Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“How about I make dinner for us tonight, too?” I pull her closer, soaking in her warmth and sweetness. “Whatever you want.”
She buries her face in my neck, her lips tickling my skin. “I thought you didn’t know how to cook.”
“I’m not a chef,” I remind her, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t cook. You should see me boil spaghetti. And potatoes? I can bake the fuck out of a potato.”
“Either one sounds good.” Yes, I’m sure oatmeal and peanut butter are wearing thin. So thin, in fact, she hurries through getting dressed and even hums while she does so. It feels unfair, knowing it’s so easy to make her happy. It takes so little. How can I bring myself to believe I’m in any way worthy of her?
I have all this darkness inside me, seething and roiling. It’s so easy for me to lose my grip. All she’s ever wanted was to be with me because she only ever saw the parts of me that didn’t leave me recoiling in shame. She saw the good and figured that was all there was to me.
Her hero.
Now, her hero’s going to take her to the sort of town that has a total of maybe three traffic lights and one big box store, all so he can provide her with more than the bare necessities. It’s pitiful, really.
I’m not about to tell her that, of course. I’ll keep it to myself, as I’ve kept so many things.
Such as the dual nature of this trip. The email from River I found waiting in my inbox this morning. The mission I’m on is one year in the making.
He stays less than a half hour from the cabin while hunting for fresh victims in the area. According to River’s research, his favorite cult elder and mine covers this territory while Rebecca sends her son to Reno.
I suppose enough isolated, dissatisfied people exist around here to make venturing from the new compound worthwhile.
Christian Grady, aka my worst nightmare as a child. There was never any escaping his watchful eye. He couldn’t have been too far outside his teens, yet he was given charge over us kids. I guess because Joseph imagined he’d be relatable.
Relatable? More like sadistic. I didn’t understand when I was a kid, not entirely. I knew he seemed to enjoy inflicting corporal punishment—his quiet assurances to the contrary were bullshit that even I could see through. I had no idea that some people got off on feeling powerful over those they saw as weak.
He always reminded us that it was for the best.
That God wanted it that way.
When, in reality, Joseph wanted it that way.
He’s the key. He’s what we need to get into the compound.
On the surface, my goal is to get that information from him. Codes to open the gates and the schedule kept by the guards. We’ll know what to expect once it comes time to drive to Reno and pay a visit to New Haven.
That is, once I get what I came for. A grim smile tugs at the corners of my mouth, and my blood starts pumping harder. I’ll end him tonight and watch as his life leaves his eyes.
With that in mind, the eagerness to reacquaint myself with my tormentor, I hurry through getting dressed. Scarlet laughs gently as I hustle her out the door, my anticipation growing with every passing minute.
Do you know your heartbeats are limited, Christian?
I see his smug face in my mind’s eye, the big, dark eyes he could soften or harden at will. I can’t imagine him having changed much over the years. If anything, he’s probably worse. He knows what he can get away with after having used innocent kids like me for practice.
She’s unaware, innocent as always, too busy taking in our surroundings to notice my distant attitude as we set off.
“Are there any other towns nearby, or is the one we’re visiting the only one?” Her question stirs me out of my dark reverie. I’m not ready to share any geographical information with her. I’m not sure if I can fully trust her yet.
“There are bigger ones farther away,” I tell her, reaching across the seat to squeeze her knee. “But don’t worry. Once everything’s settled, we won’t have to stay at the cabin anymore. We can go anywhere.”
“I was only curious. Not complaining.”
Still, there’s a strain in her voice—and when I look over at her, the concern written in the lines between her brows speaks volumes.
“You’re worried, aren’t you?”
She practically deflates on her exhale, as if she was only waiting for me to ask that question. Am I asking too much of her?
What if I am? What then? There’s no turning back now. River wouldn’t allow it even if I wanted to.
“Yes, I’m worried.” She covers my hand with hers, stroking the backs of my fingers. “But only because I don’t quite understand what you plan to do. I don’t know how dangerous this will be for you or us.”