Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
In the morning, I got a text from Zack addressed to me and my brother telling us that he had to leave town for a few days but would meet with us when he got back. He said it was important, he knew that he had a lot of explaining to do, but asked that we trust him. He referred us to a partner, a guy named Hal, who could help with any PI / security needs until he was back. Right. As if we’d continue to use his services not getting a full explanation from him. His text directed me to tell Kruna that I’d taken out Jason Frost, that he was dead.
I was not happy. I didn’t know if Zack was a Fed or if the Feds were gonna be back to discuss Jason Frost or everything else further. I didn’t know if we should just stay vigilant or if we should take off. It didn’t sit well being in the dark, being vulnerable. My brother was as livid as I was.
Angel and I packed up and headed back to the condo. She was quiet all the way back, likely picking up on my mood in addition to dealing with her own emotions.
I took her upstairs and then told her I was stepping out for a few hours.
“Do you want me to have someone come sit with you?”
She shook her head.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I left.
He’d been distant that day. I didn’t know the status with Jason. I didn’t know what was on his mind, I didn’t know much.
He left the apartment, and I curled up in the living room under a blanket and watched cartoons.
Much later, he was back. He kissed me hello and then went to his den and was gone for a long time. I fell asleep on the couch, hoping he’d carry me to bed, but at four a.m., I woke up in the same place. He was asleep in the bed.
My heart ached. I went back to the couch and couldn’t fall back asleep.
The sun came up and I smelled coffee. I sat up and he was in the kitchen,
“Hey,” he said. “Why’re you out here?” He sipped his coffee. He looked ready for the office, dressed in a dark blue suit.
“I fell asleep, I guess,” I muttered and went to the bathroom. When I came out he was on the phone and gathering up his keys and heading out the door. I stepped to the island and he rushed back over, still talking on the phone, telling someone off by the sounds of it, saying “I don’t fucking think so! Find out where he went!” and he kissed me quickly and then he left.
I stood there for I don’t know how long, sadness enveloping me. Did something change with him and I? Did he feel differently about me now? What was going on? Did Jason get away or something like that?
If he did, would he find me and take me?
I tried not to let horror wash over me. I tried hard.
12
He came home late. I heard him come in from where I was on the sofa in the dark and he walked right by me, heading straight to the master bedroom. I held the tears back. A few minutes later I saw a light go on in the hall, maybe the den. Then I felt his presence. He sat on the edge of the sofa, “Hey, baby?”
My throat and chest twinged and I had trouble swallowing.
“Angel?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doin’ out here again?” I guess he hadn’t seen me.
Words wouldn’t form on my tongue. He hefted me up into his arms and carried me to his bed. I wanted to fall apart; I felt such relief. My back landed on the soft mattress and then his lips were on mine. His hand touched my face.
“Why’re you crying, my baby? What’s wrong?”
He sounded so gentle, so concerned. His baby. A sob tore out of me.
He flipped us so that he was on his back and I was on him and he held me close. “Talk to me.”
I shook my head and kept crying into his chest.
“Babe?”
“You left me on the couch last night so I thought you didn’t care and I…”
“Huh?”
“You always carry me to bed and last night you didn’t and so I thought you didn’t care.”
“Baby last night I don’t even remember hitting the bed I was so zonked. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you weren’t there. Shit. Do you wait for me on the sofa on purpose all the time?”
I felt stupid. Stupid and needy. Why did he even want me?
“Angel?”
“Kind of.”
“Why, baby?”
“That first time you carried me to bed I’d fantasized about that before it happened and then you did it. And it was beautiful. And then the next night I didn’t want to presume to climb into your bed and you did it again. And the other times were just flukes most of the time but last night you felt distant and I wanted you to carry me, so you wouldn’t feel distant, and you didn’t and I…”