Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Danno, better known as Daniel, just nodded and circled around his cruiser.
Castiel followed me inside.
By the time we made it to my office, I wasn’t surprised to find Phoebe there, sitting in my chair, waiting for me to arrive.
She was surprised that I had a guest, though.
Otherwise she might not have been twirling around in the chair like a five-year-old. Putting one foot on the ground, she’d spin it wildly, then pull her foot back up so that it would go faster.
She came to a stop when she noticed us standing in the doorway watching her, amusement on Castiel’s face and a look of relief on mine.
Her eyes were wide, and her head was bobbing on her shoulder as she tried to find her equilibrium again.
“Anyway, what happened?” Castiel finally asked.
I sighed, fighting a smile and pushed inside the small room, kicking out one of the guest chairs for Castiel to sit in while I leaned against the wall.
“I’ve been having fights, bad fights, all month,” I started. “Hell, if I’m being honest, it’s gone on for almost two, but I can’t tell if those were normal fights or fights related to what I learned today.”
I then went on to explain that Diane was offering the inmates payments in drugs and other stuff I hadn’t cared to ask for in exchange for starting fights, and even better if it happened to cause a riot.
“Why?” Castiel asked.
“Apparently she’s been paid by a woman,” I said.
“You forgot the part that the woman had a kid that looked ‘exactly like you,’” Phoebe said.
I turned to her. “I was getting there.”
“Well get there faster. I’m ready to go home. I want to take these pants off, and I want to lay down on my couch,” she snapped.
I felt my lips twitch. “You mean, you’re ready to go home and lay down on our couch.”
Her eyes went soft. “Yeah, that.”
I turned back to Castiel, who was watching us both with amusement.
“Anyway,” I said softly. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this all has to do with Ilsa.”
“I’ll get a sketch artist in and get Diane’s description of the woman,” Castiel stood. “And I’ll find out the rest. I’m sure there’s more.”
“She has these stacks of inmate meds that she faxes out at the end of the day,” Phoebe said softly. “You might check to see if there’s anything in there that might help you find out what more she was doing.”
Castiel nodded and stood to go. “I’ll do that, but I have to go. They won’t like holding her without knowing what they’re holding her for.”
With that, he was gone, and I was looking at Phoebe with a wary expression on my face.
“I have a few other things to sort out here,” I said softly. “Do you think you can go get Isa and get her dinner? Shit, this is hard.”
Phoebe stood and rounded my desk, walking straight to me.
“Even if you didn’t have me,” she said softly. “You have a whole club that’s willing to do just about anything for you. You’re not alone.” Then she pressed her mouth to mine. “And with me at your side, you won’t ever be by yourself, even if you’re club miraculously isn’t.”
I pulled her in for a hard and fast kiss.
“Love.” Kiss. “You.” Kiss.
She snickered and wrapped her arms as tight around me as she could and squeezed. “Love you, too.”
“This is such a mess.” I sighed.
“My guess is that she knew this was coming,” Phoebe said softly. “Ilsa must’ve known that things were about to go south for her, and she did the only thing she could, make your life difficult. Bonus points if you happen to die in the process.”
Rage once again started to churn in my belly.
I disentangled myself from her arms and started to make my way outside, only for Phoebe to latch onto my wrist and hold on tight.
I could’ve easily slipped free of her hold, but that wasn’t the point. This was Phoebe. My Fancy. I wouldn’t do that to her.
“Don’t,” she said softly. “This will work out. I know it.”
“This won’t work out,” I said softly. “She’s paying my staff to fuck with my prison. These men are some of the most dangerous men in the world. The only thing that keeps them in line is me and the guards. If she can figure out how to do this, I have no doubt in my mind that she can figure out other ways to fuck with me, too.”
Oh, how right I was.
And oh, how I wish I hadn’t been.
Chapter 19
I’ve never cleaned a crime scene, but I have cleaned out my car…so same thing, right?
-Phoebe to Bayou
Phoebe
I snuggled one of the twins—the clean one—to my chest and breathed in his baby scent.
My sister, who was bathing the non-clean one, started to laugh.