Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 80139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I look to my mother. Starling Bellamy is beautiful with her black hair, olive skin, and big dark eyes. But she and I just don’t mix. I used to think it was because I was more of a tomboy and Ray was the girly girl. Raven and I are fraternal twins, though we’re sometimes mistaken for identical because we look so much alike. But we couldn’t be more different in personality.
Anyway, now I’m not sure why my mom and I still don’t mesh. After I went through puberty, I started dressing more feminine to get attention from boys, but I still had my outdoor interests. I’ve known since I was a little girl that I wanted to work with animals. Dad says once I’m licensed, I’ll be the head veterinarian for the ranch. I can’t wait.
But first…
I have a solo trip to Europe before I begin vet school in the fall. Barb was supposed to go with me, but a month ago she had to cancel on me because her financing fell through. I offered to pay her way, but she wouldn’t take it. She’s always been that way. Even though I can afford to treat her, she always pays for her own meals and drinks and whatever when we do stuff together. Honestly, I respect her for it.
So I’m going on my own. Mom doesn’t like the idea. She wanted to pay a chaperone to go with me. Of course, she didn’t offer to go herself. Even though she was supposed to take Falcon on a big wine tour the summer after he graduated. That didn’t happen. Prison has a way of screwing up your plans.
To be honest, I’m glad she didn’t offer. A summer in Europe with my mother finding fault with everything I do was never on my to-do list.
Besides, this way, I decide where to go and what to do. I’ll do the touristy places, of course—France, Spain, Switzerland. Then I’ll head to East Europe to the Czech Republic. But the crown jewel of the trip will be few weeks in Romania.
I know. Who goes to Romania? But that’s what I’m looking forward to the most. As a kid, I loved all the old monster movies that took place in Transylvania. I can’t wait to see the castles that inspired Dracula and Frankenstein in the medieval cities. I even booked some belly dancing lessons.
I leave next week. In the meantime, I’m off to Chevy’s to meet Barb.
“Thanks for coming,” I tell Mom and Dad. “I’ll see you later. I promised Barb I’d meet her for drinks.”
Mom’s mouth drops into an O. “But we made reservations at The Robin’s Nest,” she says. “Your favorite. Won’t it be nice to have a family dinner?”
We can’t truly have a family dinner without Falcon.
But I don’t say that. I do love The Robin’s Nest. It’s been one of my favorites since I was a kid. I begged Dad to take me there because it had my name in it, and I ended up falling in love with the short ribs on the menu. It’s a farm-to-table restaurant, and they source their beef from our ranch. I don’t know what they do to those short ribs, but they’re the most tender and flavorful meat I’ve ever tasted. Neither Mom nor any of our cooks can match them, and believe me, they’ve tried.
“But Barb—”
“Why don’t you invite Barb to join us?” Dad says.
I sigh and glance sideways at Hawk. He shrugs.
Fine. I pull out my phone and text Barb that I’ll meet her after dinner at Chevy’s.
After all, I’m a Bellamy. And Bellamys do what their parents tell them.
At least that’s the official party line.
2
CRUZ
I’m sick to death of Texas.
I’ve been here nearly a month, and after the first two assignments I haven’t done a damned thing besides staying put per my boss’s orders.
I guess I shouldn’t complain. I’m living in a suite in a five-star hotel with a generous per diem, which I’ve been spending mostly on room service. The food is top notch. They have this amazing tomahawk ribeye sourced from a local ranch. It’s the most tender and juicy steak I’ve ever tasted. Plus, the barbecue here? Freaking delicious.
On the other hand, I’m missing Colombian food. I’d love one of Mamá’s empanadas right about now.
Of course, I haven’t had those since I was little.
My first assignment here was digging up a corpse underneath an old barn. Not the most fun, but I do what I’m paid to do without asking questions. Besides, the guy was already dead. It’s not like I had to do the deed.
I’ve never killed before. In this line of business, I’ll have to eventually. I’ll need to man up and deal with it when the time comes.
I knew who I was digging up. The corpse was too fucked up to recognize, but my boss told me who he thought it might be. A shit-ton of cocaine was buried along with him. I left it there. Boss didn’t say anything about coke being buried with the guy, and I don’t fuck with drugs. I never have and I never will. I’ve seen friends of mine lose their lives to nose candy. That’s not going to be me. Plus, I value control. Drugs make you vulnerable, and in my profession—if you can call it that—vulnerability can get you killed.