Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
All I can do is shake my head. "We didn't have a good relationship. In the beginning, he tried to look like a better man than he was in front of my father, but he's always been Damien. He never let me forget about the time he found us together. It was as if being promised to him and spending time with you was a betrayal he could never forgive."
He holds me tighter as if my words bring on a wave of regret for him, but we can't worry about any of that right now.
"He had cameras in the house," Casper says from the other side of the room.
"Yes," I answer. "They were all over and I often wondered if he had hidden ones too."
"No," Casper says. "He had cameras up in the house the guys just went into down the street. We tracked the IP address. Does the address 1945 Palisades Drive mean anything to you?"
"Where?" I ask.
"Here in Bridgeport."
"No," I tell him.
"It's very possible he just wanted to get us to town," Hemlock says.
"He'll know we're coming. He knows how big of a team we have," Nolan says.
"Think he'll run?" Hemlock asks, and Nolan looks at me as if I know the answer.
"He's a very prideful man," I say. "But I can't be sure. His confidence can only take him so far before reason kicks in."
"So you think he'll take off?" Hemlock prods.
I shrug, heartbroken all over again. "I don't know."
"He'll stay," Nolan says. "He wants to finish what he started eight years ago. There isn't a cell in Damien Gaines's body that would argue he'll lose. It's that misplaced confidence that will get him killed."
"I have two teams down the street ready to roll," Casper says. "They're heading back this way to pick you two up. I only pulled guys that haven't gone inside, so maybe it'll give us a small advantage if he's watching. We haven't found but one outside camera, and it's pointing at the front porch. I'll make sure the guys move in a rotation, in and out, and maybe he'll think it's just business as usual over there."
"I need to go," I tell him, standing from the couch.
"No," both Nolan and Hemlock say at the same time.
"I can't be worried about Eli and you too," Nolan adds. "I need to know you're safe, so I can focus all my energy on bringing our son home safely. Please tell me you'll stay here, Peach."
I look up into his eyes, knowing I want nothing more than to argue with him, but I'm well aware of my limitations. The time I've spent with him and these other men makes it much more obvious that there's nothing I can do to battle Damien on my own.
I'm well and truly irrelevant in this battle.
"I trust you to bring him back to me safely."
He blinks down at me, and I can see what he's not saying.
"Promise me," I demand. "Promise me."
"Peach," he whispers, his voice rough and full of gravel.
"Promise me," I cry, fresh tears flowing down my face.
His hand is warm on my face, and I fight the urge to swipe it away along with the tears showcasing my weakness.
"See you soon, Peach."
"If you could take Nyx with you," Casper says as Nolan and Hemlock walk toward the front door.
"We will," Hemlock says, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
"That fucker scares the shit out of me," Casper whispers once the front door is pulled closed behind them.
Max chuckles, but he doesn't disagree.
"I can't guarantee what you'll see," Max says as he stands from the computer. "But you're more than welcome to sit on this side."
I debate taking the man up on his offer. I was terrified of the video and, when Damien put the gun to Eli's head, that I was going to witness my son's murder.
"I can't," I say, holding my hands up, and it makes me feel like a coward.
Eli is alone with a crazy man, and I'm not even brave enough to be with him in that way.
I also need a chance to follow through with my own plan. Not every weapon that was unloaded into the house was taken to the other location. I've had my eye on a handgun on the kitchen counter every time I've gone in there to get something to drink, and I know what I'll have to do if something terrible happens in that other house.
I take a seat back on the sofa because waiting is all any of us can do.
I know Nolan is right. Damien has mentioned him more than once as a means to hurt me in the past. He always told me that Nolan renounced his love for me right before he died. He claimed he swore he hated me and wished he'd never met me. He went so far once as to tell me that "Luke" confessed to using me the entire time as if I were a game to him.