Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 97696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Ten minutes later, we were through the gate after much sneaking and trying to peep through windows. We knew they were still in the mansion, but since we couldn’t see inside we had no idea if they were watching us or not.
I didn’t say anything, but I had already changed my mind before we were out the gate. But once again, my mouth had got me in a predicament and I had to follow through. I sure wish I could’ve found a way to keep the others out of it though, but it was too late.
I didn’t breathe easy until we got through the gate without incident. Vicky had outright refused to do more than play lookout. I don’t know what excuse she planned to give if they found us missing, but she said she’d come up with something if it came to that.
“Don’t linger, in and out, we don’t know how much time we have.” That was Vanessa’s final warning before she closed the gate. The plan was to text her when we were on our way back since it would look rather suspicious if she hung around there too long.
I started panicking the minute we were on the road. I could tell from the stinted conversation of the other two that they weren’t too sure either. “Connor is going to have my ass if he ever hears about this. Why did I think this was a good idea again?”
Gaby looked back at the gate longingly, suddenly not so brave. “Are we sure no one’s out here? Oh crap what were we thinking? Whatever, it’s not like we can just walk back in like nothing happened anyway. We came this far we might as well keep it moving.”
I regretted every step I took and when the shadows fell over us, and Con and Lo was there like smoke, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a stupid idea anyway. I’m not sure if the fact that they didn’t say anything other than to point us back the way we came was worse or not. But when Gaby took one hand and Dani the other I guess that was their way of giving me support.
No one said anything as we walked back through the gate where Davey was waiting. His face didn’t give much away but the fact that Cord wasn’t there spoke volumes.
Then I heard him and the anger in his voice made my knees buckle. I was too scared to move and he wrapped his big hand around my neck. Logan came and said something to him and the pressure was gone. I wasn’t sure what to be more afraid of, the fact that he was so pissed, or the fact that he’d walked away from me so easily.
Vicky and Vanessa were both wearing looks of surprise so I knew they hadn’t sold us out, not that I’d believed that anyway. So how had they known? Davey looked too worried for it to have been him and again that strange man was there, standing off to the side.
He had a small smile on his face and it kind of gave me hope that there hadn’t been any talk of skinning us girls alive, which is what I was sure Cord was gonna do to me this time. Twice in one day, what was I thinking?
Where had he gone? Had he just washed his hands of me? Why had I been so stupid? What made me think that I could defy him and walk away unscathed? Looking back now, I see that I was just leading with my hurt and stupidity. If he ever forgave me I will never do anything like this again.
I made that and a million other promises as I prayed that he wouldn’t leave me. Logan was reassuring me and I heard every word he said, but none of it mattered if Cord put me aside.
I looked around for him and my stomach dropped when I finally saw him in the shadows with his arms crossed and legs spread as if ready to go to battle. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I knew he was looking right at me.
Logan called Vicky and Vanessa over to where the rest of us were standing. The tic in his jaw was a dead giveaway that he was beyond pissed and I squeezed Gaby’s hand when she started rubbing her legs together nervously. Dani kept her head down, not even sparing Con a glance but the trembling in her hand spoke volumes.
“Start talking.” That was all Logan said and since no one else seemed inclined to I took the lead. “It’s my fault, it was my idea.” Even though he wasn’t Cord I was still a little afraid, they were all so damn…much. His voice was low and even, I did notice that, there was no yelling, no sign of anger. That only made my tummy hurt even more.
“And where is it that you were off to?”
“I just wanted to go see my mom, make sure she was okay after last night.”
“Did Cord not tell you that it was taken care of? I’m sure he would’ve told you that it wasn’t safe for you to go out there on your own. Did you think he was telling you that to hear himself speak?”
“No I didn’t, it’s just…” just what? He made it seem so simple that now I look at it I was being an ass. If that wasn’t bad enough I’d dragged everyone else into my mess with me.
“And you two, what was your part in all this?” Good old Gaby got her blood up. I guess she figured it was best to lead with her own anger at being treated like a child than to play the victim of whatever was coming.
“We were going along for support. We couldn’t just let her go alone, what kind of friends would we be?” I didn’t trust that look he gave her. “Tone.” That one word had her taking a step back and I think we all heard her swallow.