Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
London rested her hip against the plank fence, one hand on her abdomen. “He keeps looking to you for approval. The boy adores you,” she called to Chess.
My chest ached at the sobering reality of where Danny had been and what he’d been through. With his smile and excitement, the flush in his cheeks, a stranger wouldn’t know that his life began in the streets at age six and then ended up in Carlos’ compound.
I swallowed several times and took deep breaths. Jesus, it made me sick to think about those kids being trained for Vault. That Kai and Chess’s mother had started it with her own children and Carlos was part of that. I never knew. Not that I could’ve done anything, but I’d have tried. I’d have died trying and maybe that was why Carlos had kept that from me. Killing me was never an option for him. I was his obsession, had been since he saw me in the market that day.
I heard snorting and half smiled when Danny walked through the gate, head high with Bacon in his arms. “Chess, look. He let me carry him,” he said.
“Sure did,” Chess replied and climbed to her feet.
Then Chess and Danny spent the next hour coaxing Bacon with raisins to trot over the pole on the ground while London and I watched.
“Babe.” Kai strode up looking very business-like in black suit pants and a white and light blue pinstriped shirt, sleeves rolled up once, top two buttons undone.
I hadn’t heard him approach and it was unnerving how quiet these guys moved. Connor moved like that, too.
London turned and smiled. “Hey, hon, what are you doing here? I thought you were with Deck for the day.”
Kai stopped at the fence, brows raised as his eyes shifted from London to Bacon, who was currently trotting happily through the tunnel, his tiny curled tail wiggling as he emerged and snorted on the ground for his raisins.
Danny jumped up and down clapping, his russet eyes gleaming then he fell to his knees and hugged Bacon.
“A pig?” Kai questioned.
London leaned over the waist-high picket fence and looped her arms around his neck. His hand went to the back of her neck, disappearing in her hair. “Can we get one?”
Kai’s brows rose. “Are we talking about a pig or a kid?”
I couldn’t imagine Kai having a pet pig and if London was referring to wanting a child, well, I couldn’t imagine that either. Kai with a baby in his arms or changing diapers did not fit.
She shrugged. “I’m good with either or both.” He grunted and she stood on her tiptoes, her mouth going to his ear.
Whatever she whispered in his ear, he liked because he drew her in for a kiss. I looked away, but heard him say, “Always, braveheart.” Then his attention turned to me. “Deck wants to talk to you about Connor.”
I tensed, stomach dropping. “I don’t really have anything to tell him.” Well, there was nothing I would tell him.
Kai gently unhooked London’s arms from his neck and stepped back to open the gate. “Not an option, Alina. Deck is concerned and wants Connor found, which means we need everything.”
Connor didn’t want to be found.
Chess strode over, hands on her hips. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“Chess.” Kai nodded to his sister.
She gave an exasperated sigh then rolled her eyes and walked over and kissed his cheek. “Kissing your sister hello isn’t so hard, is it, Kai?”
Kai ignored her and was all business as he said to me, “Deck and the guys are meeting us at your place.” Then he turned to London, eyes softening. “You good?”
She nodded. “Yeah.” She glanced at me then back at Kai. “But maybe it would be helpful if I came with.”
“This is business and Deck specifically asked none of the girls be present.” He grinned. “I think he knew you’d say that, babe. And as much as I enjoy pissing him off, this isn’t the time.” He nodded to me. “We’re putting in the alarm today.”
An alarm to keep Connor out.
Not that it was needed. Connor said he was leaving.
My problem was going to be lying to people who had given me a new start, a chance at something nice.
When we arrived at my place, there was a silver SUV out front and a black motorcycle pulled up behind it.
My heart slammed into my ribcage and the cement that had been sitting in my stomach, dropped out.
Connor? His bike had been black, right?
Kai hadn’t even put the car into park before I had my door open and headed for the bike. But as soon as I was twenty feet away, I knew it wasn’t him even from behind.
Connor was taller, his body more defined. He also had this way he held himself when he sat. Even when he was on the drug, he was recognizable. He was assertive as if nothing could touch him. If there was something to hitch his leg up on, then he did, so he looked casual and unconcerned, but completely in control.