Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“Hello, Sunny.”
Sienna greeted him like they’d been friends for years. I twisted as she took his head in her hands, eyes falling shut.
“Hmm.” She grimaced for a second, then her face cleared and she nodded. “Return where you are safe and the world is safe from you. Home. There, your enemies cannot reach you.
“You’re fine now,” Sienna said, dropping her hands. “Out of the woods and a long life ahead of you.”
“You a doctor? Damn, I have been out of touch. You guys have gotten younger and more advanced if all you need to do is tap my forehead to check my vitals.”
Sienna beamed. “Better. I’m a psychic. I can feel the threads of your life stretching through the years, entwining with those whose importance you haven’t begun to understand.”
Stiffening, I waited for Sunny’s response, and my cue to shut him down. My belief in psychics was iffy, but no one—no one—laughed at my sister or called her crazy. Not if they wanted to eat a turkey sub instead of wearing it.
Sunny sat up a little straighter. “No shit? A psychic? That’s amazing. What else can you see? Can you see the guy who did this to me?”
Try as I did, I searched his words for a trace of mocking, and found none. Sunny sounded genuinely curious and impressed.
“No, I need closeness, preferably contact, to read a stranger.”
“You’d do a better job filling in the blanks,” I spoke up. “What do you remember?”
“Do you mind helping me back down? If I was on painkillers, they’re starting to wear off.”
Sienna helped me ease him onto his back. Beads of sweat collected on his scrunched forehead. Sunny was making an effort to sound fine, but the last twenty-four hours were catching up to him fast.
“Last night, I went to... the club opening.”
“Which club?” I asked.
“Laser. The line wrapped around the building twice. All of North Quay came out.”
“North Quay.” I folded my legs under me, taking his hand out of habit while I thought. “So you weren’t driven out of another borough to be dumped here. Whoever did this must know North Quay well too. They knew there are barely any cars on that overpass that early in the morning, and that the area is secluded.”
“But they didn’t know it so well that they saw we camp there,” Sienna added. “We pitched our tents there a while ago. If they scoped the place out recently, they would’ve seen us.”
I bobbed my head, gnawing on my lip in that habit I couldn’t break. “You’re right, Si. They had the place picked out in advance, which means...”
“He was planning his shot for weeks, maybe months,” Sunny finished. “He waited for me to leave the compound, and got me alone.”
A shiver climbed my spine. I knew what it was to sense eyes on me everywhere I went. The fear. The paranoia. But for someone to have me in their scope while I walked around blissfully unaware, ill-prepared for the blow meant to end my life. I didn’t know which was worse.
At least I knew Digger was coming for me. Sunny skipped out for a good time and ended up thrown over a bridge like garbage. He left his home and family with no idea someone intended to make sure he never saw them again.
“You were alone,” I confirmed. “Do you usually go clubbing alone? Did your almost killer know all he had to do was wait for the next grand opening?”
“I see what you’re getting at.” Sunny closed his eyes, slowly breathing in and out. “No, I usually party with my crew. Usually. Every now and then I’ll go out by myself if they’re being boring and I’m not about to let that stop me getting some.
“If he’s been planning this for a while, I have to assume keeping me under surveillance was part of the package. I left the compound without company or security.” He squeezed my hand. “That was his opening, and he took it.”
“What happened when you were at the club?”
“Shots. Shots, shots, shots, shots,” he sang, bobbing his head back and forth. Sienna laughed while I held back a sigh.
I guess some of us need humor to get through tragedy.
“I was in the VIP room with about ten ladies. The last thing I remember was ordering another round for the group.” Silver orbs found me, reaching out to drag me into their depths. “Then, there was you.”
Heat stained my cheeks. The reaction both surprised and unsettled me. I barely knew this guy, and going from his associations, Sunny Bellisario wasn’t someone I wanted to know. Still, holding his hand spread warmth through my bones. Looking into his eyes stirred emotions I thought long dead.
“You were drugged.” I gazed at our hands, drawing on my strength to pull away.
It wasn’t working.
“That’s the only explanation. If anyone’s taking my ass anywhere, they’re carrying me out.”