Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Rory, if you know something, please tell me,” I pleaded in a whisper.
Her throat bobbed as she continued a stare, looking from my eyes to my hand on top of hers. “They told me not to say anything,” she whispered back.
“Why would they ask you to do that?”
“Because they . . .” She clamped her mouth shut then snatched her hand away. “You have her purse now. Just . . . keep looking for the answers.”
My heart dropped as Rory dashed for the door.
“Wait—Rory!” I called, but she’d already yanked the door open and run out. “Rory!” I shouted.
I trundled down the porch steps, but Rory was already near the main path.
Watching her run reminded me of the person I’d seen earlier. The same one who ran away after knocking on the door. I’d suspected it before, but there was no doubt about it now.
Rory had left Eve’s purse.
Eve Castillo journal entry
Victor called earlier.
I was at the gym, so I ignored his first call. He called again when I got home. I almost paid no attention to it, but a part of me wanted to hear what he had to say. He said he missed me. That he wants to meet up. I’m not sure I want to. Me and Lincoln are on better terms now. Besides, the last time I spoke with Victor, he made me feel like shit. He can be so toxic . . . but he promised to make it up to me.
Am I dumb for considering it? I feel like I should reject him, but we have such good sex. And when he’s in a good mood, he really is kind. I might meet him for lunch just to hear him grovel. Who knows what’ll happen after that.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
I dug around in one of the kitchen drawers until I came across a flashlight, then hurried out the front door. I clicked it on, swinging the beaming light forward, and went in the direction Rory had come from when she first arrived.
The path within the woods was easy to find. I walked rapidly while trying to keep my breaths and heart steady. The water of the lake trickled, and damp leaves swished. Heavy branches groaned and twigs snapped beneath my feet, but I didn’t slow until I spotted the lights on the Reeds’ house.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” a deep voice growled.
I clicked the flashlight off and rushed behind a tree. Peering around the corner, I saw Rory standing next to a set of stairs on the side of the house. The stairs led to a side door. Probably the one she’d snuck out of to get to me. She stood next to an unlit firepit, quivering as Damian glowered at her.
“We told you not to go over there, Ro! You aren’t supposed to be talking to her!”
“I—I didn’t tell her anything!” Rory exclaimed.
“It’s not about that! Damn it, Rory! You never fucking think!” Damian whirled around and stormed off.
Rory sniffled, then she turned her head and let out a startled gasp. For some reason, my heart dropped when I spotted a silhouette standing in front of the side door.
“Alex,” Rory breathed.
“Where is the bag, Rory?” His voice sent a chill down my spine. It was eerily calm.
“W-what bag?” Rory asked.
“You know what fucking bag.”
She flinched as he stormed down the stairs. He gripped her upper arm and wrangled her close to him. “The bag the girl had,” he snarled.
Rory was still shaking. Whimpering. “I—I don’t know where it is.”
“It was in my room and now it’s gone, so where is it?”
Rory didn’t respond and her silence clearly pissed him off. He gripped her arm harder, and she cried out as he started dragging her toward the door.
“Let her go, Alex!” Damian appeared again, chest puffed up as he glared at Alex’s back. “Don’t hold her like that.”
“She’s fucking lying, Damian!” Alex shot back. “Who else was in the house to take that girl’s bag? I’m sure it wasn’t you, was it?” He released Rory and practically shoved her away so he could walk in Damian’s direction.
It was strange to see a person as large as Damian shrink at Alex’s approach. Damian had way more muscle and could’ve taken him down easily.
“She’s recovering,” Damian said in an even voice. “Her body is still weak. You can’t just grab her like that.”
“She’s not too weak to talk to the fucking tenants,” Alex spat.
Damian looked from Alex to Rory, but Rory was scurrying into the house. Alex stepped closer, getting in Damian’s face. His chin dropped to avoid his brother’s eyes.
“You can defend her all you want,” Alex said. “But I’m not going to prison because both of you want to act like fucking idiots.”
To prison? What would cause him to go to prison? I shifted, trying to hear what more he was saying, and a branch snapped. Both men looked in my direction.