Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I hated even more that I did.
When I got to the bar, I ordered a drink and downed half of it before turning to find out where Denver and Boone ended up.
I found them near the corner where we usually sat—there were several booths in the back with a view of the mountains that were always kept open for the club members—and headed that way.
“What the hell was that about?” Denver asked.
I gritted my teeth, unsure what to say.
“Nothing,” I lied.
Denver’s brows lifted in challenge.
“She’s under my skin,” I said eventually. “All this shit went down with her and her family. I’m not privy to all of it, but I know that they had something to do with her mother’s death. I know that there were a ton of fucking misunderstandings. And I know that ‘father’ figure over there was supposed to have her back and didn’t. So I’m a little on edge. It pisses me way the fuck off when I see them out without her.”
Denver grinned. “You like her.”
“I shouldn’t,” I countered.
He shrugged. “We don’t always get what we want.”
Eleven
Undiagnosed, but something ain’t right.
—Birdee’s secret thoughts
Birdee
I was now gainfully employed with Great Dane Pet Food company, and the big boss was showing me around the huge warehouse where the food was prepared.
I was very impressed with the procedures and felt that this would be a great fit for me.
Though, I was happy that I would be based out of the original location.
There was nothing against Georgia or anything, but it wasn’t my home.
“What do you think?” Chris Gates asked.
“I think that you’ve done a lot of good here,” I said as I pointed at the dog on the wall. “For him, right?”
“That’s Curt.” Chris smiled. “He’s not with us anymore. But his legacy lives on.”
“He was gorgeous, Chris.” I continued to stare. “I love that photo, too.”
It was of a massive Great Dane sitting on a couch, huge front paws firmly planted on the floor, with a TV tray of dog food in front of him.
“He was a goof.” Chris jerked his head. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your hotel.”
My hotel.
My belly started to tingle in anticipation.
“It’s a beautiful hotel,” I said as we began to walk.
He hummed. “My good friend owns it. That’s why we moved the production line here. Huge factory beside a huge hotel that my friend owned seemed like a no-brainer.”
We talked some more until we reached the hotel, then he held out his hand for me to shake. “I’m excited to get to work with you, Ms. Calvert.”
“I am too.” I smiled.
He nodded and left, leaving me with a full day ahead of me.
I knew exactly how I was going to spend it…
Twelve
I fully intend to haunt people when I die. I have a list.
—Birdee to Creed
Birdee
She sat staring at me for long moments after I’d explained everything that I knew, and I wondered if she believed me.
“I don’t have the full story,” I whispered just as the waitress left with our food orders. “I just know that he’s not dead. And he misses you. Oh, and he’s living in the same area with several other ex-cons. So this has to be very hush-hush.”
I hoped that I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.
Because I really liked Creed, and I wanted him to be happy.
And I had a feeling that Bernice would make him happy.
Her breathing was coming faster and faster, and I leaned forward as a shot of adrenaline coursed through my veins.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She scrambled for her purse, and I watched in avid horror as she pulled out an inhaler, yanked the cap off, and pressed it to her lips.
She inhaled two deep puffs, then capped the inhaler and stared at me in shock.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Are you okay?” I asked again.
She licked her lips as she seemed to search for the words.
Then she said, “Who are you to him?”
I bared my teeth in embarrassment. “Not really anyone to him. He’s just someone that’s helped me out. He actually hit me while I was on my scooter driving home. And I think he feels guilty so he gives me rides to and from work sometimes.”
She shook her head. “Are you sure it’s him?”
“I have a photo on my old phone of him. It’s not a great one since I took it through the window of my work,” I said. “I’ll show you when we get back.”
She didn’t say much for a long time.
So long, in fact, that the food came out and she still hadn’t said a word.
“How’d you find me if he didn’t talk about me much?” she asked after she’d eaten half of her soup.
I tugged on a loose curl before admitting, “I had my friend internet stalk you with the very limited information that Creed shared about you, and I overheard him talking about you to his friend. A friend that I think was responsible for covering up his prison escape.”