Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Our father?” Sin asks. “You saw him?”
I nod. “Yes, he’s alive.”
Nash shifts slightly, the chains rattling with the movement. His face is tired but there’s a spark of something like hope in his eyes. "How did you end up with Jace?"
I take a shaky breath, the cold from the wall seeping into my back through the thin fabric of my dress. The chains dig into my wrists every time I move, a constant reminder of how trapped I am. Fear sits heavy in my stomach, but I push through it. Talking helps. Keeping them calm helps. Keeping myself calm helps. "It’s a long story. I was in Halo City. My sister Anniston got into some trouble with Banks, and Jace was sent to protect me. We ended up in Sunbreak Harbor. We found your father. Billy. He’s alive. He faked his death years ago because of these people, Vanguard Helix or whatever they call themselves. They threatened your family so he disappeared to keep you all safe. We’ve been in Sunbreak Harbor looking for you both, and we found Billy."
Sin lets out a low laugh that turns into a cough. "Dad’s alive. Nash and I haven’t been able to figure out anything useful. Just that they rotate the guards every twelve hours. Two guards each time."
Nash nods slowly, his chains clinking again. "If they took you, then we must’ve been close to finding them.”
I close my eyes for a second, the fear threatening to overwhelm me. The house is quiet except for the occasional creak of old wood and the distant sound of what might be wind or distant waves. My wrists ache where the metal bites into them. My head still feels foggy from whatever they used. But I force myself to keep talking. “Have you found any way to escape?”
Nash shifts again, his voice quieter when he speaks. "Nothing. Sin and I were trying to come up with something, but we haven’t been able to crack it yet."
Sin grunts in agreement, his chains rattling as he tests them. "These fuckers will slip up. They always do. The fact they haven’t killed us yet means they want something from us. So, that always gives us time."
I nod, even though the movement pulls at the chains on my wrists. The fear’s still there, cold and sharp, but talking to them helps push it back a little. These are Jace's brothers. Family. And they’re here with me in this nightmare. "I’m scared I’ll never see my sister again. Or Jace."
Nash manages a small smile in the low light. "You’ll see them again. Jace is a good guy. He’s lucky to have you."
I smile softly as the conversation continues in low voices, the three of us chained to the wall in this abandoned house on the outskirts of town. I tell them more about the plan at the concert. About how shocked they all were to see their father alive after so many years. About the determination to rescue Nash and Sin and take down Vanguard Helix so Billy can finally stop running and lead a normal life. They listen, asking questions when they can, their voices tired but hopeful. I keep talking because it distracts from the fear clawing at my chest. The fear that no one will find us in time. That Vanguard Helix will come back and do worse than chain us. That I’ll never see Jace again, never feel his arms around me or hear him call me Wells in that teasing way.
But underneath the fear there’s a thread of hope. Jace is out there. Searching.
25
Jace
We are set up at the end of the pavilion, away from the main lights and the thickening crowd where the music still plays in the background. Sloane's team has taken over the small folding table Mack pulled from somewhere, their laptops and radios spread across it like they’re running a full operation instead of a rescue in the middle of a concert. My brothers are scattered around the perimeter, keeping watch while we wait for intel. Billy stands near me, his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the dunes like he expects trouble at any second. Crewe’s on his phone, coordinating with someone on the other end. Colt leans against a post, trying to look casual but his jaw is tight. Banks and Mack are quiet, but I can feel the tension rolling off them in waves.
My phone vibrates in my hand. Sloane's name lights up the screen. I answer before the first ring finishes.
"Jace. We located the van. It matches the description from the security footage. They took her to an abandoned house on the outskirts, about ten minutes from here. My team’s moving in now. Minimal resistance so far. We’ve got eyes on three heat signatures inside. Two chained to the wall and one being moved into position. We’re going in quiet."