Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
As the room settled, exhaustion tugged at Heavenly. Beck and Seth hadn’t let her sleep much last night, and after a busy day, her lids felt heavy. She could really use a nap.
It was probably too early to blame her exhaustion on pregnancy, but soon…
She closed her eyes. Just for a minute, she promised herself.
When she blinked and sat up a few minutes later, Grace had shifted closer to Hudson on the couch, leaning in as he explained his game in a low voice, play by play, his thumbs pausing every so often to demonstrate. She listened intently. Hudson’s face lit up.
Carl and Beck were still glued to the TV, debating something about a defensive formation Heavenly didn’t understand. Gene tuned out of their debate.
He was staring at his phone again—scrolling, pausing. He read something.
His expression shifted. He looked more than focused. His jaw tightened, like he was thinking about something that bothered him.
A few minutes ago, he’d been kicking back and joking with the other men about the game. And now, the next play was underway, and he was glued to his phone.
Had he gotten bad news? Or maybe Gene was just wound a little tight. Not hard to believe of a career cop.
She glanced at Grace, who was smiling and nodding, still absorbed in Hudson’s explanation. She’d known Gene for something like twenty years, and she didn’t seem to think anything was off.
Heavenly thought about grabbing her phone, which was still upstairs, and texting Seth to make sure he was all right. Surely, he’d be back soon…
Suddenly, Gene tensed. He typed something quickly, his thumbs all but pounding on his screen. He waited with a scowl, looking tense, almost…angry.
What was that about?
Heavenly blinked, watching as he typed again, this time even faster, more emphatic.
She sent a sidelong glance to Beck. Despite the game flashing across the TV, he was watching Gene, too.
Their eyes met, and Beck’s brow lifted—the silent equivalent of what’s up with this guy?
Heavenly shrugged back. Maybe that’s just how he is?
Too bad Seth wasn’t here so she could ask. Speaking of… Shouldn’t he be back by now?
Rising to her feet, Heavenly stretched. Maybe she’d text him, make sure he was all right.
By the time she went upstairs, took a bathroom break, found her cell, and settled back on the sofa, she found Gene staring at his phone again.
No, not staring. Glowering. He tapped at the screen—once, twice, three times in quick succession. Then stilled. Waiting. His eyes never wavered. Heavenly could feel the tension pinging off him.
Seriously, what was up with him? A glance proved Grace still hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, his whole body went rigid, shoulders pulling back like someone had lifted him upright by yanking on his spine. His brow furrowed with agitation. Fury locked his jaw.
Heavenly’s breath caught. If Gene wasn’t a cop, she would have sworn he had murder in his eyes.
Then suddenly, his face went blank, his anger disappearing behind a flat, unreadable mask. Except his sharp eyes. They looked hyper-alert. Almost burning.
Carefully, he pocketed his phone and paced, pausing behind Carl’s and Beck’s recliners. Then he stopped. Stilled.
Braced?
Heavenly’s stomach knotted. Everything about his behavior felt off. Wrong. Almost…menacing.
She clenched her hands in her lap. If Gene was upset about something, why wasn’t he going outside to make a call? Or leaving to deal with whatever it was? Why stew in anger in the middle of Grace’s family room with his face a mask that didn’t quite hide the seething rage in his eyes.
Heavenly swallowed, her throat suddenly tight, and glanced at Beck again, who was leaning forward, focused on the TV as the Giants lined up for another play.
Since Gene hovered behind him now, Beck couldn’t see the man’s face.
Heavenly’s pulse kicked up another notch when Gene started typing again. Even faster than before. Aggressive. His thumb stabbed at the screen. Then he stopped.
He stared. Waited. His jaw flexed.
Heavenly’s hands twisted tighter in her lap. Her chest felt too tight, her breathing shallow.
She didn’t know what was going on. But everything in her gut was screaming that Gene’s behavior had crossed a line from odd to…something she was afraid to put a name to.
With trembling fingers, she opened her phone and started to text Seth, ask him about Gene. Tell him she was afraid.
She hoped like hell he’d reassure her with a few simple words. Or better yet, come strolling through the door and restore her sense of safety.
Before she could, Beck and Carl both jumped out of their seats, high-fiving each other. “Touchdown!”
Despite her unease, Heavenly paused mid-text, a little smile tugging at her lips.
Men…
Then she noticed Gene. He wasn’t celebrating. He wasn’t even looking at the TV. His face was white with rage and a dark determination that terrified her.
And he was holding a gun.