Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
I stand. “Good. Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me for protecting my own daughter,” Andrew points out, looking closely at me. “Fate’s a funny thing, isn’t it?”
I know he’s talking about more than Violet here. He’s talking about us, the fact we’re even having this conversation, the fact we’re even together.
“Yeah,” I grunt, walking toward the door, but I’m not laughing.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Violet
No sleep, plenty of time to think. I return to Luke’s words.
That’s what you did to me. Came into my life and changed everything.
They’ve tugged at the hope in my heart, plucking strings like an instrument, daring me to wish he was echoing the dreams I’m keeping buried deep. He doesn’t want me less because I’m a virgin.
Should I let him pay the guidance counselor a visit? Wouldn’t that be justice?
Not being able to sleep also gave me time to think about something else. It’s been such a rush since we left the house, but I keep returning to that moment Luke took off his mask, and the way Dad gasped… Maybe it’s nothing, but I don’t think so.
I find Dad sitting at the kitchen table. If it wasn’t for the fact we’re on the run, this would be a beautiful place to take a break, the morning sunlight filling the room through several large windows, a fire burning in the hearth, flickering its heat across the open-plan area. Dad’s reading a book.
“Where did you find that?” I ask.
“It was in my suitcase from our last trip,” Dad replies, placing the paperback on the table. “Remember the lake?”
I smile as memories return to me, sitting lakeside and disappearing into a novel, Dad taking laps in the water, the rest of the world forgotten.
“I guess this is a different kind of trip,” I murmur, sitting.
“You could say that again,” Dad says with a sigh. “I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
“You’re going through it, too,” I tell him.
We say nothing for a while, sitting in the silence, and then I take my shot.
“You recognized Luke when he took his mask off.”
Dad grabs the table with both hands and leans back. It’s his instinctive reaction, as if he’s going to jump to his feet and walk away. Then he corrects himself and stays where he is, looking closely at me.
“What makes you say that?”
“I’m right, aren’t I? Dad, come on. Your reaction just told me everything I need to know. Do you really expect me to believe that Luke had a change of heart?”
A flush creeps up Dad’s neck. It’s a sight I don’t see often. I remember it from a few times in my life, one of them being when I told him about the guidance counselor, when I dragged up the pain from deep inside and showed it to him. All the agony laid bare.
“Violet…”
“He’s not a stranger, is he?”
“You should focus on keeping yourself together.”
“What does that mean?” I snap. “Keeping myself together?”
“Your mind. Your mood. Everything. Don’t worry about me and Luke.”
“So, there is something? I’m right. I went over and over it last night. It was all so hectic … but you know him, and he knows you.”
“Violet.” Now he stands, and the chair makes a screak noise on the floor. “You can’t ask me about this. You can’t… I’m here. I’m your father. I’m doing everything I can, so we make it out of this in one piece. But you can’t ask about this.”
“So, there is a this?” I snap. “There is something going on.”
Dad grabs the back of the chair and slams it. I recoil at the noise. I’ve never seen him like this, not even when I told him about the guidance counselor.
“This isn’t the time for this conversation.”
I bolt to my feet. “I’ve been dragged from my home, dragged from school. Any second, mafia men could kick down that door and… and do you know how insane that is to be thinking? The mafia is after us. You hid the truth about your work, and now you’re hiding the truth about this, whatever the heck it is.”
A vein pulses in Dad’s neck. “You need to focus on—”
“Yes or no, is Luke a stranger to you?”
Dad paces over to the window, staring out at the forest. I’m not sure what happens if the mafia attacks while Luke is gone. Hopefully, he won’t be away for long. It’s more than the prospect of being attacked, of course. So much more. Just being near him is like a drug.
Dad has his back to me. “Dad, should you be standing by the window?” I murmur.
“Luke showed me the safe room before he left,” Dad replies. “There are sensors on the perimeter. If the alarm goes off, I’m to take us to the safe room until he returns.”
I knew my man wouldn’t leave without making sure I’m safe first.