Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“No, I’ll do it.” I pick it up. “You get some sleep.”
Without another word, she turns off the lights and rolls over.
I shut the door and start to fold the napkin, but the tiny words on it catch my eye.
My father owes him a debt, and I have to work until it’s paid … I suggest you throw this away & never ask me anything else.
I also suggest that you don’t get into the town car when we land. Just walk away… if you can.
What the…
“Ah, Miss Jane!” She’s suddenly at my side, holding out a plate. “Lunch is now served.”
I’m too unnerved by her fake smile to speak.
“How does filet mignon, steamed broccoli, and a side of garden greens sound?” She waits for approval.
I glance at the plate and notice she’s drizzled letters around the plate’s edge with balsamic glaze.
DO NOT TRUST MISTER R. EVER.
End of Episode 3
There Are Levels to This
EPISODE 4
Autumn
A couple of hours later
There’s a tiny ant in my mint sorbet.
He’s struggling to spring free, wiggling his legs and desperately begging someone for help.
I’ve been trying to lead him out with my spoon, giving him the helping hand he clearly craves but refuses to take it.
As his head slips under the melted surface, I trap him with my spoon.
There’s no point in letting him suffer from his inability to see what was best for him, no point in leaving him wondering about his inevitable fate.
He’ll thank me for that someday…
“Brace for impact, ladies.” The pilot’s voice suddenly comes over the speakers, forcing me to grip the armrests.
Within seconds, we descend into Seattle’s familiar rains, and the plane glides onto the tarmac.
My phone instantly buzzes in my lap with new messages from Ryder and Kylie.
I click on Kylie’s words first.
Kylie
UMMM…. Why is your phone going to voicemail still? Call me!
Nvm. Talking to Erica from high school for the next hundred or so miles. I’ll try you later.
Ryder
I need to taste you again. You should let me finish what we started when you complete this job. I don’t want you to remain on edge…
Too late.
I glance out the window as we roll toward a hangar. Gleaming lights greet me from a distance, and bright red controller lines are following the plane’s every move.
I squint, wondering if they are broken, but as we near, I realize that those red lines aren’t from air traffic controllers at all.
They’re lasers, and they’re pointed directly at us.
I slam the shade shut and close my eyes.
I can’t handle this level of stress and uncertainty for too much longer…
“Miss Jane?” Adele tugs at my wrist. “Miss Jane?”
“Yes?”
“We need to move to the front. They’re getting ready to open the door.”
“I need a minute to think.”
“I’m sorry, but your thoughts will have to wait.” She sounds just like her father. “My dad hates when people are late.”
My eyes flutter open, and I stand on my feet.
I follow her down the aisle and look at Hannah as we approach the exit.
“Hannah?” I say.
She keeps her gaze toward the galley.
“Hannah?”
“Oh wow. How rude of me.” She picks up a thermos and walks over to me. “I forgot to give you this before you make a run for it.”
She turns away before I can respond, but I heard her message loud and clear.
As someone outside opens the door, Adele takes my thermos and hands me an umbrella.
“Let it up on the count of three, and we’ll walk down the steps together on the count of five. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Below us, a row of sleek black town cars awaits, but only one parked at the edge of the staircase has its back door open.
“One,” I say, “Two….”
“Three!” Adeline beats me to it and guides me down the steps.
When we reach the ground, the driver moves to the side so she can slip into the car.
“Welcome back to Seattle, Little Miss Rochester,” he says.
“Thank you, Benny!”
I grip the umbrella tighter and look around. The laser lights are focused on something else now, and I’m convinced that I can make a decent run for the brick building that’s on the other side of the hangar.
I can tell these people that “Mr. Rochester” gave me something else to do, and they’d be none the wiser.
“Are you heading back to the estate with us, Miss Jane?” the driver asks.
“No,” I say. “Something came up. Please send Mr. Rochester my regards.”
“I will, Miss.”
“I appreciate that.”
“My pleasure.” He steps closer and lowers his voice. “Get into the fucking car, or I’ll stuff you into the trunk.”
“What?” I gasp. “I don’t think your boss would approve of that.”
“Who do you think gave me that order in the first place?”
I don’t need to guess.
I slip inside and buckle my seatbelt.
Several minutes later, the driver pulls onto the winding road that leads to Ryder’s estate.
Behind us, two cars follow, but they idle at the gate.