Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” I cried. “It’s been dead end after dead end for weeks. These shits aren’t that good or that lucky. How are they always a step ahead of us?”
Tension rippled through his jaw. “Because we just found out the game we’re playing. They’ve known from the beginning.”
I sighed, getting back up. It wouldn’t do to be late to class on the first day. “There’s one thing that should help us. Remember one of the Black Letter Crew smokes. That wasn’t Zoey unless she developed the habit recently.”
“Never saw her with a cigarette in hand. I also didn’t smell any smoke when she was hanging us on that bridge. This fact does help us narrow down the others.”
“At least we’re finally making some progress,” I said. “Cairo has not been patient. I know he spends his nights either searching for his dad, or trying to get into that safe and figure out what started all this. He must’ve tried a million combinations by now.”
“I’ve heard you liken him to a wolf, but Cairo is a shark, de Souza. If they stop moving, they die.”
That image followed me throughout the day, stealing the focus my classes didn’t really have. Cairo had to get up every day and do something to find his dad, even if it was futile. This was the same person who, as a child, tried to take on his burden of being a vigilante cop. He looked after his drunk, depressed dad long after everyone else abandoned them. Cairo didn’t give up on the people who earned his loyalty.
That’s why he’s so angry. He’d never have given up on Rainey, but he was forced to. Because he lost her before they ever met.
In between thoughts of my wolf who incorrectly believed I was no longer his mate, I kept flashing to those nine people I picked out of a pile. Was Dante among them? The person who killed Zoey, abducted Jack Sharpe, got that shit stain Davidson promoted to acting sheriff, and held an anvil over my guys’ heads.
I left my last class of the day and cut through Homer Green. Students basked in the evening sun—stretching out on blankets, passing around textbooks, slurping lattes, and laughing it up like it wasn’t just last semester that the Crows kicked off a brawl in this very spot.
Everyone went on like it was just another blip in their perfect college lives, but somewhere...
My eyes narrowed, scanning all the laughing, carefree faces. Somewhere you’re hiding among all these normal, happy students. Waiting. Watching me. Pulling our strings.
I understood why Jacques wouldn’t let me know the names and faces that went with the deep secrets and painful truths. I even agreed with him. But right then more than ever I wished I knew which faces to pick out of the crowd. The night they came for us, I saw only their eyes.
I was me again. My memory was back. The next time I looked, I’d know, and they will pay.
Shaking myself, I forced myself to continue on. My phone buzzed within sight of our place.
Roan: I’m in bed right now and for some reason you’re not handcuffed to it. Explain this cosmic wrong to me.
The beginnings of a smile teased my lips. Roan just gave me a great idea.
I walked the path leading to our place, pausing before the mailbox. Dropping the lid, I was almost unsurprised to see what was waiting for me.
Damn them for getting smart and using the mail. Damn them for figuring out the police were watching the drop boxes.
I withdrew the black letter.
Damn them for the evil, lurking monsters they are. And damn me for not seeing who they were until it was too late.
I glanced at the house but made no move to go in. The letter was addressed to The Bedlam Boy House.
Seems I overestimated how attached you are to Jack Sharpe. You left him in my company over the holidays, and I can assure you he didn’t enjoy himself. I figured you’d have made your move against Ellis by now, but I guess I have to spell it out for you.
We’ll find out how much you care about him, because if you don’t do exactly what I say, the sheriff’s body will be next to hang in the square within a ring of fire.
The latest of Steven Ellis’s tools has arrived on campus, but he’s gotten smarter. He’s sending disposables to continue his work, and if they’re sacrificed, he’ll just send someone else. Six months gives him plenty of time to help people remember that whatever his sons did, the Bedlam Boys have done worse. The return of Crystal Canyon will free them from their rule.
That makes Ellis just as much your enemy as he is ours. Word is Foundry is planning another community event to raise support for the vote. I don’t care how you do it, but you’re to sacrifice him before he gets up before the crowd.