Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“I just ... if I take that job, I’ll be leaving Hugh, Star ... I ...”
Delilah goes quiet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think this is where we would be at the time. But Maggie ... this is a one in a million chance, it would change your life. You have to take it.”
Hugh will never leave the club.
Star will be without me.
But she’s right, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
If I don’t take it, will I regret it forever?
I need to think, my mind is swimming.
“I need to really think about it, read through the information he sends. For now, please don’t tell Hugh, I’d like any choice I make to come from me.”
“Of course, I won’t say anything. Congratulations, Maggie. Really. You deserve it.”
I thank her and hang up, staring down at the phone.
What the hell do I do now?
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO do,” I say to Gabby, leaning on the hood of the car she’s working on.
Hugh is at the club, and I needed someone to talk to so I made the excuse to come with him so I could tell my friend exactly what is going on. She, of course, thought it was incredible and leapt for joy until she saw how down I was about it. It’s not that I’m not happy, gosh, when I read through the information sent and it told me exactly what I get, my knees shook.
It’s the most incredible chance.
It’s money.
It’s freedom.
A new life, a new job, a new choice.
But it means leaving everything here behind.
A few months ago, I would have jumped at the chance.
Now ... I feel sick just thinking about it.
I’m falling for Hugh. I’ve finally found someone who is good to me.
I love Star.
I don’t want to live without them, but if I don’t take this job, I know I’ll regret it.
“You need to talk to Hugh,” Gabby tells me. “I know you’re scared, but if you’re not honest it’ll blow up. You never know, he might just decide to go with you.”
I wish that were the case, gosh do I wish it were the case.
But I know it’s not.
Hugh isn’t going to come with me because he loves the club, it’s his life, not to mention Star is here and if he leaves, he won’t be able to see her. My chest tightens at the decision I’m going to have to make. If I go, that’s it for Hugh and me, but if I stay, I’m giving up the absolute chance of a lifetime. That money alone will change my life.
“Hugh won’t come with me, Gab,” I whisper. “I know that, so do you. He’s not going to leave his daughter, his club ...”
Gabby gives me a sympathetic smile. “I know this is hard on you, honey. But you have to talk to him. The sooner the better.”
I know she’s right, but I also know that the conversation is going to break my heart. One way or another, I’m going to be giving up something that means so much to me.
“Ready to go?”
I turn to see Hugh coming out through the garage door. He’s with Hank and Riggs, all of them looking like they’ve just had a really tough conversation. I wonder what it’s about? I’d love to know what goes on behind closed doors in the club—I imagine it would be mind-blowing, that’s for certain.
“Is everything okay?” Gabby asks, narrowing her eyes. “Where’s Remy?”
“He’s still in there discussin’ some things,” Riggs answers. “Maggie, you got a second for us to have a word?”
Well, that sounds great.
I nod and follow them into the office. Riggs closes the door, and they turn to me. “We’ve got some information on the two men you overheard. Some big shit is goin’ down in that country club, shit that we’ve suspected for some time. They’re sellin’ girls, young girls, some as young as fourteen. Not all local, from around the state so it’s less suspicious. They’re makin’ a killing out of it and they need to be stopped. They’re bringin’ bad shit into the town and it’s becomin’ dangerous for people to live here, families, women, all of them.”
I swallow.
I suspected as much, the rumors are certainly there, but I guess nobody has had the chance to bring them down as of yet. I wonder if the police know. Or are they the reason it hasn’t been stopped, are they in on it? Are they getting paid to keep quiet? Men like Delilah’s father have enough money to sway people to do whatever they want and that’s the problem here.
“I’m guessing you have a plan otherwise you wouldn’t have called me in here,” I say, feeling a little anxious.
“You’re the only person who can get into that club unnoticed. We’ve got zero chance of gettin’ in there, but there is someone in there we need to get information from, someone who is close to it all and wants out. We need you to help us get that information to him.”