Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
My eyes went to a boat that I’d seen passing by when we’d arrived earlier, and I narrowed my eyes on them.
It was a flat bottom boat similar to the ones we were using to carry us from the end of the driveway to the clubhouse, but this one had a shiny little motor on the back that was way too big for such a small vessel.
My anger grew as I saw the kids doing donuts in the boat, circling it around so fast that the wake started to wash up onto the back deck, coming perilously close to the back door.
Gritting my teeth, I walked outside, ignoring the way the water rushed up against my feet, and walked to the balcony.
Lifting my fingers to my lips, I whistled sharply, causing the boys to look up and stop what they were doing.
Knowing what would work best, I reached into my back pocket where I’d stashed my badge, and held it up high for them to see.
The boys froze, and each looked at the other before waving in understanding.
Hooking the badge to my belt, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at them until they understood.
They rode off, but this time they were mindful of the ‘no wake zone’ that the entire fucking river had been designated.
Thinking they needed a little more scare in their blood, I withdrew my phone from my pocket and quickly tapped out Core’s number.
Core was our newest member, and also a game warden that patrolled our area.
Knowing he’d be close, I hit send and waited for him to answer.
“Yeah?” Core answered.
“Where are you?” I asked without a greeting.
“About two minutes up the lake at the only boat ramp left. Why?” he asked, sounding distracted.
Perfect.
“There’s about to be a fourteen-foot flat bottom making its way to you. They’re not heeding the no wake zone,” I informed him.
“Dammit. Nobody is. I’m going to have to get out there and inform them of their blatant disregard for the rules and probably ticket them for it,” Core growled.
Core, not one to be moody even at the worst of times, sounded downright pissed off.
I wondered if his day had been as bad as mine but chose not to question him right now.
During my phone call, Raven had made her way out to the porch and was now leaning on the railing beside me, her eyes taking in the lake before us.
“Well, you can start with those two,” I told him.
“Got it. Later,” Core hung up and I stuffed my phone back into my pocket.
“Your skin is kind of tanned for it being only April,” Raven observed from my side.
I turned my head down to look at her, then shrugged.
“Mow without a shirt on,” I informed her. “And my mother is half-Hispanic.”
She lifted her head in understanding.
“Got it,” she said. “Dante and Travis are here. A big, older man told me to tell you.”
I nodded my head and turned back for the door, opening it and holding it open for Raven to pass through.
“Take a seat on the couch. You look like you’re about to fall over,” I ordered.
She gave me a weak smile. “Pain meds knock me out. If y’all don’t hurry, I’ll be snoring away on the couch while y’all are talking.”
I lifted my head in understanding, then looked up to find Alison.
“Can you get her some coffee?” I asked. “I need her coherent for what I’m telling them.”
Alison nodded from her perch against the kitchen counter and turned to get a coffee cup down from the cabinet above her head.
“How do you take it, sweetie?” Alison asked.
I took that as my cue to head to my room at the very back of the left hallway.
I headed straight for the dresser where I kept clean shirts and pants, as well as a few valuables that I might need.
My place was about forty-five minutes away from this one, and pretty inconvenient to hit up when I was in need of something.
Hence, why I was usually here on the days that Nathan stayed with his grandma.
Which was what he was doing tonight, thank God.
My head was not in the right place, and after the day I’d just had, I needed to be careful.
Once I was fully dressed, I walked back out into the kitchen to find Raven sandwiched in between Travis and Dante, who looked none too happy about being here.
“Well, now that you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence, how about you get started so we can leave. This place is making it hard to breathe,” Travis growled.
I looked at him, studied the tightness around his mouth, and nodded.
“I came to you to ask if you could find whomever is trying to steal my identity; but I can now see that it’s not going to work,” I replied. “I have other contacts.”