Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
The moment passes, leaving me to stare down at her.
“Sorry,” she murmurs.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I growl.
“You can watch it with me. Maybe there are clues, anyway. To where she is.”
I shrug, returning to my seat, as Jennifer clicks play on the video and angles the screen so we can both see.
It shows Kelly sitting with wood paneling behind her, wearing plain jeans and a pink T-shirt.
“They’re not her clothes,” Jennifer says softly. “Kelly hardly ever wears pink.”
“Hey, Jennifer,” Kelly says after brushing herself down. “They want me to make a video so you know I’m okay. Well… here I am, okay.”
She smiles as her voice trembles toward the end. It’s like she’s going to cry, but it’s difficult to know.
Mostly I’m trying to figure out what Jennifer’s feeling, but her face is composed, her focus complete.
“They’ve fed me. Let me shower. Nobody hurt me, except when they broke into the apartment. And even then…what I’m saying is, Jennifer, don’t worry. We’re going to make it through this. One day, just you watch, one day I’ll swing by your class and watch you inspire all those kids. You think I’d miss that?”
The video cuts off abruptly. I guess Junior sees this as him fulfilling his end of the bargain.
Jennifer shudders, then clicks play again.
I sit back as she listens to it several times.
I wonder if there are any secret messages, and then I wonder if my woman can read minds because she looks at me matter-of-factly. “I just want to hear it again.”
“That makes sense,” I say, voice grave.
“Don’t you want to hear it?”
“I don’t let emotions interfere with my job.”
“So you don’t care they’ve got your ex?”
“Jennifer.” I don’t mean for my voice to come out so fiery.
She flinches away from me, making a soft noise…not dissimilar to the cute-as-fuck noises she was making in my tattooist’s chair.
“What?” she says after a pause.
I remember the promise I made to Kelly.
“A man of your word,” Dad told us once, looking at Matt and then at me. “You will always be that when the time comes. A man of your word. It means no matter what happens, you do what you say you’ll do. You keep your promises.”
“I’m here for you,” I tell Jennifer now, hating myself a little, hating this situation a lot. “If you want to talk.”
“I want her back,” Jennifer replies. “Peggy said we can’t go to the police.”
“She’s right about that.”
“So what can I do? How can I help?”
I sit back, shaking my head, heart thumping at the idea of Jennifer putting herself in danger.
“You can stay safe. You can be ready for when Kelly comes back. She’ll need you, Jennifer.”
“I need her,” she says, then sits back. “I’m sorry. I know whining won’t help.”
Reaching over, I take her hand. It’s the first time we’ve touched since yesterday. When I handed her the phone just now, we didn’t make contact.
She squeezes down on my hand right away as though she’s been waiting for this.
I hold her even tighter, looking firmly into her eyes, wondering if she’s going to be able to read it all. Maybe she’ll be able to see my never-ending need, the purpose flooding me every time I look at her.
The family, the future together.
The children.
“You’re not whining,” I say. “You should’ve seen me when Matt…anyway, I was a mess.”
“But I bet you did something.”
“I tried. But nothing ever worked out.”
I bite down a moment too late, realizing I’ve just said one of the worst possible things.
“But this is different,” I say fiercely. “Matt was missing, probably already dead. He wasn’t a hostage. We’re going to save your sister, Jennifer.”
She’s your sister, I almost roar, not my ex.
It would seem like a petty distinction to me at any other time, but with all the desire inside of me, the absolute certainty that Jennifer is the one feels so important. It feels vital.
“How?” Jennifer murmurs.
“Peggy will have a couple of addresses for me soon, I’m sure. Hopefully, I’ll have work to do today. Locations to scout out, possible spots they could be keeping her. I’ll just need a little time.”
“And if you find her?”
We’re still holding hands. As she gives mine another squeeze, she looks into my eyes, and then away… and then back.
It’s so shy and cute, and she and I can’t help but chuckle.
“What?” she says, laughing softly, the most beautiful sound after all this darkness.
“You,” I say, smirking. “And to answer your question, I’ll do what I was trained to do. I’ll go in there and secure her. If anybody tries to stop me, I’ll do my best to stop them. That’s it.”
“That’s it,” she repeats. “You make it sound so easy.”
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Jamie,” she says suddenly, looking at me firmly now as if pushing away her shyness. “I want you to finish the tattoo. But do you think there would be room for another name?”