Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 75720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I nodded, certain that nothing could take me away from Noah’s side. “Of course.”
He grabbed my hand in his, squeezed. My heart hammered, my fingers locking around Noah’s. It was in these dark moments that gave us the chance to prove ourselves to each other. I wasn’t about to let him go through any of this alone.
“I’m going to go meet with my sister,” Yvette said with her keys already jingling in her hand. She came over and wrapped Noah up into a hug, but he didn’t let go of my hand. “Stay strong, Noah. We’re going to figure this out.”
He nodded. His bottom lip twitched, and I could tell he currently had his molars clamped down on the inside of his cheek. She got into her car and drove down the gravel road, kicking up a small dust cloud in her wake as she pressed down on the gas pedal.
It was just Noah and the boys left. Tristan sighed, his brows dipping downward in the same direction as his frown. “Are you two good? Want one of us to go with you?”
“I think we’ll be okay,” Noah said. “Thanks, though. I’m sorry any of you even have to worry about this. I hate it. So much.”
“We hate it for you,” Tristan said, giving Noah a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Let’s just stay positive. At least we have someone to point to now. We know who to be careful with.”
“Tristan’s right.” Eric stepped forward. He was about five inches taller than both of them, his shoulders broad and his beard thick. They were all in their midtwenties, but Eric carried himself like someone much older. It was likely all the shit he had seen when he used to be a cop, which got me wondering why he gave in his badge at such an early age. “We’ve got a clear suspect. Maybe he’s made a mistake already, and now that we know it’s him, we can tie those two things together. Just hang out in that other cabin you’ve got for a couple of days. Let’s see if we can sort this out. Tristan and I can do a little drive around your block and see if we can spot anything suspicious.”
“You don’t have to do that. I really don’t want either of you guys getting hurt.”
“The only person who’s at risk of getting hurt here is Robby.” Eric’s light brown eyes lit with anger, his nostrils flaring. He turned to me, a hand on my elbow. “Keep him safe, alright?”
I nodded, although Noah huffed next to me. “Jake asked me to kill a cockroach last week. I think you should be telling me to keep him safe.”
“Wait, and you killed it?” Tristan asked with an arched brow.
“Of course not. Jake ended up throwing a shoe at it from across the room and managed to hit it. But still.”
That got the four of us laughing, some of the icy fear that had coated us beginning to crack. Laughter had a way of making the sun shine bright, even if there was an active rainstorm pouring down on you.
We said our goodbyes to Eric and Tristan, the mood slipping back into somber as we got into our car. I’d already gotten all of Noah’s bags from inside and had put them in the trunk, not wanting him to have to step foot in that place again. It made my skin crawl. Such a beautiful and picturesque home now looked twisted and monstrous, as if the ever-spanning glass windows belonged to the eyes of a hungry spider, spinning a dangerously elaborate web while its fangs dripped with venom and its hairy legs rubbed together in excitement.
“Come on,” I said, putting a hand on Noah’s shaking leg. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Please,” he said and dropped his head back on the headrest, eyes shut but tears leaking from the corners.
29
NOAH BARNES
The other cabin was a forty-five-minute drive away, although I wished it were further. As in countries further. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, even as we drove in a heavy silence through the winding mountain roads. The window was cracked open, a hiss of fresh air circulating through the car. Outside, the day appeared to be one of the prettiest ones yet. The sky was a sapphire blue and dotted with a couple of clouds, looking as if they were placed there with a paintbrush. The trees still had most of their summer leaves, although some were already started shifting into orange and brown, adding another splash of color from the brush.
It served as an extreme contrast to the storm that raged inside me, with lightning bolts striking at my spine and hurricane-force winds rattling through my ribs.
“This it?” Jake asked as he drove up a small driveway, the cabin tucked between two larger ones.