Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“It’s a go,” Master reported to Steele. “Heading in.”
“Car’s coming up the frontage road slow,” Ink reported, using the small radio to warn them. “I’ve got that feeling. You aren’t going to have much time.”
Ambrie looked up at him as she scooched backward toward the other side of the roof. “You called it. You said Stoddard was going to get a visit if Reese didn’t make the call or meet with him.”
Master remained expressionless as he stayed close to her, ensuring she didn’t slip. She was enjoying the stakeout just a little too much. Just as she’d taken the deaths of so many of the men who had come to kill them. She was just a little too accepting, when she hadn’t been born into the life. He’d known no other life. Death and killing were all he knew.
“I’ve been around these kinds of people since I was a kid. I know how they think. It wasn’t all that difficult to know what the next move was going to be. They’re not rocket scientists.”
Ambrielle had grown up in a military family, and her parents had prepared her to defend herself, but she hadn’t seen the kinds of violence that would enable her to be so accepting of what had happened to her in the last few weeks. He suspected she was so deeply traumatized that she was living in a reality she’d chosen for herself—one she had created in order to survive. He’d seen it in children where he’d grown up. They anchored themselves in a part of their mind so they could function, whereas others simply gave up.
Hell, he did it. When Master was in prison, he allowed that part of him that felt little or no emotion to take over. He could do whatever he had to in order to live in that world and get whatever information was necessary in order to get out as fast as possible. If he had to torture someone, he did so as efficiently as possible. If he had to kill them, he did so. He’d learned as a child to separate himself from what was happening and just do whatever was necessary to get through—get through and survive.
“What do we do? We haven’t had a chance to talk to Stoddard. We don’t know if he’s part of this, or even why they’re trying to control Reese.” Ambrielle’s gaze moved over his face, and then switched back to the house. “Do you think they’re coming to kill him?”
So casual. Too casual, he noted. She wasn’t Lana or Alena, raised from childhood in blood and death.
“I don’t know, princess, but we aren’t going to do him any good up here. Let’s go. Wait for me to get on the ground and I’ll help you down.” More and more he considered that it was a mistake to bring her along, but he’d given his word. He didn’t break code. It was all he had left. His word. His honor.
It was easy enough to slide off the roof and reach up and guide her legs down until he could catch her around the waist and simply lift her free. “Stay behind me and follow in my exact steps. It isn’t only Stoddard you don’t want to see you. Be aware of cameras, alarms, neighbors’ cameras, the video doorbells on their front doors. Anything that will pick you up and identify you.” He whispered the caution to her as he began to move toward the Stoddard property.
A thick hedge divided the properties between Stoddard and his closest neighbor on his right side, and a tall wooden fence provided privacy from the neighbor on his left. Both the hedge and the fence were set at angles, giving Stoddard a very large wedge-shaped piece of property.
At one time someone had taken great care of the yard. It had been landscaped, the bushes and flowers carefully planted and maintained. Now he could see weeds pushing their way up through the ground, and the plants hadn’t been cut back in anticipation of the winter storms and chill. It was too bad. This was the kind of yard Reese would love to get his hands on. He’d be in his element working here. Stoddard had to know that. He’d seen enough of Reese’s work and knew he had a good work ethic.
Shit, Stoddard must really be on someone’s payroll not to have given the job to Reese. As they approached the side door, Master glanced back at Ambrie. She wore a very serious expression on her face. She was following in his exact footsteps, concentrating on making certain she was stepping in his prints. When he stopped, she did as well, her gaze lifting to his eyes. He turned fully around to face her, his heart beating overtime. It was strange to him that it was such a short time he’d been with her. It felt a lifetime, as though she was already a part of him. Somehow her soul had slipped into that empty place inside him where his had been torn out. She’d filled that space to make him complete.