Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Ten minutes early,” the guy said to him.
“Did the shipment come in?” Hale asked him.
“Yeah, it’s been put up, and orders went out. Ransom is at the office, handling the other issues.”
“Once I drop her at Linc’s, I’ll head over.”
Drop me at Linc’s? Was that a person or a place?
The guy’s eyes flickered over to me again, as if assessing me and my blazer, which I was clutching closed like my life depended on it. “She annoying?”
If I wasn’t being held against my will by Hale, then I’d take offense to that. Right now, I couldn’t care less what some cowboy thought of me.
“No, Snow’s not much of a talker,” Hale told him.
The guy’s eyebrows shot up. “Snow? That’s her name?”
Hale shrugged. “She’s fucking pale. It fits. Get her suitcase from the cargo and load it in the vehicle.”
Okay, so maybe that did sting. I wasn’t a tanner. But “fucking pale” was a little harsh.
The other guy laughed as he headed back toward the plane. I hadn’t realized my carry-on had come with us. Hale opened the door and glanced back at me.
“Get in,” he said, sounding bored.
I once again considered that running option, but they had a vehicle and could catch me easily enough. It would only make this worse for me. With a glare in his direction, I climbed into the back awkwardly, so as to not let go of my jacket and flash either man.
“Scoot over unless you’re planning on sitting in my lap.”
I hadn’t realized he was getting in the back with me. Fantastic. Just what I wanted. More of Hale Carver. Sighing, I moved as far over as I could, then reached for my seat belt to buckle up.
My fender-bender scenario was a bust. Hale apparently didn’t drink and drive. How law-abiding of him. He must choose the crimes he would commit carefully.
The other guy opened the back and I heard my suitcase being put inside.
“Oz back from Alabama?” Hale asked the other guy.
“Yeah, got back today. That issue was settled.”
How far were we from Alabama? I looked around as we drove away from the landing strip and onto a main road. It looked like the southeast. I’d flown through here enough. But what part? It was going to be dark soon, and I’d not be able to tell much.
When the younger man was in the driver’s seat he glanced back at Hale through the rearview mirror.
“How was Opal?”
“Good,” Hale replied.
“I need to get to DC and see her,” he said.
“Yeah, you do.”
Opal. Was that his daughter? Did he really have one? And if he did, then this guy could be one of his sons. But he was here, helping Hale with my abduction. It didn’t seem like something a man would involve his kid in.
“So, uh, Snow,” the guy driving said.
“Bay,” I immediately corrected him.
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Bay,” I said.
“Oh, right. Bay, ever been to Mississippi before?”
Mississippi. Was that where we were going? Or were we already there?
“Uh, yes. At least, I’ve been there briefly for connections. But not many,” I replied.
“Haven’t told her where she is,” Hale stated, sounding annoyed.
The guy glanced in the rearview mirror and winced. “Oops.”
Hale shrugged. “Doesn’t fucking matter. She was gonna figure it out the minute we hit the interstate.”
The other guy went back to watching the road. “How long she staying?”
Hale turned his head and looked at me. I didn’t turn to meet his gaze. “As long as it takes for her to be of value. She’s gonna have to talk though.”
What did he mean “of value”? How was I supposed to be of value?
“I told you, I don’t know Mr. McKennon,” I snapped.
“Stop with the bullshit, Snow. Calling him by the wrong name doesn’t make you look innocent. It makes you look stupid. Real fucking stupid.”
Fifteen
Hale
By the time Than pulled into the gates that led to Linc Shephard’s house, I was past the annoyed point. Ready to hand over the woman beside me and be done with it. I’d been sent to do a job, and it was finished. She was Linc’s problem now. At least he wouldn’t struggle not to check out her ass and tits. He was happily married, as fucking weird as that still was.
My youngest son, Than, glanced back at me, then gave Bay an almost-apologetic look. He’d gotten soft. Being in love had made him weak with females. Oh, who was I kidding? Than had always been weak when it came to women. Feeling sorry for them and shit. Sensitive, like his mother.
“You need a ride home?” he asked me.
“No. Not sure how long this is gonna take,” I told him, opening the door to get some distance between me and the woman beside me.
Why the hell did she smell so damn good? She’d just gotten off a flight from Australia, for fuck’s sake. She shouldn’t smell like some sweet treat. Dammit.