Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“I think I’m going to head to bed,” she says. “It’s been a long day.”
“Get some rest,” I tell her. “I’ll do a final check on the perimeter and lock up.”
She nods, offers a small smile that lingers a second too long, then disappears down the hallway. Her bedroom door closes with a soft click. The sound echoes in the quiet house. I stand there for a moment, listening to the faint sounds of her moving around, the rustle of fabric, the click of a lamp. Then silence.
Nervous energy floods through me the second she’s out of sight. I can’t sit still. I pace the length of the living room twice, checking the front door lock even though I know it’s secure. My boots thud softly on the hardwood. I move to the kitchen and check the back sliding door, sliding it open a few inches to listen to the night. The ocean breathes in and out. No unusual sounds. No footsteps in the dunes. Still, my skin prickles with awareness.
I step outside onto the back porch and walk the short perimeter of the bungalow. The sea oats whisper against my legs. I scan the tree line and the road beyond, my eyes adjusted to the dark. Nothing moves except the wind. Satisfied for now, I return inside and lock the door. The house feels too empty without her in the room. I drop onto the couch and lean forward, elbows on my knees, rubbing my hands over my face.
The conversation on the boardwalk plays on repeat in my head. The way Sadie looked at me when she asked about my type. The easy way those words about “the one” came out of my mouth. I meant every damn word. The realization hits me harder now that I’m alone. The thought of her getting hurt twists something inside me. It isn’t about keeping Anniston’s sister safe for the sake of the family mission. It’s about Sadie herself. The softness that slips through when she talks about her sister. She’s getting under my skin, and I don’t know how to stop it.
I stand again and walk to the kitchen, and pour myself a glass of water I don’t really want. The cool liquid does nothing to settle the restless feeling in my chest. I check my phone. No new messages from the team. The waiting grates on me. My brothers are out there somewhere. Every day without word feels like another knot tightening.
I need to talk to someone who understands. Mack always has the level head when it comes to this kind of thing. I pull up his number and hit call before I can second-guess it. The phone rings twice before his familiar voice answers.
“Jace. Everything alright out there?” Mack sounds alert even though it’s late. Logistics never really sleep.
“Yeah, we’re secure for now,” I say, pacing back to the couch. “Safe house is locked down. Sadie’s in bed. I needed to check in.”
“Copy that. You sound wired. What’s going on?”
I melt into the cushions and close my eyes for a beat. “I told her some things tonight. About what I want. About the kind of woman I’m looking for. It came out more real than I planned.”
Mack’s quiet for a beat. Then he chuckles. “Let me guess. You’re starting to feel something for the client.”
I rub the back of my neck. “It’s more than that. Every protective instinct I have surges to the surface. Not because she’s Anniston’s sister or because it ties into finding Dad. It’s her. The way she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention. The way she blushes when I say something honest. I keep telling myself it’s the job, but the job doesn’t make my chest feel like this.”
“Sounds like you’re in it now,” Mack says. His voice stays steady, no judgment. “How did she take the heart-to-heart on the boardwalk?”
“She blushed. Hard. Then she pulled back into that professional shell. Asked if she could call Anniston tomorrow. She’s always looking out for her little sister. It’s one of the things that gets to me.”
Mack exhales. “Family first. I get it. Listen, you called for advice, so here it is straight. You need to keep your head clear. We still don’t know where Nash and Sin are. Dad’s trail is cold but getting warmer in places we don’t like. Victor Liotta’s name keeps coming up in connection with the people who grabbed them. Distraction could get someone hurt.”
I sit up straighter. “Have you heard anything new? Any updates on Nash, Sin, or Dad?”
“Everything’s the same as the last check-in,” Mack replies. The disappointment in his voice mirrors my own. “No new sightings. No ransom demands. No chatter on the usual channels. Banks is still digging through digital footprints. Crewe is running recon on a couple of properties. Colt’s training a new batch of guys and waiting for the word to move. It’s a waiting game right now, and I hate it as much as you do.”