Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Her lips quirk up on one side. “I think I’d like that. Dr. Ward says I need to connect with people, not things. She thinks I should ask some local churches to see if they would help us clear out the trash.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” I tell her gently. “And just think, once you get your rooms cleared out, maybe you could help your mom with her house.”
Gwen sniffles and pulls her hand away from mine to swipe away a tear. “Gray said once the house gets cleaned back out, we can bring Mom back home. That we can hire a nurse to look after her. And with him being serious with you…” she trails off. “I thought I could move back in to take care of her.”
“I think she’d like that,” I assure her. “Then maybe we could fix it up. Redecorate and make it look nice.”
She nods. “Do you think Dad would come back home then?” Her eyes soften and she regards me with such an innocent look it makes my heart hurt. All I can think about is the way he forced Gray to eat his pet. The anger swells up inside me but I don’t let her see. Apparently she was too young to know what an asshole her father was to her brother.
“Maybe,” I say to placate her.
She starts babbling on about one of the paintings she’s working on. I nod and engage but my gaze keeps darting out the window.
Be brave.
Everything Gray does and says has a reason. Everything he does revolves around me.
Gwen continues to ramble. My eyes keep roaming the street outside when they land on something that makes my blood run cold. Across the street, a man leans against a sleek vehicle. He’s wearing a baseball cap and his head is lowered, hiding his face, but something in his stance is familiar. His body is larger and more filled out—as if he’s spent six years straight working out.
I know exactly how he found me too.
The newspaper article. My promotion was splashed all over one of the biggest newspapers in the country. Plain as day, he was told where I worked. All it would take is one phone call. I’d let the receptionist know earlier this morning that I was having brunch with Gwen at the best waffle house in the city. Our receptionist babbles a lot and probably mentioned this. So many careless moments led to this.
When he lifts his head and I lock eyes with familiar evil ones I know, I realize I have to get the hell out of here. Away from Gwen. Vaughn would destroy her like he once destroyed me.
“Gwen, sweetie,” I say, jerking my eyes back to hers. “I need to leave. You have to stay here for me. Okay?”
Her nose scrunches in confusion. “Why? What’s wrong? You’re white as a ghost.”
“Tell Gray I need him.”
“Violet,” she whines. “You’re scaring me.”
My eyes dart out the window and I see Vaughn stalking across the street with a purposeful look in his eyes. “Just promise you’ll call him right after I leave and make him find me.” I shove my phone down into my bra and shakily hand her my purse. “Keep this for me, please.”
I don’t wait for an answer. I bolt out of the restaurant, shoving past people along the way. The moment I step outside and the warm breeze whips around me, I’m chilled by a voice.
“Letty Spaghetti,” he chides. “You know I hate Hide and Seek.”
Terror claws its way up my throat, but I don’t fight him when he grips my elbow. Willingly, I walk with him across the street. He opens up the passenger door and closes it behind me once I’m seated. My gaze flits across the street and I’m thankful to see Gwen staying on her side of the road with her phone pressed against her ear. Vaughn slides into the driver’s seat and wastes no time peeling out into the busy traffic.
The silence is deafening.
I’m too afraid to look at him or speak to him. When I finally chance a peek, he’s gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are white. His jaw is hard and his thick neck muscles keep ticking.
This is bad.
This is so bad.
I suck in a frantic breath but will myself to calm down. I need to think and plan. He doesn’t know I have my phone yet, so if my stalker boyfriend is tracking me—which I have no doubt he is—then maybe he’ll find me.
“I’ve looked for you for a long time,” he tells me, his voice every bit as cold as I remember. “Your style has changed since I saw you last.” His gaze roams up my bare legs as he takes in my sleek pencil skirt and bright pink cashmere button-down blouse. “You look like a damn naughty librarian.”