Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“Not at first, but you did after the attack, no? My husband told me you saw his face and recognized him, but you didn’t say anything to your parents, because you were scared they’d hate you forever if they found out what you’d done. You didn’t care if Mia was abused within an inch of her life or eventually died. It’s okay to admit it, Maya dear.”
“That’s not true…” Fat, ugly tears stream down Maya’s cheeks as she stares at me. “You can’t possibly believe her, right, Mia? I was about to tell Mom and Dad, I swear. But they’d already paid the money and gotten you back so…so…”
“So you decided to stay silent?” My movements are robotic at best.
“She threatened me.” Her voice shakes. “She showed up at my piano practice and said if I say a word about what I knew, she’d tell you and the whole world that I helped in your kidnapping. I couldn’t… I couldn’t risk losing you, Mia. You know how much I love you.”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have hidden something so important from me,” I sign. “Do you know how much I struggled to keep the truth to myself while Mom and Dad begged me to let them in and tell them anything about the perpetrator? I’m mute because of it, Maya!”
She flinches, her face appearing more ashen under the orange streetlights. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I really, really am. I’ve been living with guilt for eleven years.”
“Fuck your guilt.” I push her away.
Maya stumbles, but she glues herself back to me. “I know that you hate me and that’s okay, but I can’t leave you alone with this woman. Her husband was keeping an eye on you in the UK.”
Even though pain and anger mix inside me, I can’t help looking at Maya. Bemusement must be written all over my face.
“I only found out about him that day when I disguised myself as you and went to the chess club to test Landon. He’s the owner of that club, Mia.”
Mr. Whitby…
I stare at Mrs. Pratt, who’s been watching the whole exchange with a satisfied expression. “Of course we have to keep an eye on you, child. If you’d opened your mouth, everything we built would’ve broken to pieces. I can’t risk your parents' wrath, now, can I?”
“You risked it enough to kidnap Mia!” Maya screams and gets in Mrs. Pratt’s face.
She pushes her back using the gun. “Yes, but I got away with that twenty-five million richer. Money can buy you multiple identities and, most importantly, immunity. You wouldn’t know this because you were born with a silver spoon hanging from your mouths. You don’t know what it’s like to see your life’s work fall to pieces in front of your eyes because you don’t have enough means to keep it afloat. You don’t know what it’s like to lose a child because you didn’t have the money to save his life. You know nothing!”
“But that’s not our fault!” Maya screams. “Mom and Dad treated you so well. Is this how you repay them?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with taking some of the endless dirty money they own. Besides, both of you are in one piece, for now.” She points the gun between the both of us.
Maya stands in front of me, even though she’s shaking uncontrollably.
“Here’s how it’ll go, girls. You’ll both keep your mouths shut or I’ll personally kill the mom and dad you care for so much.”
“Here’s another deal for you. Drop your weapon or I blow your head off.” The click of a shotgun follows next and I nearly cry when I see Landon standing behind Mrs. Pratt.
“Oh my. Seems that I have more of an audience than I bargained for,” she says. “Did you tell him when I called, Maya?”
“No, she didn’t,” Landon says. “But I’ve seen her behaving completely out of sorts and figured something was up. The same happened when she was acting out of character in front of the chess club, so I started gathering information. I suspected both Frank and the college professor Kayden since they were standing there when she nearly lost her marbles. Kayden, though suspicious as hell, had a strong alibi almost eleven years ago. In fact, as I was snooping around him, he asked me how well I knew Frank, because a few things weren’t adding up. Such as how he suddenly developed a British accent. That was enough to make me dig further into Maya. I had a friend install spyware on her phone. I saw the text she sent you when she found out about Frank. How she was agitated and threatened that if you didn’t keep him from Mia, she’d tell her parents everything. She also told you that if you wanted to take care of anyone, it should be me since I apparently know more than I should. It was also because of her that you figured out they were coming back home. So I made sure to be here when you showed up. I knew you couldn’t let such an opportunity pass. But not everything is going according to your plan, Kirsten. I’m happy to tell you that your husband is currently being detained by the local authorities. Now, whether or not he gets transported to prison or dies in a freak accident on the way there, I guess we’ll know soon. But first, I suggest you drop the gun. I don’t have much training with this thing, so I might unintentionally or intentionally end up blowing your head off.”