Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Remind me again what exactly happened,” Leo asks, picking up his cupcake wrapper. “I think I was still a little drunk when you explained it all to me. Actually, how did you even find her the first time?”
“Locator spell,” I say, pushing away the knot in my chest when I think about how the one I just tried located some sort of demonic connection most likely inside of me. “Pretty damn accurate when I do it right.”
Antonio and I take turns recounting the story of how we found Gia, smiling when we get to the park where she said if the kid from Home Alone could handle a living and a hotel by himself, she could too.
“Do you think she’s really okay?” I ask. I’m fully aware my brothers have no idea, but I want to be reassured even if it’s a lie.
“Mom and Dad made sure she got out of the warehouse,” Antonio says. “I would think they would continue to make sure she’s safe.”
“I hate to be a Debbie Downer,” Leo interjects. “But you don’t know that it was them who took her out of the warehouse. They left and when Xavier checked, she wasn’t there anymore. But that doesn’t necessarily mean…” He trails off, not wanting to say it.
“Get me something of hers as soon as you can.” I decide to go for that third cupcake. “I can find her and then we have to get her away from Vivian and Marco.”
Silence falls over the table, all of us thinking what we don’t want to have to say out loud.
“Shit,” Leo suddenly says. “I was supposed to visit Liss today. Yesterday? Like I said: it’s been a long day and I’m tired.”
“I can get the other spare room ready for you,” Mabel offers as she pretends to feed her stuffed animals a spoonful of frosting. “It’s not very often that all six bedrooms are full. I like having a full house.”
“Thanks,” Leo tells her and runs his hand through his hair. “I’ll see if I can visit Liss tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with,” I say, and everybody stares at me dubiously. “I mean it. I wanna pay her a visit.”
“That might not be the smartest thing to do right now,” Antonio says, eyes meeting mine just quick enough for me to know he means it’s not a good idea because there’s a demon voice in my head but also because I’m the last person Larissa wants to see.
“We all know that Larissa runs her mouth when she’s angry and seeing me is going to piss her off. She was really close with those idiot hunters who tried to attack us during dinner. Dumb and blindly loyal was Marcus Henry’s type. If they knew something, they might have spilled it to Liss and if she’s angry enough, she might say something she’s not supposed to to try to bait me.”
“I don’t know,” Leo says, as he thinks out loud. “I think if she knew something, she would have tried to use it to stay out of jail. Throw anyone else under the bus to try and save herself.”
“I suppose you’re right.” I tear the bottom off my cupcake and put it on top of the frosting, making a little sandwich. Taking a big bite, I allow my eyes to fall shut for a few seconds as I chew. I’m physically and mentally tired.
“I’m beat,” Antonio says, as if he can read my mind. “I’m going to go to bed.”
Mabel puts the spoon down. “I’ll show you to the other room,” she tells Leo.
“You don’t have to,” he says, being polite. “I can figure it out, I’m sure.”
“I don’t mind at all. It used to be Wren’s room, but she didn’t pick out all the pink. It was like that before she got here and I haven’t had time to do any redecorating.” Her lips pull up into a smile. “It’s been exciting since Wren got here.”
“Exciting is one way to put it,” Devon notes and I can’t help but chuckle.
“One of these days things are going to be so boring,” I begin, “you’re going to wish I was getting into some sort of trouble just so we have something to do.”
“I’ll believe that day when I see it,” Leo laughs. “When you go looking for monsters, you find them. And when you’ve gone looking for monsters but aren’t currently looking, they find you.”
“Seriously,” I agree. “A few days break would be nice. We could find a beach and do nothing but sit in the sun and drink.” I catch Mabel’s expression and quickly add, “and enjoy the moon over the ocean. It’s magical looking at night.”
“You know, you never had a wedding,” Mabel says and then eyes my brothers. “They just signed the papers here in the house. I’ve always wanted to plan a beach wedding! What about in Mexico? Tulum or Cancun are very predictable but for a reason.”