Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
She sniffles, not meeting my stare. “I stupidly went chasing after something that felt way too easy and too good to be true. I knew, in my gut, that it was a bad idea, but I went anyway.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it. “That’s just you, babe. It’s not a bad thing. You’re a cop. You chase down leads. You’re also an aunt who cares about her family. Anyone in your place would’ve done the same.”
Her smile is sweet. “Thank you.”
“So tell me when it went downhill.”
“Bishop, that lying sack of shit, brought me into another trap they’d sprung for me. This time, they caught me right where they wanted me.” Her chin quivers. “I saw Trevor and he was emaciated. I was so relieved but also terrified at seeing him in such a state that I blindly ran for him. Someone hit me from behind and I woke up handcuffed to a pipe.”
Only the fact the perps have been arrested quells the rage that burns hot in my chest. She and Trevor are safe from those bastards.
“Then,” I urge, voice murderous. “Go on.”
“Bishop admitted he was doing all the sketchy things I was suspicious of. It was never Tanaka. I feel like an idiot now.”
“Hey,” I say softly. “If it’s any consolation, he said he felt like an idiot too.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “We were both idiots, but I think we might be on the same page from here on out.”
I tuck a dirty strand of her hair behind her ear. I’m eager to get her back home where I can spend all the time in the world washing away the horrors she endured today.
“After telling me he was going to frame my murder on Trevor and then kill him too, I was knocked out again. I’m not sure how long I was out for, but when I woke up the next time, Trevor was there with me. Prez showed up and started talking trash. Trevor tried to defend me and ended up taking a horrible beating for it. I was able to get Prez’s attention back on me…”
Her eyes glaze over and terror gleams in her blue eyes. I’m not sure I want her to continue, but I can’t pick and choose what I hear.
“Did he rape you?” My voice is so soft, it’s barely audible.
She swallows hard and shakes her head. “He, uh, was going to. Had my pants down and everything.” A full-bodied tremble quakes through her. “Then the cops showed up. Bishop was back pretending to be one of the good guys. But when we got outside, Tanaka was ready and arrested him along with all his biker cronies.”
Sloane may have not been raped, but she was sexually and physically assaulted, terrorized, and held captive. I’m calling Tate tomorrow to set up an appointment with him. I may give him a lot of shit, but he’s a great therapist and Sloane’s going to need a professional after this. I’ll give her love and support. However, she still needs counseling after this. Anyone would after such a traumatic event.
“It’s over, babe,” I murmur, squeezing her hand in mine. “You’re safe. Trevor is back with his mom. You did it. Time to rest.”
As though my words were exactly what she needed to hear and the last of the adrenaline has left her body, her eyes flutter closed and she passes out.
When I look back over at Trevor, Rhiannon is no longer in the bed with him but sitting in a chair beside him. Her other two kids and my sister are gone.
“Where’d they go?”
“Gemma said she’d take them back home. Now that they know their brother is safe, they don’t need to sit up here.” She looks over at her son, who is also now sleeping. “My sweet boy got on the wrong path. This is all my fault.”
“You didn’t force him to join a biker gang, Rhiannon.”
“I know,” she says with a huff, “but because of my relationship with Lenny, he was exposed to that life.”
“That’s reaching. He chose his own way. It’ll be up to him if he wants to do better.”
She nods. “I think he’s ready. He agreed to go to rehab.”
“Best place for him.”
“He’s going to be okay. My boy is a fighter.”
“Like his momma.”
Her brows scrunch. “I’m trying to do better—to be braver.”
“One day at a time.”
“You know,” Rhiannon says, a soft smile on her lips, “you’re good for my sister. She’s not so cold and distant. I know you’ve helped her a lot. And Kaden thinks the world of you.”
“Your kid is cool as shit. As far as Sloane, she helps me too. We’re good for each other.”
Rhiannon’s expression turns wistful. “Sometimes I wonder what finding true, healthy love would feel like. Sometimes I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. Hell, look at my track record so far. The first man I loved abandoned me and our kids. The second one abused me. I’m a magnet for disaster.”