I jogged the rest of the way to my room. I’d already burned most of the time I’d allotted myself, and I still needed to pack some things and take a shower. I didn’t want to be gone for more than three hours if I could help it, and with Gary’s place almost an hour away, it didn’t give me much wiggle room.
Thankfully, I’d been packing in a hurry for longer than I could remember. Grabbing what I’d need was practically muscle memory, and a few minutes later, my duffel of clothes and a small cooler of blood were sitting by the door. After taking a cold shower, I didn’t even take the time to dry my hair, leaving it loose to dry instead. I hated the feeling of wet hair on my back, but it couldn’t be helped.
I probably should’ve cut it.
At some point, I would.
As I made my way back out to the car, waving goodbye to Chance and Charlie, who were failing to get the bloodstains out of the hardwood, I thought about the bet I’d made with my little brother.
He’d been convinced that I’d never be able to go longer than two months without a haircut. He’d given me so much shit about it that we’d wagered on it. Then I’d deliberately gone even longer. Two months had turned into six. Then a year. Each time we’d been in the same place, the moment he’d seen me, he’d burst out laughing.
I could still see the delight on his face the first time I’d shown up with an actual ponytail. He’d thought it was so fucking hilarious that I refused to cut it. Called me stubborn. Called me Rapunzel.
I thought about Zeke the entire drive back to Gary’s, my eyes constantly on my mirrors, being sure I wasn’t followed. I couldn’t remember when Zeke was born—I’d been too little—but I had a thousand memories of him starting when I was about six years old. He’d always been so anxious to keep up with us, so adamant that he could do whatever we were doing.
He’d driven me crazy.
He was also my best friend.
We’d done stupid shit, whored around, taken risks, helped people when we could, spent late nights talking and sparring and generally raising hell. It was still hard to believe I was in the world without him. I wasn’t sure how many times I’d reached for my phone to call him before realizing that I couldn’t.
The shower I’d taken was a lost cause. Fifteen minutes into the drive, and I realized I’d already sweated through my shirt again. The heat was getting worse. I’d been able to power through the body aches and the nausea and the tightness in my chest, but the headache that was thrumming between my temples made me glad that I wouldn’t be away from Rosemary much longer.
Thank the Gods her pain had been manageable so far. I knew that putting distance between us wouldn’t be pleasant for her, maybe even painful, which is why I’d been so conscious of how long I was gone. I hated it, but the necessity of going back to my parents’ place was almost as important as keeping her safe.
I’d rather she were miserable for a few hours than dead, at least that’s what I told myself as guilt lay heavy on my shoulders for leaving her.