Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“He’s ventilated,” I remind them, not feeling their optimism.
“Not for long. Dr. Snyder is the best there is. He’s been in contact with local staff and has full medical authorization. He’s also familiar with the shit they were being pumped full of. The detox will fucking suck, but they’ll survive. They’re starting the process of waking Max up now. We’ll know more in a few hours.” Robbie scans the room. “Nice work, all of you.”
Rand, Blade, and Hugo stand straighter, and I swear they’re preening under his praise.
“What about Ricardo?”
Robbie’s mouth morphs into a bone-chilling, calculated grin, his blue eyes gleaming. “John Ricardo Lewis was found dead a few hours ago. Identified only by his dental records. Electrical fire caught at his home, taking it to the ground.”
A collective chuckle sounds around the room.
One thing about working with Hayes Security, they don’t like loose ends.
“Bet you guys are ready for these.” Finn drops his bag on a chair and dishes out our personal cells. “You know the drill. No calls until on US soil. Get back to base and pack. Meet back here in two hours. Transport is waiting. Wheels up as soon as you’re ready.”
When I power up my phone, notifications load the screen.
I love you…
I miss you…
God, I’m scared, please come home to me…
With each message, my heart races.
“Before you go, we need to talk.”
My head snaps back to Robbie, his expression now unreadable.
“Is she okay?”
“Once the shock wore off, she pulled herself together. We had an unexpected development. She’s fine… But there’s something else.” His pause has my pulse racing for a different reason.
“What kind of fucking development?”
“Wynn got to her.”
“You promised you’d watch her.”
“We were watching. She went shopping. It was a coincidence; we tapped into the internal cameras and didn’t catch him until it was too late. With a few calls, found out Declan was in the vicinity. He couldn’t walk into Target without risk of causing a scene, so he sent in Tavers.”
My agitation turns to hilarity, thinking about Declan’s bodyguard. At six-four, two-hundred and sixty pounds of pure muscle, Tavers likely had Joseph Wynn ready to bolt.
“And what happened?”
“Willow handled it. Tavers ensured Jospeh left the store and went back. Willow hurt her ankle, claimed she tripped over her cart.”
“Why don’t I like where this is going?”
“Depends on where you’re at. I saw the ring, know that woman loves you, and pretty sure you feel the same.”
“What the fuck, Robbie?”
He smirks at my irritation. “Tavers hung back, making sure she was okay.”
He’s enjoying drawing this out. The room has gone silent, and I sense the guys at my back. “You got a point here?”
“Yeah.” He rocks back on his heels with a wide shit-eating grin. “According to Tavers, ‘Lo wiped out the shelves of every brand of pregnancy test available. Good chance you’re about to be a dad.”
He could have told me anything in the world and it wouldn’t have stunned me more.
…about to be a dad
The phrase replays in my mind, my pulse speeding, my vision blurring, and the room spinning.
I think I spot a few hands reaching out before my ass hits the floor.
36
WILLOW
You did it, Willow.
It’s done… At least for today.
Small victories.
Now I wait…
As if waiting for any scrap of news from Talon wasn’t enough, now I have five days of nerve-wracking torment before knowing if my career as a Physical Therapist is a reality.
Discovering I’m going to be a mom put things into perspective.
I mean, my life was already turned on its axis, so why not keep things hopping?
Pushing up my exam date seemed like a good idea.
It gave me enough incentive to keep my mind busy.
Almost…
I didn’t take into consideration the waiting game that comes along with the results.
Nor the pressure of harboring two very large secrets.
Bex and Lucas will understand my rash decision once they know my situation.
It’s about planning my future.
If I don’t pass the exam, my job offer could be rescinded, and then there needs to be an alternative until I can retake the test.
Only, there is no contingency plan.
And I’m at a loss.
Another point of irony in this world that has become my life. Months ago, I was kinda a loner. Even though I refused to admit it because there was my family, Bex and Lucas, and work.
Now my social calendar is jam-packed, my circle of friends is bursting, and I’m possibly engaged.
And yet, loneliness hangs heavy.
The one person I want to talk to is traipsing through a jungle, staking out illegal smuggling rings, bringing down cartels, or something else no one can tell me.
Captain fucking America… with a gun instead of a shield.
There’s no way I can go back to the house. I’m too wired. The chance of running into any of the girls is a possibility. Jewls mentioned Ronnie and the ladies bringing the boys to the pool this afternoon.