Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“Dave where are you?” He’s not just my driver but my shadow and part of Kevin’s elite team of security slash mercenaries and is never far from me during working hours.
“Aren’t you in the conference room?”
“No, we need to head to the island meet me downstairs.” He was probably messing with one of the many female employees, which is his favorite pastime when not annoying my ass.
“What happened?” He asked as he jogged towards the Royce where I was standing.
“I’ll tell you on the way.” His face changed real quick. Gone was the playful look he always wears to be replaced with his stern look that can usually scare anyone in his path.
“Take a look at this.” I held out my phone for him once he was seated in the driver’s seat. He took one glance and gave me a ‘what the fuck’ look before peeling out of the parking lot.
“You think it’s the senator?” This is why I like him and Kev, there’s no need to beat around the bush with the three of us. We pretty much know what the other is thinking. It comes from years of being in each other’s pocket. From prep school into the service and now.
“Or his son. Either way she doesn’t need to be around his old ass any longer.” He nodded his head and we both went back to our own thoughts. What explanation will she give me for this? Or will she try and talk her way out of it?
The shit’s pretty self-explanatory but I need her to tell me. I can’t imagine that my thoughts are any worse than the reality and they’re pretty fucked up. What the fuck did he do to her?
There hadn’t been any marks on her before the ones I’d left, no sign of abuse. But there can’t be that many reasons for a woman to have that many locks on the inside of her door. And what was it that Kev had said? They had separate rooms? The fuck!
GISELLE
Something’s wrong! Kevin had been sitting behind me since I took my place in the front pew next to the senator and his wife but had gotten up and left five minutes ago before coming back in. I hadn’t heard half of what was being said by the many liars who got up to speak of what a great guy Vance had been. My mind was still too consumed with the senator’s whispered words.
I still hadn’t come up with an escape plan but now I needed one more than ever. I know for a fact that if I go with him I’ll never escape. The thought left me cold. I took a chance and looked back at Kevin. His slight nod seemed to say he understood but how could he?
Where did he go just now? And why did I get the feeling that he’d seen more than I wanted him to even though I hadn’t exchange any words with the senator? I tried to remember if I’d given anything away but there was nothing I could think of.
I peeped at my watch and realized a whole hour had already passed since we arrived. The cemetery was just another ten minutes from here and from there… my heart beat sickeningly in my chest as the service came to a close.
Now my knees shook for a different reason as I got to my feet. At least my behavior can be excused as that of a grieving widow if anyone noticed anything off.
As I headed to the door with Kevin and the other man flanking me I had second thoughts about running. Gavin would protect me wouldn’t he? If I tell him what I fear I have no doubt that he’d keep me safe. But telling him was the hard part.
No matter how often I’d told myself that the shame was not mine to bear I can’t escape it. And the senator is so devious I have no doubt that he’d find a way to turn the tables on me, I’ve seen him do it time and again.
And who would believe someone like me? Who would take my word over the esteemed senator’s? I felt defeated as I put one foot in front of the other and walked out of the church behind my in laws.
I saw the senator stop next to the car he’d arrived in and watched as I got into the car with Kevin and the other man. “You doing okay?” Kevin looked back at me and I nodded, too stressed to answer.
The closer we got to the cemetery the more nervous I became. If I have my way in no more than half an hour I will be running away. Gavin! I said his name silently, like a prayer, already missing him and feeling bereft at what my life had become.