Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
My dad took the hint and stood. “I need you, Meggie.” He spread his hands in supplication. “Burns will kill me if I don’t complete this job. I’m in a real pinch here.”
“You’ll find another way.” It was true. My dad was very resourceful. “I’m not getting involved. Never again.”
“Meg–”
“Stop calling me that,” I snapped. “My name is Megan. I am an officer of the law, not a cat burglar or a jewel thief.”
He held his hands out in surrender. “Okay, I’m going. You’re right. I’ll figure it out.”
I fought against the surge of guilt that rose up in me. But no. This wasn’t my problem, just like I wasn’t his problem when I got picked up and served a year because of him.
He stared at me for a moment then turned toward the door. He looked like nothing but a sad old man with his sagging shoulders and remaining hair that was more gray than brown. I’d once thought he was so powerful. So clever. He’d been my entire world after my mom walked out on us, made all his deals and ventures, his jobs, into a game for me. We were the Dynamic Duo. Batman and Robin although I was more like Batgirl.
I’d blindly done what he’d wanted. Followed orders. Broke the law because that was what my dad had needed me to do. Until it wasn’t a game. Wasn’t the two of us any longer.
Then it had been just me. Alone. It was safer that way. Juvie had taught a class full of psychological mumbo jumbo to use the time behind bars to distance myself from the old life, the bad influences that had put me in the place. To manifest a future that was bright and sunshiny.
I did just that, not because I believed in rainbows and unicorns but because I couldn’t believe or trust anyone but myself. I’d built a future on that. That I was the only one who wasn’t going to let me down.
“Take care of yourself,” I couldn’t stop myself from saying.
He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll try. You too, Meg–Megan.”
My stomach plummeted the moment he walked out the door. I rubbed the back of my neck.
Nope. Not going to do it. I was definitely not going to feel bad about the stupid shit he got himself into. He’d been in bad spots before, and he’d figure his own way out. I had a job and a life I loved here. I wasn’t risking any of it for a guy who had left me out to dry. Who I couldn’t trust. No way would I let him control me again.
CHAPTER
NINE
HAYES
Megan kept setting the alarm on me. The fact that she thought her security system–a good one–could keep me out was laughable.
It was my sixth night showing up at bedtime, and she made it hard for me to get in every time. Not too hard. Not that I minded. I was glad she was keeping herself safe and that I was the only one getting to her. I wouldn’t sleep well if I’d thought otherwise. Not that she wasn’t a well-armed, highly trained professional.
I heard her moving around inside. She was home, and she knew I was coming. She had to–I’d been over here like clockwork to service her, as promised.
Still, I didn’t knock. Call it male pride or ego or whatever, but I couldn’t stand the idea of knocking and waiting to be let in. Especially when the chance of her refusing me entry was always there.
No, this woman needed me to just show up. To prove I was going to keep coming no matter how often she tried to shut me down or set her alarm. She sure as hell loved everything I did once I’d gained entry. I figured she just liked to make me work for it.
And I was willing to do that work.
I unhooked the wire running across her backdoor before I slid my lockpick into the doorknob and turned the dials.
When I stepped in, I found myself face to face with the barrel of a Glock 19. I knew my weapons even up close. Megan stood there in her hot-as-fuck pajamas, which consisted of a cropped tank and thin sleep shorts, holding her pistol. My pants instantly got tight, as always happened the moment I saw her, knowing she had nothing on underneath. And her holding a gun?
Fucking hot.
I held up my hands in surrender. “Hey, if you’re not feeling it, just say so, baby doll. I stop when a woman says no.” I quirked a smile at her.
She frowned. “Would it kill you to knock?”
Okay, she was in a bad mood but didn’t say no. She didn’t want me to leave. I could work with that.
“What is it with people breaking into my house these days?”
“These days?” I asked sharply, suddenly on full alert. “Did someone else break in?” I tried to remember if the wire I’d pulled had seemed looser than usual.