Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I nodded to that.
“And what now? Is there a way for me not to have to kill him?” I asked. “Kinda feel like it might be too much, considering why he’s doing what he does.”
“I mean, sure,” Chris said. “We could tip off the authorities. There’s no way his place isn’t full of explosives and other illegal items. He’d get sent away on charges.”
“For how long?”
“Ten years on the lowest end,” Chris explained. “Twenty to life if they can prove he had the intention to use it against someone.”
“But you run into a lot of other issues if he is brought in,” the other woman said.
“Such as?”
“Him talking. About the kidnapping, the suicide vest, the other shit he’s done. That you guys haven’t reported. They’d haul you both in for questioning. You might even need to testify. And I don’t get the feeling your girl would be up for that.”
No.
No, she wouldn’t.
“If you need permission,” Chris said, looking at me, eyes deep, “I give you permission to do whatever you need to do to protect yourself and the people you love.”
“And if it makes you feel better,” someone else piped in, not turning around from their chair, “picked up some chatter on a message board where he was looking to get his hands on some armor-piercing weaponry. He can’t afford that shit,” he went on. “But he’s looking. He’s not gonna stop.”
“I agree,” the woman, likely one of Hailstorm’s profilers, said. “Even if he went away for a decade or more, he would use that time to plot. Then he would get free and come for you again. Likely when you have a lot more to lose. Kids…”
Yeah, fuck that.
I needed to be able to assure Bonnie that she was safe. For good.
“Any chance Bonnie can stay here tonight?” I asked. “And maybe Zima?”
“That’s the dog you got her, right?”
“Right,” I agreed.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Just have someone bring the dog up. She can hang with the girls. They want to get drunk and spar,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Damn.
I wouldn’t mind being involved in all that.
But, I reminded myself, it would be good for Bonnie to know she could have that kind of fun without me around. And she was as safe as a human being could be at Hailstorm. And in good hands with the girls’ club.
“You want a team?” Chris asked.
“I got a team,” I said, thinking of my brothers.
Chris nodded.
“Someone can give you a ride back to town to get things in order.”
I hated leaving Bonnie without saying goodbye. But she was honestly not going to even notice I was missing for hours.
“Sully,” Chris called as I walked away.
“Yeah?”
“Come back to her.”
“That’s the plan,” I agreed.
Only this time, we’d never have to worry about this guy again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Bonnie
“Wait, wait,” I said, holding out a hand, but that only managed to make me stumble back a foot somehow. “The world is spinning,” I added.
“Uh-oh,” Layna said, giving everyone a guilty grimace. Since she’d been the one plying me with margaritas for the past few hours. Until I was pretty sure I couldn’t walk a straight… hell, I was pretty sure I couldn’t walk, period.
“Alrighty,” Gracie said, appearing at my side, grabbing my arm. “We’re gonna reacquaint ourselves with gravity,” she said, pulling me downward until I felt the cool floor underneath me.
“That feels nice,” I declared.
“Yeah. Cold is good. Here, put your hand on the wall,” Gracie said, grabbing my wrist and pushing my arm to the wall. “And put this on your chest,” she added, pressing a giant ice pack there for me. “Better?”
“Not so spinny,” I agreed, taking slow, deep breaths.
“I told you that last one was too many,” someone said.
“She was still dancing and singing,” Layna said. “I didn’t think one more would have her on her ass. You’re gonna be alright,” she said, coming closer to me. “But not if you keep closing your eyes,” she said, sitting down cross-legged across from me. “Eyes open or you’re gonna spin more.”
“Okay,” I agreed, looking at her. Even if she was a little swimmy. Okay. A lot swimmy.
“Bonnie, do you like coffee?” someone from behind me asked.
“Yesssss,” I said, not sure why I was dragging out the s.
“Okay. I’m gonna get you some coffee.”
“But it’s bedtime,” I said.
“I mean, she’s not sick,” the clear, rational voice that belonged to Willa, a girls’ club member who wasn’t a princess, said. “Sleeping it off is probably the best bet at this point.”
“Sleep is good,” I agreed. “My eyes have little weights on them.”
“Yes, yes, they do,” Gracie agreed, petting my hair. “How about you come with me and we can get you into a cozy bed?”
“You’ll catch them if they fall off?” I asked, making Gracie let out a little giggle.
“Yes, I will catch the weights if they fall off. Oh, hey Zima! Mama is gonna want a buddy,” she told my dog as she half-dragged me to the end of the room where she pressed me onto a bed. “You have to sleep on your side, okay?”