Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Mila nods, her expression bearing an empathy I don’t deserve. “It shocked me as I was listening… to hear you laugh about it. But it was clear in that conversation that you had nothing to do with it. I could tell by listening to you that you were uncomfortable.”
“Doesn’t excuse the way I behaved,” I mutter.
“No, but you more than made up for it. Without you, Nathan’s death would have meant nothing.”
I don’t want or need her absolution. It’s my cross to bear, so once again, I turn the spotlight off me. “And your parents… just disowned you or something?”
She nods, her chin sticking out a bit in defiance. “They tried to talk me out of testifying. They begged me but I couldn’t turn my head the other way, even if it meant Peter went to prison. My dad was furious after I set the wheels in motion by going to the police. He was screaming at me. He said, ‘I’d kick you out of this house if you weren’t a minor. You ruined everything for this family.’”
I’m stunned. “So, what happened?”
“I called my aunt. Hysterical. She drove from Florida to Minnesota overnight. Showed up at our house and demanded they hand me over. My dad didn’t fight her. My mom practically shoved me out the door.”
“And this was your mom’s sister?” I hazard a guess.
Mila nods. “Needless to say, she’s not on speaking terms with my mom anymore. Dorene’s not just an aunt. She became my mother.”
I’m relieved to know that Mila had someone to support her. That person for me would’ve been my dad had he not died, and I know it probably would’ve made a world of difference in the way I am now. “You didn’t deserve that.”
Mila offers a tiny smile. “No. Neither of us deserved the fallout.”
“Brienne offered to call her police contacts. Maybe we should take her up on it.”
Mila sighs. “I don’t know. They didn’t care before. Why would they now?”
I wasn’t confident they’d be able to help either, merely from the standpoint that it was nothing more than anonymous threats. I stand up, pacing toward the window. “Then I’ll hire a private investigator. Someone to look into all the guys—Peter, Jace, Ryan, Colton. Even McLendon.”
She blinks. “Penn… that’s expensive. You don’t have to—”
“I can afford it,” I cut in. “I’ve got more money than I know what to do with.”
She watches me, eyes soft. “Then that could be good.”
Again, something seems off with her. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me? Something that could be helpful?”
Her expression turns completely blank. “No, of course not.”
But I’m not sure I believe it. I could press her on it, but if Mila is anything like me, trust is earned. And she doesn’t have a lot of reason to trust me based on my most recent refusal to help her.
“Okay. I’ll look into an investigator. In the meantime, you can’t go anywhere alone. We don’t know what or who is out there.”
“But… I can’t be a prisoner.”
“If you need to go somewhere, I’ll go with you.”
She blinks in surprise, and I can’t quite decipher the expression on her face.
“And by the way,” I add, “Brienne’s demanding you go to the game tomorrow. Sit in the owner’s box.”
Mila’s mouth parts. “What?”
“She wants you there. Said it’s not fair for you to be locked up like Rapunzel.”
I wait for her to push back. To argue.
Instead, she smiles softly. “I’ve never seen you play in person. At least, not since the Wraiths.”
That… hits differently than I expect.
“Well,” I say, grabbing my phone, “you’re about to.”
CHAPTER 9
Mila
I’m terrified of driving Penn’s Mercedes because it probably costs more than my entire college education. Penn tossed me the keys to his “less flashy” ride and told me to park in the secured player garage at the arena. This was a vast departure from his proclamation yesterday that I can’t go anywhere without him, but we came to an early impasse on how I’d get to the arena for tonight’s game.
Penn had to be there early, around three, and wanted me to come with him and wait in the friends and family lounge. I vetoed that plan immediately—too much downtime, and I have design work to finish. Not to mention… that’s not my place. My relationship with Penn is tenuous at best and I think he’s harboring irritation with me for imposing on him with my problems. I qualify as neither friend nor family, and I don’t want any part of that.
We eventually came to a compromise. I’d keep myself securely locked in his gated mansion until it was time to leave and then drive myself to the arena in his vehicle. He arranged for a Titans’ staff person to meet me in the garage and escort me to the owner’s box. Seemed easy enough. Still, my nerves are on edge as I pull into the private lot, give my name to security, and get waved through with surprising efficiency.