Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
At the sound of a gun firing, Casey reached for his weapon, and it was then he realized a bullet had hit the ground near him. He turned in the direction of the attack, and he should have known Gus Graves would be here. His father-in-law made it abundantly clear that he never liked him, although he never let it show at any family get-togethers.
This man loved his daughter. He was loyal.
Bolt held his hands up, showing that he wasn’t firing his weapon. Several of the club men came out, including his dad, but when they saw it was Gus, they all stopped. Gus loaded his shotgun, and he approached, holding it up, ready to fight.
“You know where Wen is, and I need to speak to her. Please, Gus, I know—”
“Mr. Graves,” Gus said. “My name is Mr. Graves.”
There was no point in arguing with him. Mr. Graves had told him the only way to stay on his good side was to make sure he never hurt Wen.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “But you need to tell me where Wen is.”
“Morwenna. Her name is Morwenna, and it is about time you learned to say her name.”
He let out a breath. Mr. Graves was one scary guy.
“Look, I need to talk to Wen, I mean, Morwenna.” He held his hands up and watched as Mr. Graves looked toward the small park.
Star was there, with the three kids, but they looked fine. They thought it was just a game. In time, they would learn any threat to take seriously, but as kids, they were not troubled by the action.
“Does she know?” he asked.
He looked at him a little taken aback. “About?”
“Your kids?” Mr. Graves said.
Casey felt how sick he had gotten. No one had ever outright told him that to his face. Although he knew all three were his, as he had the paternity tests, and he paid for everything. “No.”
“You make me fucking sick. You were never good enough for my daughter, and you’re still not good enough for my daughter. You piece of shit.”
“That’s enough,” Maverick said, coming over. “If this had been anyone else, you’d be dead already, Gus.”
“We all know that wouldn’t happen. My daughter deserved better than this, from all of you.” Mr. Graves turned toward Maverick. “I consider this a personal slight. You’ve been warned.”
Bolt didn’t know what that meant.
“Dad!”
“Don’t you fucking speak to me right now. Of all the men to piss off, Gus Graves is not the man you want as your enemy.” His father gave him one last disgusted look, turned on his heel, and left.
This was turning into a nightmare. If Mr. Graves was here, that meant Wen was at her parents’ place, and he needed to go and talk to her. He didn’t look at anyone, just made his way toward his bike, straddled his machine, and took off, heading into town.
Morwenna’s parents lived near the woods. He recalled spending so many long summers camping out with Wen. They would tell each other horror stories and ghost stories for days, if not weeks. They were some of the best times of his life. Mr. Graves would camp with them, and he would teach them both how to survive the great outdoors. He taught them to hunt, although Wen refused to kill any animal. They would shoot guns at tin cans, and just fun things.
The way his father-in-law looked at him, he knew it was going to take a miracle to get back into his good graces.
Arriving at their home, the front garden was absolutely pristine. Mr. Graves had long left the military, but his teaching hadn’t ended there. He still required order, but Willow, Wen’s mother, happened to also love things neat and clean. She was a good woman.
He parked his bike and made his way up to the main door, slamming his fist on the door.
“Wen, I know you’re in there. Come on. Come out. We need to talk.”
He stood and waited.
Nothing. The door didn’t open. There was no sign of anyone or anything.
And then, the door opened and he came face to face with Willow.
“Mrs. Graves, please, I need to speak to Wen.”
“Her name is Morwenna, and she is not here.”
“I know she is.”
“She left,” Willow said, “and I think it is time you left as well. I don’t want you here.”
“Mrs. Graves—”
“You were asked to never hurt her. That was all you had to do, and you couldn’t even do that,” she said.
“I’m so sorry.”
“You’ve hurt my daughter, angered my husband, and right now, I want you to leave, Casey. Now.” With that, she slammed the door right in his face.
This was not how he imagined this going. He had no idea where Wen could have gone. Stepping out of Mrs. Graves’s yard, he straddled his bike and took off to his and Wen’s house.