Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Irritation filled Devi. Honey didn’t get to have that fantasy about Hayes.
“Hayes is mine,” she snarled.
Oops. Where did that come from?
“Ahh, but you don’t think he wants you, huh?” Zander asked.
“He doesn’t. But a g-girl can dream.”
“I bet those are some sexy dreams,” Honey said on a sigh.
“I . . . I . . . y-yeah. I don’t have . . . h-health insurance.”
“Don’t worry about that, tough girl,” Zander told her. “It will be covered.”
By who?
She didn’t have a clue what the doctors would do, but it was bound to be expensive.
“M-maybe you should t-take me b-back home.”
“And maybe you should tell me who did this to you,” Zander countered.
Hmm. That didn’t seem like a very smart idea.
“I don’t think I s-should. You s-seem vindictive.”
“Oh, I am. But not as vindictive as Honey.”
“Tell us, Devi,” Honey urged. “I really need someone I can rip apart tonight. I just broke up with another loser. It’s an added bonus if their name starts with a B.”
“Huh?” She was confused.
“Honey keeps dating losers and all of their names have started with a B,” the driver said. “I’m Ammo by the way.”
“It’s a sickness,” Honey muttered.
“Devi, can you tell me who did this to you?” Zander asked.
“I don’t know if I s-should tell you. But they have D-Derick. Did they say not to t-talk? I c-can’t remember. I can’t tell you. I don’t r-remember.”
“Who has Derick? Who is Derick?” Zander asked.
“Father,” she said.
“Someone has your dad?” Honey asked.
“No d-dad of mine. Father,” she said. “He d-did it. He brought them down on us. His f-fault they attacked. Well, a-and mine. I touched o-one of them, he d-didn’t like that.”
“How many were there?” Zander asked.
She wasn’t sure how much to say, but surely that didn’t matter.
“Four. I d-don’t know what to say. They’re p-probably going to k-kill Derick.”
“All right, when we get to the hospital, you tell them you don’t know who it is,” Zander told her. “That they were masked. And it was a home invasion. Say nothing about Derick. If he’s still alive, we’ll find him.”
A noise filled the truck.
“Shit. Hayes is calling,” Honey said.
“Yeah, I felt my phone buzzing,” Zander replied. “I’m not moving to get it, though. You take it, Honey.”
“I’ll put him on speaker so we can all enjoy him,” Honey said cheerfully.
“Why the fuck isn’t Zander answering his phone?” Hayes roared.
She jumped then moaned.
“What was that noise? I’m here at Devi’s place and it’s a mess and there’s blood. Have you got her?” Hayes demanded.
“Okay, first, let me get some words in,” Honey told him. “And yes, that’s affirmative.”
“Is she all right?”
“Umm.”
“Honey, for fuck’s sake. Tell me,” Hayes commanded.
Devi hated the way he sounded. So . . . scared? Devastated? Angry? All of those things and more.
But why was he so upset?
“I’m h-here,” she said as loud as she could.
“Thank fuck. Give her the phone, Honey.”
“Um, I’ll do my best.” Honey twisted in the seat to hold the phone closer to Devi. “Just so you know, you’re still on speaker phone.”
“Then take me off!” Hayes demanded.
“I’ll still be able to hear you,” Zander told him. “I have excellent hearing.”
“Zander, why did you take her?” Hayes snarled. “You were supposed to wait.”
“Couldn’t do that.”
There was a beat of silence. And then Hayes started swearing. She whimpered, too overwhelmed. Not scared by him, but by the situation.
He immediately quieted. “Devi, baby, are you hurt?”
“I don’t . . . I don’t k-know if I’m m-meant to tell you.” Damn stuttering.
“What does that mean you don’t know if you’re meant to tell me?” he asked quietly.
“She’s worried about you getting upset,” Zander explained. “This is what you’re going to do. Come to the hospital, Honey will send the details.”
“That blood in the trailer is hers?” Hayes asked quietly.
“Yes, it is,” Zander replied calmly. “But she’s going to be just fine. We just thought it was best to move quickly. And that you might not have been too happy to find her in the state we did.”
More silence.
What was happening? What was he thinking? Was he okay?
“I can assure you that I am completely composed. I’m not sure why you thought I wouldn’t be. Devi and I are friends.”
They were?
That was nice. And at the same time, she felt a bit sad.
Why was she feeling sad? She knew he didn’t feel anything for her.
He was just a bit protective of her.
Maybe Zander and Honey’s words had gotten her hopes up. She shouldn’t have let that happen.
“I will meet you there. Devi, I’ll see you soon.”
22
Hayes pulled up at the hospital. He was lucky that there were no cops out tonight since he’d sped the entire way. But now that he was here . . . he couldn’t seem to get out of his truck.
There was a strange lump in his throat. A tightness in his belly.