Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“Shut the fuck up.” Cade throws in his direction.
I giggle.
“Well, I’m so happy for you, Ciara. Seriously. This is awesome news.”
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be weird, being without the kids for a few nights, but I’m just so ready.”
“Better not go fallin’ in love with some professor or somethin’,” Spike teases, lightly. “I’m tryin’ to better myself and not commit murder.”
“I’ll try. But you know, they’re apparently pretty hot in that school...”
“Careful, tomcat,” He warns. “I can come with you and make sure you behave.”
“Calm down, Danny,” She grins. “I’m not about to fall in love. You’re enough hard work. Why would I want another one.”
He grins, devilish and cheeky.
God, I love these two.
“We should celebrate!” I say. “Bar tomorrow night?”
“You women need to stop drinkin’ and start doin’ more cookin’ or something,” Spike chimes in.
“Take your sexist ass and kick it for me,” I say to him. “We’re not house slaves.”
Spike chuckles. “Love it when you get feisty, precious.”
“We might be besties, Spike, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take you down.”
“Enough you two,” Cade cuts in. “You bicker like little fuckin’ children.”
“Come on,” I say to Ciara. “Come and tell me all about this new venture.”
I’m so damn happy for her.
So damn happy.
TAKING CADE’S HAND, I know it won’t make a single ounce of difference for what we’re about to do. Standing at the reception desk of the place where Clara is meant to be working, we have no idea if we’re on the right track or if we’re about to run into a wall. I hope we’ve been given information, and that all the hard work the club did in tracking Clara down was the right thing.
My chest feels heavy, like a weight is laying down over it.
I’m scared for him, but I’ll never let it show.
Deep down, I know he’s terrified, but as always, he keeps a calm and careful exterior.
The receptionist stares at him for a second, her eyes wide. I guess she probably hasn’t seen too many people like him come through these doors and he sure as hell stands out. His large black boots with chains, his ripped denim jeans, the tight black tee and that jacket that can cause more harm than good in the wrong place.
“Ah,” she murmurs, her eyes darting between him and me. “May I help you?”
“We’re here to see Mary Theodore,” Cade murmurs, his voice scarily smooth and husky. “She’s my sister.”
The woman nods, not even questioning his story.
She clearly doesn’t know a great deal about Clara, or she would probably know she has never mentioned a brother before.
Or maybe she has, who am I to assume.
“I’ll call her down. Please, take a seat.”
We move to the waiting chairs and sit down, my eyes don’t stray from the only door that leads to the large offices out the back. It’s some kind of accounting firm, which gives me hope that Clara has done something amazing with her life, and that maybe she came out of this with a happy ending.
The door opening has Cade and I pushing to our feet.
The woman I see coming before us doesn’t look a great deal like the only photo I’ve seen of her, but it’s definitely Clara. That stark resemblance to Cade is impossible to ignore. Her hair is lighter than his, with help from a hair stylist, and the blond locks fall around her shoulders. Her eyes are the same brilliant green and the way she holds her expression is so like his, I can’t help but feel a little warmth inside.
She’s only small and petite, but she looks healthy, she looks well-kept and well put together in her straight skirt, blouse, and flats.
Her eyes lock onto Cade’s, and she pauses, her lips parting, her eyes widening and her hand dropping to her side. For the longest moment, they just stare at one another, and the room feels heavy with so many unspoken words that if someone doesn’t speak soon, I might just run with how uncomfortable it is.
“Cade?”
Her voice comes out as a croaky rasp, her hand raising up to press against her chest as she stares at him.
“Long time, sister,” he murmurs, the emotion in his voice so heavy there is no way he can cover it.
“I need a minute,” Clara says to the person beside her. “Close my calls for the afternoon. This is urgent.”
The woman nods, turning and walking away.
Clara takes a step closer, her face still twisted in disbelief. “H-h-how did you find me?”
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Cade asks.
She nods, and we walk silently to a back room. When the door is closed and locked, Clara turns to Cade and steps forward, her fingers stretching out as she places her fingertips on his face. Eyes welling with tears, she stares at him for the longest moment, as if in full disbelief. “How are you here?”