Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Of course he has. He grew up with nothing. Then his mom and dad became rich overnight. Las Vegas became his home, including a handful of successful establishments, each bigger than the last, feeding his parents’ ambitions. Then came the Scarlet Sands just a few years ago, and his life changed. His dad vanished from the picture. His mom grew greedier, more controlling. Elias grew reckless. Too many nights, he fell asleep with rage in his heart. It’s amazing, what alcohol can do for such rages, converting Elias into a giddy drunk who couldn’t be bothered by any evil in the world. Come to think of it, he’s drank so little since coming to this dusty town. Instead, he himself has become the drink—Kyle’s drink. He’s known so little rage since being here.
And the moment Kyle’s gone, he feels it again.
Bubbling forth like a poison.
Elias can’t keep sitting on the sidelines of Kyle’s journey to find himself. Why does all the responsibility of protecting this town fall on Kyle’s shoulders? Elias can do something about it, too. He lives here, too. He’s not powerless. He’s not helpless.
The problem is, all his power and connections reside in the very part of his life he just worked so hard to free himself from.
A part he may have to return to.
“I swear I could kill you, Kyle Bentley Amos,” he growls to himself, “if I didn’t love you so fucking much.”
“Kyle probably feels a little guilty,” suggests Cade. “Juan’s been putting a lot of pressure on him—you know Chief Rojas. He still blames Kyle for everything. Then there’s that Patrick guy still sitting in our jail, totally off the books, forcing Juan to break laws I doubt he’s ever broken in his life. None of it is Kyle’s fault.”
“Yeah, that Chief Rojas can be a real prick when he wants to be,” says Elias, “but he’s just doing his job as best as he can, I know. Kyle knows, too. He’s the least of my worries.”
“Is Kyle saying in his note that he went to meet with these so-called ‘real’ vampires? Do you know where that is?”
“Somewhere we’re sure as fuck not following him to. The vampire Kyle met had left directions in the form of a riddle … away from the sun … in some dark mouth with teeth … I don’t know, didn’t make any damned sense.”
“Sounds like a cave,” she murmurs thoughtfully.
“But it doesn’t matter where Kyle is now. He won’t be back until tonight, apparently.” He sighs. “And if he returns without any answers, we’re just back to square one, he’ll act out again, and we’ll never be happy.” Elias takes the note into his hands again. “I think I’m gonna have to do something I’ll hate.”
“You mean you have a plan?”
“A bad one.” Even as he considers it, every cell in his body fights him to change his mind, to drop the idea, to leave well enough alone and just wait for Kyle to come back.
“What’s the plan? Tell me. Are we going after Kyle?”
“No.” He clenches his fist. “We’re going after my mom.”
“Huh? Your mom? Why?”
“Because she … might be able to help us. With both of our problems. I just need to go to Vegas, see her, and … and then convince her to …” At once, his anger spills over. He shakes his head. “No. Never mind. Stupid idea. The worst, actually.”
“Wait, wait, no.” Cade comes closer. “Not a bad idea. You said she could help us, too?”
“Forget I said anything. We’ll just wait for Kyle. He should be back by tonight.”
“Elias. Must I remind you that my daughter just summoned a legion of birds to our house? And sucked out her boyfriend’s voice and gave him a magical erection that won’t go away? Ask Jeremy if he minds waiting until tonight. Or better yet … ask his police chief father.”
“I’m getting coffee.” Elias reaches for his mug.
Cade takes him by the arm, eyes swelling with desperation. “Elias. Please. Please, please, please. If there’s even a glimmer of hope that your mother could help us …”
Elias closes his eyes. “The last time I left Vegas, I swore I’d never go back … but …”
Cade draws even closer. “Please, Elias.”
His jaw tightens in response.
Before either of them can say another word, Layna’s voice is heard from behind. “Vegas?”
Cade and Elias turn. Layna is standing at the archway, and behind her, Jeremy seems fully attentive to their conversation, squeezing the pillow over his lap, eyes wide.
Layna takes a step into the kitchen. “Can we come?”
Cade frowns. “Like hell.”
“Mom, Jeremy’s been wanting to go, and I—”
“What do you think we’re doing here??” blurts Cade with a spread of her hands. “Taking a joyride to the casinos to pull on slot machine levers and stuff ourselves at the buffet?? This is a very serious matter, Layna! Besides, you’re not old enough!”