Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
chapter twenty-six
RYDER
“Did you see?” Kira says, appearing in my office out of nowhere. “Violet got in!” She runs over and jumps into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Thank you for taking care of that.”
She peppers kisses all over my face, and my heart warms at how easy it is to make her happy.
“I need to fill out the forms and email them over to them. Can I use your laptop?”
She bats her pretty lashes, and I chuckle.
“Of course. You know, if you want one of your own—”
“My phone is fine,” she says, shaking her head. “And since you don’t mind me using yours …”
“Not at all.” I lift her and then stand, setting her back down on my seat. “You fill out the paperwork while I start lunch.”
Since I’m home today, we’re grilling and spending the afternoon in the pool.
I lean over and give her what’s supposed to be a chaste kiss, but it quickly turns heated.
“Later,” I murmur. “I need to get the grill going.”
“Fine.” She pouts playfully. “Later.”
With one more kiss, I head out of my office and down to the kitchen to get lunch started, noting to wake the girls up soon from their nap.
It’s been a little over a week since Brian showed up and we filed a police report on him. Our attorney is going through the proper channels to have it investigated since it’s our word versus his and he’s got an alibi, saying he was in his home state—nowhere near Kira—when the report was filed. The asshole thinks he’s smart, but I have the money and means to make sure he doesn’t get away with this.
I’ve just finished making the burger patties, and I’m firing up the grill when Kira and Violet come down the stairs.
“Hey,” Kira says, leaning over the plate I’m holding and giving me a quick kiss. “Patties look good.”
“Did you finish filling out the paperwork?” I ask.
“Almost. Violet woke up, so I figured I’d make the side dishes and finish the paperwork after dinner.” Kira glances at her daughter. “Want to help me make the mac ’n’ cheese?”
“Yes!” Violet exclaims. “Can we make it double cheesy?”
“Of course.” Kira taps Violet’s nose, and the two of them disappear into the kitchen.
I turn the grill on and scrub the grates while it heats up. Once it’s ready, I place the patties on the heat and close the lid.
I head back inside to check on the girls, but when I get into the kitchen, it’s empty. My phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket, seeing Kira’s name and picture on my screen.
“Are you calling me from inside the house?” I laugh.
“No.” She laughs back. “We were out of bacon for the mac ’n’ cheese, so we ran to the store. I pulled into the parking lot and realized I didn’t tell you. Sorry, my mind is all over the place.”
“It’s okay. But you shouldn’t have left without me. You don’t have Jacob with you.”
Since I was working from home, I told him I’d call him when we needed him. There’s no point in him hanging out outside the house.
“Oh shit,” she hisses. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. I’m already here. I’ll just run in and out.”
“Okay, but stay on the phone with me,” I insist.
I hear Kira turn off the car and speak to Violet about taking her hand so they can hurry. The sound of the wind from her walking through the parking lot fills the silence, followed by the opening and closing of the store doors.
Some would say I’m being paranoid and over the top, but when it comes to my girls, I’m not taking any chances.
“Oh, hey,” I hear Kira say. “Yeah, just grabbing some bacon.” There’s shuffling and another voice, and then Kira says, “Hey, Ryder, I just ran into Marie. Let me call you right back.”
Not wanting to sound like a crazy person, I agree and then stare at my phone, waiting for her to call me back.
I remember that the meat is still on the grill, so I run out and flip the patties.
Still no call back.
When the burgers are done, I plate them and turn off the grill, then head back inside.
But she still hasn’t called me back.
Ten minutes later, Addie wakes up from her nap, so I grab her and change her diaper and then call Kira—because what the fuck?
Her phone doesn’t ring, instead going straight to voice mail, so I call again and again. After the third time, I start to freak out, so I pull up the Find My app on my phone and click on Kira’s name. It shows she’s at a park, which makes no damn sense.
I try to call her again, but it continues to go to voice mail. So, I do the only thing I can think of and go in search of her.