Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
“Where the fuck is she?” Hooke asks, running a hand down his face.
I’ve never been one of the guys who tortures others. I leave that to Saint and Haidyn. I have a problem when it comes to getting information out of people. I end up just killing them. Like this fucker. If I was Hooke, I’d shoot him right between the eyes, but that defeats the purpose of getting the information he needs.
“She’s…gone,” he chokes out.
“Is she dead?” Haidyn demands.
“I don’t know.” The guy sits up, cradling his broken arm to his chest. “I did my job—”
“Which is?” Hooke interrupts him.
“Clients send me information on potential dolls, and I investigate.”
“Investigate?” Saint snorts.
“You stalk them,” I clarify. “Learn their routine. See who they are and who they know. You decide if they’re worth taking.”
I learned so much about Eve when I was following her. It told me everything I needed to know—she was alone and vulnerable. That thought makes me smile. My angel is a lot of things, but she’s not helpless.
“So you chose Hailey to be a doll?” Hooke begins to pace. “Who wanted her?”
“You don’t understand,” the guy wails. “She was never taken. She was in on it.”
Hooke rushes over to him and kicks the guy in the face. It knocks him to the ground, and Hooke shouts, “Quit fucking lying. She would never help you.”
He cries and rolls over to his side. “She…was a recruiter.”
“I don’t believe you.” Hooke spits at him. “She has a younger sister.”
Haidyn looks at me, and I rub the back of my neck when he starts walking my way. I know exactly what he’s going to say. “Evan was going to make Eve a recruiter.”
I nod.
“It’s not like this is the first time we’ve heard of this,” Saint adds. “Ashtyn’s mother and Luke were helping recruit for Isabella while framing Adam. We just didn’t find this out until recently.”
“Your point?” Hooke barks.
“His point is maybe they were brainwashed,” I answer, thinking of my wife. Hooke opens his mouth, but I raise my hand to stop him. “You said it yourself. Hailey has a younger sister. What if they were using her to get to Hailey?”
Hooke frowns.
“Have you spoken to her sister?” Saint asks Hooke.
He shakes his head. “No. All I know is that she lives in Las Vegas. Hailey visited her often.”
“That makes sense as to why Hailey went there and was with Hudson. Call the Mason brothers and have them do a search on the cameras for the sister.” I shrug. “It can’t hurt.”
SEVENTY-THREE
EVERETT
Isit in Kashton’s car while “Power Over Me” by Dermot Kennedy plays softly through the speakers and I hold my cell in my hand.
I’m trying to get the courage to make the phone call I don’t want to make. I knew it would be this way. That I’d choose him. It wasn’t even a question.
He has more to live for than me. I won’t be the reason he wastes his life. I have no future. He has everything. Even if he doesn’t see it that way.
I look down at my wedding ring and a sense of pride washes over me. To be called his. Even if it was for such a short time.
The vows we took don’t mean any less just because we didn’t spend years together.
Glancing at the clock on the dash, I see I’ve got twenty minutes. It’s now or never.
Licking my lips, I go to his contact and press Call. The song stops and the sound of his cell ringing fills the speakers.
“Hey, angel. Where you at?” His voice hits my ears, and tears instantly sting my eyes. “You were supposed to be back an hour ago. Everything go okay?”
I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to buy myself some more time. “I—” I can’t get the words out. I close my eyes, slamming the back of my head against the headrest, mad at myself for being so weak.
“Eve?” His voice has changed from welcoming to worried. “Everett, where are you?” Kashton demands this time.
Sniffling, I’m able to whisper, “I’m sorry.”
“Eve,” he growls. “Where the fuck are you? I’m not going to ask you again.”
I manage a smile through the tears that silently fall. Always so bossy. “Please know this is my choice.”
He tries to video call me when I see my face on the screen. I hit Decline. Hearing me fall apart is one thing. Watching it is another. I don’t want him seeing me like this to be the last memory he has of me.
“Angel,” he sighs. “Please. Tell me where you are. I’m coming. Just tell me where I’m going.” I hear him snapping his fingers and whispering, “Eve.”
I can only imagine he’s pointing at his cell telling Haidyn and Saint that I’m on the phone. And then Kashton speaks to them. “Barrington.”