Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
It was my fault.
All of it.
I woke up with all intentions of telling Billy everything, but when I rolled over, I discovered that I was in bed alone. I sat up and was about to call out to Billy when I found a note on my pillow.
Morning,
I had to run into town for a few supplies. I’ll be back soon.
Billy
After I placed the note on the bedside table, I got up and took a quick shower. I put on a pair of the knit shorts I’d bought with an oversized t-shirt of Billy’s, then pulled my damp hair into a messy bun. Once I’d made myself look presentable, I gathered the rest of my clothes and took them over to the laundry closet. I put the sheets in the dryer and started it, then loaded the washer with my things and started it as well.
As soon as I was done, I went to the kitchen to see if there was any tidying up that needed to be done there, but the place was practically spotless. Billy must’ve gotten up early and taken care of it. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The man really liked for things to be clean and in their place.
Since there was no coffee to be made or muffins to bake, I decided to go sit out on the porch, but I hadn’t gotten far when the front door flew open, and Billy charged inside with his hands full of groceries. I rushed over to help him as I asked, “What’s all this?”
“Just a few things to get us through the next couple of days.”
“I didn’t know you were going shopping.” I placed the bag down on the counter and started pulling everything out. “I would’ve gone with you and given you a hand.”
“I know. I just hated to wake you.” He placed the milk and eggs in the fridge, then started on the dry goods. “How did you sleep?”
“Not that great.”
“I was afraid of that.” When Billy got to the coffee, he lifted the container and asked, “You up for a cup?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great.”
He stepped over to the counter and put a fresh filter in the coffee maker as he announced, “You were talking in your sleep.”
“Oh, really? What was I saying?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t make it out, but you seemed pretty upset about something.” He placed the bread on the counter as he told me, “I’m sure it had something to do with our unwanted guests last night.”
“About that...” As much as I was dreading telling him about what I’d done, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer, so I asked, "Do you remember when we were at the diner, and I told you that I had something to tell you?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, I think it’s time we talk about that.”
“Okay. What’s on your mind?”
“I did something that I shouldn’t have.” I backed up against the counter and let out a deep sigh. “It was stupid and rash, and I’m pretty sure it’s why those men came to your house last night.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was frustrated, and I wanted to make DeLuca pay for all the horrible things he’d done.”
“I’m not following.”
“It happened the day that Viper and his brothers came to the house. I was already feeling a little vulnerable, and then I overheard you all talking about getting me gone sooner than later... which stung a little.” I couldn’t even look at him as I continued, “So, I went downstairs to put some distance between us. And that’s when I saw your computer.”
“What the hell did you do?”
I inhaled a quick breath, then let it out as a grumble before admitting, “I took some of his money—a good bit of it, and I moved it into a private account that he couldn’t access.”
“I made him all that money,” I continued. “Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I was trying to keep my father alive, but he’d already killed him. And then, he tried to kill me, too. I wanted to make him pay, so I got him where it hurts him the most. His pocketbook.”
“Dammit, Everleigh.” He ran his hand roughly down his handsome face. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was upset, and I wanted to make him pay for the hell he’d put me through.” I hated seeing Billy so angry, so I tried to calm him down by adding, “I was really careful. I made sure there was no way he would know it was me.”
“Clearly, you weren’t as careful as you thought,” he snapped. “I’ve done everything in my power to make sure he couldn’t get to you, and you just invited him right in.”
“That wasn’t my intent.” My voice trembled with guilt. “I thought I had covered my tracks.”
“Would be hard pressed to get anything past a man like him. He’s got people on his payroll that can do just about anything, including hunt down an IP address.”