Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
She wasn’t here.
She wasn’t taken.
She just wasn’t home.
I tried to suck in a steadying breath, but my lungs burned.
If she wasn’t home, maybe she was already with friends or family. Maybe she was in a busy coffee shop or at whatever her other job was. Safe.
I knew that Fallon would have gotten in touch with at least Brooks and his father already. From there, the phone tree would spread out.
Someone would text Gracie.
So if she was at work or something, she would know to stay put, to wait for someone to escort her to the clubhouse or Hailstorm.
Hell, for all I knew, Hailstorm was activated and sending their little paramilitary troops out to scoop all the girls and kids up already.
It wasn’t my job or my place to find and rescue Gracie. Not when I’d been the one to put her in danger. Not when being around me continued to put her at risk.
I wasn’t being logical right then, though.
All I could think was that if I was there, I could stand between her and a bullet. I could absorb them all for her, keep her safe.
I made my way back to the door when something sitting on the mail table caught my eye.
There it was.
Her card for her party planning business.
With a number.
But, more importantly, an address.
That was all I needed.
I pounded pavement back to my bike, peeled out of the parking lot, and made my way back across town.
I was going to get her safe.
She had to fucking be safe.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Gracie
“Promise me you won’t do anything too crazy,” I said on my phone as I went up the steps at the office so I didn’t lose the call in the elevator.
“I will make no such promises,” Layna said, as I knew she would.
“Fine. But don’t make anyone have to fly out there to bail you out.”
“I can probably manage that. And while I’m away, I need something from you.”
“Oh, okay. Sure. What is it?”
“I need you to go to the clubhouse—”
“Okay,” I prompted when she paused.
“Walk down the hallway… open the door… go in… lock it behind you… and ride Perish until you see through space and time.”
“What?” I sputtered. Actually sputtered. Coffee and everything. I should have known better than to drink something while talking to Layna.
“Oh, please.” I could hear her eye roll.
“There’s nothing—”
“I know the walk of a man with blue balls, Gracie. And the look of a woman’s top when it’s been yanked down.”
“It’s not—”
Not what?
Not what she thought? It was.
Not going to happen again? That was probably true, as much as it pained me to admit.
“It is. I mean, that man was watching you dance like you were the most precious thing he’s ever seen.”
“Layna, please,” I said, closing my eyes tight as I leaned against the wall at the top of the stairwell. “Don’t make this worse.”
“Make what worse?”
“Look, whatever may or may not have happened,” I started, and reminded myself that it was more ‘may not have’ than it was ‘may have,’ “it’s over.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
There was a long pause.
“Did he say that?”
“Sort of. He said he was no good and that there were rules for a reason.”
Layna’s snort was possibly the only thing that could make my lips curve up right then.
“Don’t you just hate it when men think they not only know what’s best for you, but can make decisions for you?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, blinking back the stupid, useless tears. I was going to get my tear ducts removed if they didn’t stop it.
“Want me to turn around, catch a cab, and come back to beat his ass for you?”
“No.” Then, with a little more conviction, “No. It’s for the best. It was just, you know, a little attraction. Likely just because he saved my life. I mean, he isn’t even my type.”
“I’ll say this with all the love in my heart, Gracie Goose, you have shit taste in men.”
“I want to object to that,” I said.
“But you know I’m right.”
“I do not have a good track record.”
“Can I just make one little suggestion and then I’ll shut up about it? Mostly because I need to board this flight, because you know I have a lot to say…”
I ignored the three bleeps my phone let out. Incoming texts. Likely from caterers. I could deal with them later.
“Okay.”
“I’ve seen you with all your boyfriends in the past. Even the ones you loved who claimed to love you. And I’m not saying this next part to be harsh, just to give you a perspective shift…”
“Alright.”
“I’ve never seen any of them look at you with the wonder I’d seen on Perish’s face. Just… don’t disregard that. Okay. The gate agent is giving me the stink eye. I have to go.”
“Call or text me as soon as you land.”
“Will do. Love you, Goose.”
“Love you too.”