Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Black and Browns? He hoped they were as decent as the Greens.
Rose punched in a code on the door, and a second later, it opened with a quiet hiss.
Roz stopped dead. “Holy fuck.”
Gage’s brows knit. “What?”
“It’s nice as hell, G.”
“This is just the basic layout. You, of course, can personalize it. You have clothes already stocked in the wardrobe. There’s food in the fridge and pantry, but I encourage you to make a list of what you like, and one of us will get it ordered for you.”
“Thank you,” Gage said.
“If you need anything, extension thirty-four reaches us at all hours.” She stopped walking as if remembering something. “Oh— And your partner’s quarters are directly across the hall.”
Gage straightened. “My partner?”
“Scar,” she said matter-of-factly.
Roz exploded. “Like hell that motherf—”
Gage snapped his hand up, quick and final, needing Roz to shut up.
“Is Scar here?” he asked tightly.
“No. The Blacks and Browns are still in the field, but Meridian never comes back empty-handed.”
“I want to know the moment he arrives,” he demanded.
“Absolutely, sir.”
Gage could feel the heat of Roz’s glare, but he ignored it and instead told him to show him around the place.
Roz grabbed his forearm, and Gage reversed the grip like they’d been shown.
They walked into what he assumed was the main area.
“This place is like a penthouse on the top floor of a hotel.”
The carpet beneath his feet was so dense that he tugged off his tennis shoes and socks to enjoy it.
The living room was a wide-open space that was easy to navigate.
There was nothing in the middle of the floor for him to run into, and the minimal furniture had rounded edges—no sharp corners. He traced his palm along the sectional, squeezing the faux-fur ribbed material.
The kitchen island was a long expanse of cool marble.
When he walked into what Roz said was his bedroom, the low whistle told him enough. He sat on the bed and didn’t want to get back up. If he weren’t so hungry, he would’ve immediately gotten under the heavy covers.
He perched on a high stool at the island while Roz rummaged through the fridge.
“It’s really organized in here,” Roz mumbled. “Like…super neat. Oh shit.”
Gage stiffened. “What?”
“Everything’s labeled in Braille,” Roz said softly. “The appliances, cabinets, the food…even the microwave.”
It’s tailored for me. How’d they even know I’d come?
Roz slid a plate and a bottle of juice toward him.
He ate his turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich in silent contemplation until Roz said quietly, “So…Scar, huh? You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie. I omitted.”
“Same damn thing.”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you thinking he was behind all of this.”
Roz scoffed. “Scar’s an evil, too-smart sonofabitch. I wouldn’t doubt he had something to do with you gettin’ taken.”
Gage shook his head.
“Scar’s had it out for you from the moment I brought you on the block.”
I know.
“I don’t believe in coincidences, G.”
Gage sighed. “Me either. But I do believe in divine intervention.”
“Come on, man! Why do—”
Gage put his hand up again.
“I’m tired, Roz. I’mma’ go lie down.”
He felt as though he hadn’t slept in weeks.
Roz pushed back his chair, and Gage waved him off.
“I can get there myself.”
He walked the route toward his bedroom that he’d somehow already memorized. Counting his steps and running his fingertips along the walls until he was back in the pine-scented bathroom.
He fumbled over the various switches, flipping them on and off, and found one that heated the floor.
He turned on the taps in the shower, that took a lot less time to heat up than at Roz’s place.
Multiple jets struck his tense muscles from above and behind with the perfect amount of pressure.
Afterward, he located the eye mask in the warmer on his nightstand and wrapped it around his face. He yanked his towel off, climbed on top of the massive bed, and sank into the plush mattress beneath cool cotton sheets.
For the first time in what felt like months, he allowed himself to rest.
He had a sinking feeling his life was about to get real.
But tonight? Tonight, he’d sleep.
White Ravens
Gage
The pounding on the door ripped Gage out of the best sleep of his life.
He jerked upright, a little disoriented, knocking the warm, scented mask from his face.
For a second, he didn’t remember where he was.
“G!” Roz’s voice was loud and urgent. “Get up!”
He rolled until he got to the edge of the bed and his feet hit the warm floor. He rubbed at his eyes as he staggered toward the sound of Roz’s voice.
“I’m coming,” he rasped.
He hurried to the bedroom door and flung it open.
“What is it?”
“They said Scar’s here,” he blurted.
Gage’s fog evaporated, adrenaline knifing through his veins.
“Where?” His heart started pounding hard enough he could hear it in his ears.
“I don’t know. All Rose said was the Blacks’ helicopter just landed, and they’re moving him now.”