Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
"More planning?" she asks with a light chuckle that sounds more like defeat than humor. "I could go into labor today, and I don't even have diapers."
"Sounds like you need a baby shower," I offer with a smile.
She shakes her head. "It's bad luck to celebrate a child before it's born. Something bad might happen."
"Okay," I say, not wanting to step on toes. "Then we get some things for now, and celebrate those babies after you get them back home. How about that?"
Her smile is quick, and it fades just as quickly. "The women here don't have a lot of money, and I can't invite people from my old life."
"We can give everyone the chance to participate," I say. "If they can, they will, no obligation."
She shifts, pressing her hands into the arm of the chair. "I swear the babies are doing gymnastics on my bladder. I'll be right back."
"I'll make a note to add a trampoline to the registry," I joke.
She laughs hard, a smile I haven't seen in days on her face. "Oh, don't. I'll make a mess on your floor."
When she leaves the office, I shoot a quick text to Victoria asking her about a registry.
Victoria: Use Tiny Treasures Boutique. They have a great selection.
Thankfully, when Traci returns, she hasn't lost her excitement.
"I found the perfect place for all your baby's needs," I tell her, turning around my computer monitor. "It's local, and they have a million cute things. Wanna shop?"
Chapter 23
Nyx
As stupid as I think it is to have to spend a minimum of six hours not working before heading back, I know there's a purpose to it.
I can stay awake for days and days, but being able to function at full capacity without any rest is a different story. The last thing I want is to demand that I personally keep an eye on Juliet, only to be too tired to react as it would require to keep her safe. I don't know that I could live with myself if something happened to her because I was too tired to handle business.
I'm bone-tired when I make it through the gate, and dragging my feet as I walk up the steps to the clubhouse. I know better than to let myself believe that exhaustion will let me sleep, but I know rest will be required to sit outside Juliet's apartment again tonight.
If only Kincaid and the others would allow me to make a quick trip to the East Coast, we could all get better rest. I could even try my hardest not to kill the motherfucker, although I realize my own limitations in not putting a hole right through the middle of his head.
Maybe prison isn't such a bad idea. The places are just full of people who need to be removed from existence.
I huff, knowing how tired I have to be to consider incarceration as a good plan to help end the suffering of women by taking out their abusers.
I'm on full alert when I walk inside, noticing a bustle of activity in the conference room.
I head in that direction, the weariness in my bones taking a back seat.
"What's going on?" I ask Kincaid from the doorway.
"Max tracked down the PI that Whitmore is working with," he says. "You coming?"
"Wouldn't miss it," I say, grateful he isn't asking about my required six-hour break. "How long will it take?"
I don't want Juliet to step out of Juniper House and not be there to see her home. I made a promise, and there are very few things in this world that would make me break my word.
"Not long," Kincaid answers. "We'll be back before dark."
"Perfect," I say.
"Let's go then," Kincaid says, making me think they were just waiting for me to get back to head out, and that, above most everything else I've experienced since joining the New Mexico team, makes me feel like a valued member.
"Where are we headed?" I ask once we're all loaded up in the SUV.
Shadow is driving, and as always, Kincaid is in the front passenger seat. I'm behind Shadow with Hound beside me. Griffin and Harley are in the third row. Six men for one PI visit seems like overkill, but I fully understand how cooperative someone can be when faced with this many threats.
"We're headed to Denver," Kincaid answers. "I know you were up all night. Try to get some rest."
Normally, it would be impossible to sleep in a moving vehicle, and that's after twenty years in the military and always having to be aware of your surroundings, but I close my eyes, knowing I'm safe.
I scan my body, starting at my head, and relax each group of muscles as I breathe.
I get some rest, but don't fall into a deep enough sleep that my body can't tell when we stop.