Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
It didn’t escape me that James had already cleaned up the mess on the floor from when Stan had attacked him.
“Here,” he said, pulling a stool away from the island where he already had his medical kit set up. “Sit,” he demanded even though Traveler was already moving to do so.
“I got it,” I said as her dad tried to reach for the antiseptic, but was having trouble raising his arm.
James looked at me for a second, then nodded, moving over toward the coffee pot instead. We all noticed how his hand shook as he lifted the pot, then his own mug, but we said nothing. There was no use trying to tell such a stubborn and proud man that he needed to rest.
“This is gonna hurt like a bitch,” I told Traveler as I rolled up her sleeve. “One, two…” Then I poured before she could wince.
“Oh, you fuckhead,” she hissed, rocking in her seat at the burn.
Across the room, Chuck had a ghost of a smile on his lips. Her father’s face was serious as he watched me clean up his daughter’s wound.
“All set. You could have used stitches,” I told her with a disapproving look. “So, now you’re gonna scar. Want some coffee?” I asked, even if she had more than enough already. What she needed was sleep. But we had to get through this first.
She nodded, and I went to make her a cup.
“Okay. What the actual… fuck?” Traveler asked after her first sip.
To that, James sighed.
“Yeah, I think we can all agree with that sentiment,” James agreed.
“You didn’t know?”
“That one of my best friends was fucking me over? Trying to kill me and my daughter? No, I didn’t know that.”
“Did you know about Sheryl?” she asked, voice wavering a bit.
“No. I knew there was a new player in town. I even heard whispers that it was a woman, but no. Had I known, you would have known.
“Up until I was attacked, I had no idea there was even a chance of betrayal from the inside. But, obviously, I had no idea it was Stan, or I’d never have left you with him.”
“I was supposed to be there,” Chuck said.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything, Chuck,” Traveler said, shaking her head. “He would have taken you out before coming for me.”
They were silent about that, likely all knowing she was right.
“Was that Tranq they were dealing?” Traveler asked.
“Yes,” James said, nodding.
“All the times I talked to her about how that shit was ruining the neighborhood…” Traveler said, voice sad.
“She was playing you,” I reminded Traveler. “She was playing this whole town. Just a sweet, innocent farmer. While she was raking in millions in life-ruining drugs.”
“What happens to that organization now?” Traveler asked.
“Now, we bring them in,” James said. “I never did get an offer from their top brass. Now I know why,” he said. “Your Uncle Stan already had a deal with them.”
“But Sheryl has been here for years,” Traveler said. “Tranq is a new problem.”
To that, Chuck shrugged, then winced as it jostled his shoulder. “Maybe she was just a farmer for a while,” he suggested. “But got greedy for more. Got involved with Stan, who could tell her how to get more.”
“I don’t buy that,” I said. “It’s too passive. She was clearly in charge.”
“It’s because of me,” Traveler said, her gaze far away.
“What do you mean?” James asked.
“Sheryl was my only friend,” she admitted. “I mentioned things I shouldn’t have,” she added. “About you and Stan and Chuck…” she said, looking apologetically at her uncle.
He shook his head. “Weren’t telling her shit that wasn’t true,” he said.
“Sheryl is… was smart. She would have done her research, figured out which one of you she could go to…”
“But why Stan?” Chuck asked. “Why not me? The fuck-up divorcee…”
“I don’t know. Maybe she picked up on some sort of animosity toward James from Stan,” I suggested. “She would have worked at that crack until it was a crater. Then she got whatever she wanted out of him.”
“Stan was the uncle who had the least love for me,” Traveler said. “He could barely hide his distaste for me while he was pretending to keep me safe.”
“Motherfucker,” James hissed as his gaze lingered on Traveler’s throat. He shook it off, though, and looked up at her face. “You shot straight and steady and true,” he told her, nodding.
“I might have hated all those lessons,” Traveler said, nodding. “But they came in handy after all.”
“It shouldn’t have come to that. You should have been safe,” James said, head hanging.
“Hey, listen,” I said, watching his head lift to look at me. “Your daughter is a royal fucking pain in the ass,” I said, hearing a choked laugh from Chuck that he tried to cover with a cough. “She’s got a mouth, and she knows how to use it. She poked at the neighborhood crews for years. And your work somehow managed to keep her safe all that time, despite her aforementioned pain in the ass personality,” I said, glancing at Traveler who was smiling at me, knowing I meant no malice.