Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
“What’s going on?” Jax approached us, a wary look on his face. His gaze landed on me first. Checking on me? Then he took in everyone and frowned. “What happened?”
None of the other women said anything. Even the two who had engaged earlier looked away, obviously not trusting Jax. Andrea continued to cling to me and sniffle, but stopped her loud weeping.
“I don’t know,” I said softly. “But maybe you better check on Chris.”
Jax gave me a long, assessing look, then turned and headed back the way he’d come. Not long after, there was a banging on the door to the room Chris had taken over after I left.
“Open up, Alistair.” I was relieved to hear Jax actively checking the situation. He might be an asshole, but Jax and I had a connection. It was like we were drawn to each other. No matter how many times I told him to fuck off, the annoying asshole was always there when I needed him. And me? No matter how many times I told him to fuck off… yeah. I always welcomed him with open arms. Eagerly.
“Andrea, please tell me what’s going on.” I turned and gripped her slim shoulders gently, pulling her away from me so I could get a good look at her face. When I did, I felt an overwhelming rage start to simmer in my mind. Despite all the weeping and wailing, Andrea’s eyes were completely dry. Her makeup was as perfect as always.
I gasped, standing abruptly and taking two steps backward, away from the woman I’d called my best friend since grade school. I looked at the other women. The ones who’d spoken out, especially, gave Andrea looks of scorn, all but rolling their eyes. How had I not seen these looks before? Had they been there since the beginning of the trip? Had I missed some really strong anger there?
“I’m curious.” The bold woman looked from me to Andrea a couple of times. “You hated Chris. You obviously didn’t want him for a lover or partner, so why did you come with us?”
“I thought he was up to something. That he’d hurt Andrea. I came to have her back.”
“Uh-huh. So she didn’t encourage you to join us?”
“Well, yeah. She did. When I asked her not to go, she said I should come with her. That way I could see she was fine, and I’d get to help some really disadvantaged people. She knows I like to participate in projects that help people in poor communities. She said these people were about as poor as it got.”
“She introduced most of us to Chris.” The other woman picked up the explanation. “I thought it was odd there were so many people going when I’d thought it was going to be me and Chris alone. It wasn’t until after we landed in Rodadero I started putting it together that my relationship with Chris wasn’t everything I thought it was.”
“I can’t prove it and I have no idea how to explain it,” the first woman interjected, “but I’d almost bet she and Chris set up that ambush. At least, they both knew it was coming before it happened.”
“Razor, get that motherfucker out here before you really do have to explain to Cain how this bastard decided to jump out of the plane.” Jax sounded angrier than I’d ever heard him.
“Shit,” I muttered. I turned and headed toward Jax and the other guys. I thought I should probably stay with the women to offer as much support as I could. After all, we’d all gone through something horrific and come out traumatized, but physically unharmed. At least, most of us had. Besides, I knew that, wherever this conversation was headed, I needed to divert it for a little while. Like for at least a week. I needed time to heal both mentally and physically. Though I hadn’t been hurt too badly, I was still going to be pretty Goddamned sore.
“Jax? What is it?” I went to his side. He put out an arm to keep me from getting near the door, but tucked me in behind him, holding me to him with one arm, urging me to press myself against his back.
“Motherfucker’s locked himself in and refuses to open the door. Do you know what’s goin’ on?”
“Not sure. At least some of the girls think he might have been responsible for the attack on us.”
He started, looking over his shoulder at me before turning around. “That’s a pretty serious accusation.”
“I know. And it might be all an attempt to get even with him, but something isn’t right. Andrea was only pretending to cry a while ago. And the women who are talking for the group say Andrea introduced most of them to Chris. She actively pushed for them all to go on this trip. She pushed me too. Just passively.”