Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Then Seth forced himself to move, locking the unit with trembling fingers. When the padlock clicked into place, he ducked back into the hallway, the leather container clutched tightly under his arm.
The building felt too quiet. Too still. He didn’t like it. Every footstep echoed. Every camera lens seemed to track his movement.
He was alone.
Unarmed.
And carrying something people had killed for. Something people had died for.
The gun in the pouch might work. But after sitting in a storage unit for sixteen years, it could just as easily misfire. Seth couldn’t risk finding out the hard way.
His pounding heart roared in his ears as he forced his legs to carry him toward the exit. He tried to keep his breathing even, tried to keep his unsteady legs from giving out.
Stay alert. Keep your head on a swivel. Get home.
It seemed like half an eternity before Seth pushed through the facility’s back door and stepped into the parking lot. The morning sun hit his face, too bright, too normal. The gate was still open. His mother’s SUV sat where he’d left it, maybe thirty yards away.
But the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He felt eyes on him.
A sound that didn’t belong echoed across the lot—a scrape of gravel, a shift of weight.
Seth’s head snapped toward it. He saw nothing except rows of storage units casting long shadows.
Too many places for people to hide. Too many possibilities for this to go sideways. But he couldn’t afford to be cautious; he had to get the fuck out of here.
He started moving again, faster now. The pouch pressed against his ribs as he scanned left, right, behind.
Another sound. Closer this time.
His hand twitched toward his pocket—toward his phone. He couldn’t call 911. Anyone—everyone—at the precinct could be dirty. Seth couldn’t risk it.
Nor could he text Beck and tell him to get everyone the fuck out of that house. Any contact risked tipping Gene off. One wrong word, one panicked message, and Specter would know Seth had found something damning.
And a cornered man with that much power and everything to lose? He’d go scorched earth, burn it all down.
Seth couldn’t risk that, either. He had to get home. Had to walk back into that house and pretend he’d found nothing. That the storage unit had been locked, inaccessible. Empty.
He had to lie to Gene’s face and pray the bastard believed him.
Move. Now.
Seth broke into a jog, closing the distance to the SUV. Twenty yards. Fifteen.
Then he heard pounding footsteps. Fast. Heavy. Directly behind him.
Seth’s instincts screamed. He twisted sharply, clutching the pouch tighter under his arm, eyes scanning for cover—a corner, a doorway, anything.
But there was nowhere to go.
And someone he couldn’t get eyes on yet was coming for him.
Midday sun slanted in through the kitchen window as Heavenly dried another serving platter.
The last few of Grace’s friends from church had stopped by after the later mass, staying only long enough to sip coffee and congratulate the newlyweds. Now they’d all gone. Just family remained.
In the family room, Beck stacked the last of the folding chairs against the wall while Hudson sat curled on the couch, thumbs flying across his phone, completely absorbed in whatever game he played.
The house had settled into an easy post-brunch lull.
Heavenly exhaled, but she couldn’t seem to settle in the quiet. She’d finally breathe when she was on the plane. Another eight hours…
Grace sighed contentedly. “Brunch was lovely, but I’m glad it’s over. Now I can relax a little.”
Carl set more dirty dishes beside her and grinned. “You’ll be planning another party tomorrow.”
“Hush!” Grace laughed, playfully swatting his arm with her soapy fingers.
Heavenly watched them with a smile, the thought she’d held at bay all morning drifting back in.
Pregnant.
Though Beck and Seth had told her a mere six hours ago, her feet still hadn’t touched the ground.
She was going to have a baby. Their baby.
The knowledge still didn’t feel real. But it was. A tiny life was growing inside her right now, invisible and perfect. And terrifying.
Heavenly’s hand drifted toward her stomach before she caught herself. She didn’t dare give their secret away, especially with Grace right beside her. Instead, Heavenly pretended to brush a non-existent crumb off her slacks and dropped her hand.
Some part of her wanted to tell Grace in the hopes her face would light up with pure, unguarded joy the way it had when the woman had first hugged Hudson. But Heavenly couldn’t. Not until Seth told her the truth.
A truth that might have his mother shunning their child. A truth that might cost Seth everything.
Heavenly’s chest tightened, but she did her best to tuck the worry away as she turned back to the dishes.
When she turned, she caught Beck watching her, his gaze steady and warm. When their eyes met, something passed between them—a quiet understanding that didn’t need words. A sweetly whispered secret.