Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“Mom?” Kira’s small voice pulled at me. “What’s happening?”
I knelt before them, checking the nearest window with a quick peripheral glance. “We need to go up to our room. Just for a while.” I gave them a smile I knew had no hope of being reassuring because tears burned my eyes.
Zelda’s studied me for a long moment. “Is it him?” she whispered, and I hated that my twelve-year-old daughter knew to ask that question.
I didn’t answer directly. “Caleb, do you think maybe you could move the game upstairs to keep us company?” My gaze met his and I saw understanding flash across his features.
“Absolutely, Ms. Penny.” He guided Kira back toward the game and two of them returned the game to its box. Zelda hesitated instead, her gaze never leaving my face.
I squeezed her shoulder gently. “It’s going to be fine. Violet’s calling for help and I’m not letting anyone get to you or your sister.”
She nodded once, jaw set in a determined line too adult for her young face, then followed her sister and Caleb to the lift. I wanted to follow them but couldn’t seem to make myself move forward. I heard the lift close and start upward but I still couldn’t make myself follow. I needed to know what happened, if Andy stopped or if he kept going.
True to her word, five minutes later Violet entered the building, Riot close behind her. Her face was composed, but I recognized the tightness around her eyes. She’d been through this before with other women who’d come to Haven. She’d also been through it herself.
“Knight’s on his way with some equipment,” she said quietly as she reached for me, pulling me into a brief, fierce hug. “Tiny’s with him. Everyone here will protect you.”
Something in my chest loosened marginally at the mention of Tiny’s name. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d wanted to hear that until she said it.
“Has he tried to come in?” Violet asked.
I shook my head. “Just driving by. Slowly. Like he’s casing the place.”
“He probably is,” Riot said, his voice low. “Testing our security, seeing who’s around.”
“How many times did he pass by?” Violet asked.
“Twice that I saw.” My voice sounded strange to my own ears, too calm for the storm of panic inside me.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Andy: I see you found some new friends. They won’t help you. They’re using you and the girls. We need to talk.
My hand tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white. How had he gotten my number? Andy always knew exactly how to get under my skin, how to plant seeds of doubt when I was most vulnerable. But this time was different. This time, I wasn’t alone.
I heard the rumble of motorcycles approaching as several more members of Kiss of Death rolled into the parking lot. The thunder of motorcycles was more comforting than I’d ever thought possible. Looking out the window separating the lobby and the common room, I watched as Tiny’s massive frame approached the double doors from the parking lot to the lobby.
The woman at the desk pressed a button as Tiny reached for the door handle. The door unlocked and Tiny strode inside. He went straight to the inner door separating the common room from the lobby. There was a click, and the door opened.
The sight of him as he entered, his broad shoulders nearly brushing both sides of the door frame made a weight lift from my chest. Relief crashed through me so powerfully my knees almost buckled. Knight followed close behind, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his face set in grim determination. Tiny’s gaze swept the room, finding mine immediately across the space. Something in his expression shifted when he saw me. I thought I saw relief followed quickly by concern. He gave me a slow nod, and I saw a quiet resolve fill his expression as he registered my rigid posture.
I watched Tiny conferring quietly with Violet and Riot near the entrance. His presence seemed to expand beyond his physical form, somehow making the room feel both smaller and safer at the same time. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but I saw Tiny’s shoulders stiffen at something Violet said, his massive hands curling into fists before deliberately relaxing.
Knight moved with purpose, setting his duffel bag on a nearby table and unzipping it to reveal an arsenal of technical equipment. Cameras, monitors, cables spilled out as he organized them with practiced precision. “I checked the feeds on the way over,” Knight said, his voice carrying across the now quiet common room. “I can patch the blind spots today. Add a few more cameras, upgrade the motion sensors.” His tattooed fingers worked deftly with the equipment as he spoke. “We’ll have overlapping coverage everywhere outside this place within a couple hours.”