Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
They got me back on my feet. Had surgeries organized to put my face back together and repair my throat. Hell, they gave me a name because I didn’t even know my own. I had no memory. The only thing I’ve ever known about myself is that I was washed up on the bank of Norris Lake—which incidentally is how I named myself. Carson pulled in some favors and now my identification says Lake Norris is my name. My birthdate is the day they found me, and since I look around forty, according to my new birth certificate I’m thirty-nine—only because Lisa said no one willingly owns up to being forty.
They said I had a severe brain injury. It took me a month to recover after they bored holes into my head. They warned me that my long-term and short-term memory might be affected. Turned out I had no memory at all. I don’t know if it’s from the trauma of my head injury or the surgery itself, since it was high risk. In the end, it didn’t matter.
Carson Wells—the eldest of the brothers and the CEO of Black Stone—did offer to track down who I was. I didn’t allow it. I figured with the injuries I had, someone definitely wanted me dead. It was better if they continued to believe I was. Some people may think that’s insanity. Hell, maybe it was. I just knew that I had almost died, and I wasn’t walking blind into a situation where I gave a stranger the chance to do the job again. I’m not sure any of the brothers agreed, but in the end, they didn’t fight me. Maybe they knew I needed to start over.
Since that day, I’ve slowly been building a life on my terms. I work harder than any other man here because I know I have injuries that slow me down. I don’t want to give anyone a reason to get rid of me. I’m also out to repay them. I volunteer for anything they need. I’ve even started working for their security company on the weekends. I will make them glad they helped me. Despite their arguing, I’ve been giving them back half of my check each pay period. They tried to refuse, but I won’t let them. It may take the rest of my life, but I will pay them back. I owe them absolutely everything.
The ringing of my phone brings my thoughts back to the here and now. I nod to Ray and step outside to take the call. As I’m walking out the door, I hear footsteps behind me. I guess the woman is finally manning her desk. The urge to turn around and see what has Ray so caught up in her is strong, but in the end I don’t bother. His kind of woman is not mine.
“This is Lake,” I answer as I step onto the porch.
“Hey, buddy. I know you have tonight off, but I have a big favor to ask,” Colt—the youngest of the Wells brothers—says at once.
“What do you need?”
“Carson and Coop are going to be busy this Saturday with the security dinner to kick off the week of training. I will be there for a bit, but I’m going to watch over Livy and Claire. I don’t expect any trouble, but I’d like to have some backup—just in case. If you can’t, it’s okay. The new guy, Jeff, is going to help me, but I just feel better having someone I’ve worked with before at my back.”
“Sure. I had nothing planned anyway. Do you want me to head straight to Carson’s house, or would you rather I meet you under the tent they’re having the dinner at?”
“Just head on up to Carson’s house that night. Jeff should be there early. He’s setting up the perimeter and I’ll join you two once I get there.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there,” I answer.
“Thanks, Lake. If you’re interested, we could use a couple more men to help us in combat training. You’re one of our best and you’ve been here almost as long as our first string. The pay is good. I know it’s short notice—”
“I’m in,” I answer at once. Working extra means making more money toward my bill. I don’t need much to survive. The ranch provides our breakfast and dinners. I live in the bunkhouse with the rest of the ranch hands. So, really, I can get by with next to nothing. I have a truck payment, auto insurance, and health insurance bills. I pay whatever medical bills I get and then put a few hundred back each check. Once that’s done, I give the rest back to the bookkeeper here at the ranch as payment on my account. My bosses didn’t like it but accepted it just the same. I should have it completely paid off within another six months. Then, maybe I’ll breathe a little easier. I don’t know the person I was before, but the man I am now doesn’t want to owe shit to anyone. I stand on my own.