Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Adora was nowhere to be found.
“Maybe she’s a drunk,” Lucas says, poking her, but she doesn’t react. “Or drugged?” he suggests.
“I need to get Jerome out of here.”
“There is blood on the floor, and it’s not coming from this woman.” Lucas pokes her again.
I look around. The apartment is bare, apart from the essentials. It’s small too.
Lucas pulls out his phone and presses call. Merci’s voice comes on straight away.
“It’s the middle of the night, Lucas. Your woman is not with me, and I’m tired.”
“Yeah, yeah. You know Adora’s son, right?”
“Yes, why?” she asks, sounding more awake.
“Okay, good. Can you come to her new apartment and look after him?”
“Why on earth do I need to look after Jerome? Where is Adora? She would never leave him in the middle of the night with you.”
“I’m great with kids,” Lucas argues.
“Yeah, whatever. I’m leaving now. Where is Joey?”
“Here,” I say loud enough so she can hear.
“You know where she lives?” she asks. “She asked that I not tell you.”
“I always knew where she lived, Merci.”
“Right, okay… not going to delve into that deeper. I am on my way.” The phone disconnects as the woman at the table stirs, groaning and turning her head. When she opens her eyes, she takes one look at Lucas and screams.
“Shit.” He slaps her across the face. “Fuck, lady, you can’t scream. A kid is sleeping down the hall.”
“Lucas…” I groan.
“What? I didn’t bitch-smack her hard enough to knock her out, just enough to knock some sense into her.” The woman now sits there quietly, face buried in her hands.
Lucas starts to pace as I pull a chair out and sit across from her, then I begin tapping my fingers on the table.
“Blood over here too,” he says, pointing to a spot near the door.
“They were standing there when she stabbed him,” the woman says. She’s young, much younger than Adora.
“Who did?”
“His wife,” she answers.
“Adora?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Smart girl,” Lucas adds. “Though, next time, she needs to go for the nuts. Guarantee he won’t be standing after taking a knife to that area.” The girl’s eyes go wide. “How old are you?” Lucas asks her.
“Eighteen.”
“And why are you here, in Adora’s apartment, asleep on her table?”
She looks at the wine glass and nods to it. “I saw him put something in mine and a lot in hers,” she replies.
“And you said nothing?” I question, surprised. I get no reply as a knock sounds at the door. Lucas opens it to find Merci, still in her pajamas, on the other side. She steps in and takes a look around.
“Where is the kid?” she asks.
“In his bed.”
“I’m going to take him to mine.” I stand and throw her my keys.
“Take him to mine… he’s familiar with the place.” Merci takes the keys with a nod, and Lucas follows her down the hall. They come out with a sleeping Jerome cradled in Lucas’s arms and head to Merci’s car.
“How did he know where to find her?” I ask the woman.
“An older lady. Adora’s sister told him that she was living with her. But when he got there, she wasn’t there,” she replies, and I clench my hands at my side.
My phone buzzes with a text from Keir, telling me our mother is okay and that she is sleeping and needs rest. He asks if I need him, but I tell him to stay with her.
“And who are you to him?”
“He hired me as a nanny,” she answers straight away.
“Did you choose to be his nanny?” I ask, and her eyes cast down. “Do you want to continue to help him?” I rephrase.
“No.”
“So why do you?”
“He… he owns me.”
“Not anymore, he doesn’t,” I say, standing. Lucas walks back in. “Where would he have taken her?”
“I’m not from here, but I did hear he bought some land.”
“Land?” Lucas asks, confused.
“Yeah, at a construction place.” Lucas strides off, messaging Piper as I continue to talk with the woman. “It was recent. I overheard him on the phone.”
“It doesn’t bother you that he wants Adora?”
She shakes her head.
“He’s nicer to me when she’s around.”
Well, I didn’t think that would have been the case.
“He’s madly in love with her. Would kill anyone for her, even their own son.” Her voice is shaky.
“Would he kill Adora?”
“Yes. If he can’t have her, he won’t let anyone else have her either,” she answers without any consideration. To her, it’s a fact, and it is easy to believe.
“Fuck.”
“I think he is going to kill her. He said on the phone as we pulled up that he has to get it done.” She shrugs, her hands trembling. “I assume the worst with him.”
“You should,” I tell her.
“I have nowhere to go,” she whimpers as we go to leave.
“You can stay here. No one will care,” Lucas says as I turn around to look at her once more.