Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I relaxed slightly. “Okay. As long as she agrees. But do you really think the Forbises can tell you enough to help you find the other kids? How many children are we talking about anyway?”
“Twenty-three.”
I choked, eyes bugging. “Luca kidnapped and sold twenty-three kids!”
“Yes,” River said gravely. “Most of them were newborns when they were taken away. Their mothers can’t tell us what they look like now, so standing outside preschools and daycares isn’t going to work. The Forbises are all we got.”
“Okay, okay,” I breathed. “Then, I want to help. I’ll go with you to speak to the Forbises instead of Sienna.”
“Um, real nice, sis—booting me out of the way.” Sienna laughed to take the sting out of it.
“It’s not like that,” I said. “This could be dangerous. Just because they haven’t locked Jake in a basement, doesn’t mean they don’t know the adoption was illegal. Plus, who knows how they’ll react to a couple of strangers coming in and saying they have to give up Jake? It could get ugly.”
Sienna patted her biceps. “Bane’s a good teacher. If a fifty-year-old woman and her fifty-six-year-old husband come for me, I can take them down. Seriously, Kenzie, I can do this. My visions are positive. Hopeful. I see Marie happy—something she hasn’t been for a very long time.” She dropped her head on my shoulder. “I can do something good, Kenzie. Trust me.”
“I do,” I whispered. “I know you can do this, Sienna. Both of you. You’ll bring Jake and those children home.” Twisting, I captured River’s lips and kissed him soundly. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” he said, brows popped. “What was that for?”
“That was for sending your people out day after day, even when they were chased off. That’s for not giving up, River. I can’t believe I ever thought you only did things when there was something in it for you. I finally understand how many people you’re taking care of. Sometimes you have to make hard choices to... protect your family.” Visions of him floated through my mind—seventeen and alone. “You don’t abandon the people who rely on you.”
He smiled, pressing a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’m still the duplicitous bastard who pissed you off on a daily basis, but yes, I do always have a good reason. Hope that lets me get away with stuff in the future.”
I poked his side. “And what kind of stuff are you trying to get away with?”
“Well, I’m definitely going to lie to you and say we’re doing something boring when I’m really surprising you with an incredible date. I’m going to steal all kinds of shit—your time, your attention, your love. And I’m going to kill,” he said. “Kill anyone who hurts you. Destroy anything that makes you unhappy. So as long as you can live with that, I’m your crime boss for life.”
I broke the seatbelt jumping him.
“Okay, time to go,” Sienna rushed. “I’ll be in that bakery over there while— And you don’t care.”
She got out quickly. Good thing because our make-out session got dirty real fast. It wasn’t until a uniformed officer banged on the window, shouting at us to move on, that I tugged on my bra and pulled my underwear back up.
Eventually, Sienna and I made it home—her giving me knowing looks all the way up the elevator. Inside Sunny’s—our—apartment, I found my silver-eyed devil pacing our bedroom with Laurel bouncing in the baby carrier. I smiled at the perfect picture they made.
“I love how much you love her.”
He looked up from the paper in his hand. “Hey, Angel.” Sunny dropped a kiss on her curls. “Laurel doesn’t give me much choice. Today, she took my pen and lobbed it across the room. Perfect technique. Released at the right angle. Babe, we’re looking at a knife-throwing prodigy here.”
I laughed. “Too bad she’ll never develop the skill.”
Sighing, he stage-whispered to Laurel, “Don’t worry, I’ll work on her.”
“You won’t believe what happened today. Damien is in Cinco.” Sunny’s smile wiped away. “He showed up at Caddell House and promised he’d get me fired if it’s the last thing he does.”
The sheet crinkled in his fist. A glance down told me what was holding back his reaction.
I took Laurel and put her on the carpet with her toys. I didn’t want him holding back. Exploding was exactly the right reaction to my son-of-a-bitch ex blowing back into my life just to threaten me.
“How did he know you were back?” Sunny gritted.
“Anyone could have told him. Top of my list is Lyla. If she pulls something, Vance isn’t likely to buy the innocent act, but with Damien here, she can put it all on him again. But she won’t have to,” I said, voice quavering. “He flat out said he’s happy to take me out all on his own.”