Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
"I'd love to. Thank you."
2
AIDEN
Lana Casey is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, with jet-black hair sitting in a low ponytail at the nape of her long neck. The way her olive-green eyes dart around shows me vigilance, how she’s always on guard. I wonder if that guard of hers is up personally, too.
I can’t ignore the rapid thrumming of her pulse beating in the hollow of her neck. She keeps one hand at her side, the other moving inside the back of her jacket. I’m sure she’s carrying a firearm. The protective energy rolling off her piques my curiosity.
"I understand if you'd like to take Jeremy home early." Mr. Drummond's voice breaks into my thoughts, reminding me how angry I am at this situation.
There’s a subtle way to strike fear in most men. When they expect anger, rage, they want you to yell. But becoming a man like me requires a deliberate amount of restraint. I turn to Mr. Drummond and tell him, “Don’t move from that spot, Mr. Drummond.”
“Uh, excuse me? Why?” the principal replies.
“Because you allowed my son to be kidnapped. Don’t fucking move from that spot, Carl, or I will beat your face into the grass you’re standing on.” My voice is stern, without any anger or room for misinterpretation. “I’ll be right back.”
I walk away, placing my hand behind Lana while extending the other toward my car. She accepts my touchless encouragement and walks a few steps in front of me while Jeremy wraps his small hand around mine.
Jeremy is so small at this age. I remember the way I idolized my dad when I was seven. He was a giant amongst men, and now Jeremy looks at me with the same adoration in his eyes. I can’t stop myself from scooping him into my arms and carrying him to my car.
Normally, he fights me when I want a hug, but not right now. Fortunately for me, he still wants to feel safe with his dad, safe in my arms. I rub his back as we walk to the car, and Lana opens the door for us. She steps aside to let me put him into his booster seat, which he’ll be too big for in the coming months. Still, it’s a reminder that he can’t protect himself yet.
“Hey, bud.” I rub his light brown curls and look straight into blue eyes that mirror mine. “Are you hurt?”
“No, Dad.” He shakes his head, voice barely audible.
“I’m going to take you home, and we’re going to change a few things. Okay? I’m going to do a much better job at keeping you safe.”
“I’m okay, Dad. I promise I’m all right.” He flashes me the fakest smile I’ve ever seen, but I’m happy to see he’s trying to put me at ease.
I nod with appreciation, taking a step back and turning to Lana. “Can you spare the rest of your day today?”
“Of course,” she says. “I’m sure the police are going to have a lot of questions.”
“Yes, they will. Please wait here with Jeremy,” I tell her. She nods and takes a stance like she’s waiting to coordinate with a team. Lana’s background in security is obvious. Curiosity has a million questions bouncing around my head as I walk back to the principal, who’s in the same spot I left him.
Good boy.
“Mr. Archer, I swear—” Mr. Drummond’s lip quivers as he pleads for me not to be the man he understands I am outside of this suit.
“What are you swearing about, Carl?” Every time I say his name, it reminds him of the day he realized I knew it before he told it to me. The day he promised me that my son would be safe at this prestigious institution. For the past three years, Jeremy has been safe.
He stammers and trips over his words. “As soon as you called me about Jeremy leaving his classroom, I went to make sure there wasn’t a mistake.”
“Do you think I’d call you about my son leaving his classroom if I didn’t know it was an emergency? If I didn’t know something was wrong? There’s no reason for my son to walk out of his class with someone in a faculty blazer eighteen minutes after I walked him into the building.”
One of the security measures I insist upon when it comes to Jeremy is that he wears a watch that’s digitally tethered to my phone. I can see him through his camera and always know his location.
“Mr. Archer, please.” Mr. Drummond’s eyes well with tears. “I don’t think she’s one of my staff members. There’s no way—”
I silence him with a hand. “The police are on their way. You’re going to give them your complete cooperation. You’re also going to send me a copy of the security footage. If anyone asks, Jeremy’s transferred schools, and you have not been updated on his whereabouts. Have all his files sent to my office, digital and physical copies, by the end of the day.”