Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Vinnie,” I say, “I hate to ask you to do this. Especially after you’ve done everything you can to erase your family’s criminal history.”
“No, I haven’t tried to erase it,” Vinnie counters. “Sure, all our business is legit now, but you can’t erase history, no matter how much you want to. And unfortunately, some of it may be coming back to bite us all in the ass.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Hey, we’re almost brothers, man. Absolutely happy to do it. I can do it all on the dark web so none of it will come back to you or to Daniela.”
“I’m not sure how I can thank you.”
I need to tell Vinnie the truth about Ted. Raven’s not here, but Robin is.
And Robin doesn’t even know the half of what’s going on.
Because Ted didn’t disappear, nor was he killed in a bar brawl like his brothers were told.
My father killed him.
In cold blood, in our home.
The same office where my father attempted to end his own life.
The same office where I was grazed by his bullet.
If I can figure everything out—and if I can protect Daniela in the process—maybe I can stop any more blood being spilled by a Bellamy.
14
DANIELA
“Any of you ready for lunch?” Vinnie asks.
“No,” I say. “I can’t eat. Not with all this new information.”
“I understand,” Vinnie says. “Let’s go home.”
“I can take you,” Hawk says.
“That’s not necessary,” I say. “I mean, Vinnie’s going home, and that’s where I live.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Yeah. I think I need some alone time. I need to let all this stuff soak in.” I bite my lip. “Or maybe not think about it.”
“I understand,” Hawk says. He gives me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Once we get home, Robin heads home in her own car, and though I should say hi to Belinda, I go straight to my suite and lie down in my bed.
It’s Saturday.
I wish it were a weekday, because I’d be in school and wouldn’t have to be thinking about any of this.
Then my phone buzzes.
Speaking of school…
It’s Jordan.
I don’t have the strength to deal with him today. He keeps hitting on me.
But on the other hand, I could use a distraction.
“Hello?” I say into the phone.
“Hey, Daniela, it’s Jordan.”
“Hey,” I reply.
“Gina, Lavender, and I are going to Splash Zone. I remember you said you might like to try a waterpark, so do you want to come?”
“No, but thank you for asking.”
“Hey, this is a group thing. I’m not hitting on you again. I swear.”
I sit up. “So the three of you then?”
“Yeah, we want to blow off some steam. And it’s a perfect day for the waterpark.”
I consider it.
Why the heck not? It’s not like sitting around ruminating is going to do anything.
It’s like the other day, when I got all the toppings for my ice cream. You have to live for today, because who knows where you’ll end up the next day?
Every day I thank God that I’m alive after what I’ve been through. Any of those men that my father sent to me could’ve ended my life, and I doubt my father would’ve given a shit.
“You know what? Sure. I’ll go.”
“Should we pick you up?” he asks.
That would require me telling him where I live, which I really don’t want to do.
“No, I’ll just meet you there in an hour.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
I walk into my bedroom and open the drawer where I keep my bathing suits.
I have two one-pieces, three tankinis, and about seven bikinis, including a white string bikini that has never been out of its package.
I brought it from Colombia. Threw it in my suitcase when I was quickly packing to escape my father.
I try it on and step in front of my mirror.
I can’t help it.
I smile. I look darn good. I want Hawk to see me.
He’s probably twenty minutes outside of Austin by now, but I call him anyway.
“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… I… I just need a distraction, and some friends from culinary school invited me to go to Splash Zone.”
“Splash Zone? I haven’t been there in ages.”
“That’s kind of why I’m calling.” I scratch the side of my head. “I mean, there’s not much we can do until Vinnie does his research, right?”
“Honey, you should go. I want you to have fun.”
“I want you to come too,” I say.
“I don’t know your friends, and I—”
“Please, Hawk,” I lower my voice. “Besides, I have this new white string bikini that I’d love for you to see.”
“You drive a hard bargain.” He pauses a moment. Then, “Absolutely. I’m in.”
Hawk and I arrive at the waterpark a few moments late, and we find Jordan standing near the entrance.
“Daniela, hi.” He looks at Hawk, noticeably miffed. “Hi.”
“Jordan, this is Hawk Bellamy. Hawk, Jordan Jones.”
Hawk and Jordan shake hands. Both of their jaws are rigid.